New EasyStand Blog post: Birdie Gone Bye Bye

In my new EasyStand Blog post I lament flipping people off, and other hand gestures, on account of my limited hand dexterity. Please check out “Birdie Gone Bye Bye.”

One Man's Annoying / Aggravating / Interesting Access Picture

Wouldn’t it be nice if this was everywhere for people with disabilities to use for fast assistance?

New EasyStand Blog post: Gaining a Numb Perspective on Disability Issues

My new EasyStand Blog post discusses how as the years have passed since my SCI my perspective on crappy disability issues like parking and inaccessibility has numbed. So please check out “Gaining a Numb Perspective on Disability Issues.”

One Man's Annoying / Aggravating / Interesting Access Picture

Apparently, this is the sign for bathrooms in a lighthouse in Glasgow. Pretty funny.

My Recent Nomination

It's worth mentioning that I was recently nominated for the Judd Jacobson Award, which recognizes a business endeavor by someone with a disability, for my work founding the Minnesota Spinal Cord Injury Association (MNSCIA). I made the top 4 but not the final 3 that go before the selection committee because the true spirit of the award is to recognize an individual's for-profit efforts, whereas I represent an organization that is nonprofit. I'm quite disappointed but I understand the criteria. It was an honor just to get nominated and cool to make it as far as I did. My thanks to my friend, and fellow founder and board member of the MNSCIA, Kurt for writing a great nomination on my behalf. Had I won I would have received a plaque at a special ceremony and $5,000 to go towards the continued development of our nonprofit. It’s money that we desperately need, but we soldier on nonetheless.

What made my nomination even more meaningful and fitting was that I was nominated on July 12, which as readers of this blog know is the anniversary of my paralyzing diving accident. In past years I have reposted my blog post about my first-hand account of my accident, which was just my second post on this blog back in 2009, but this year it slipped my mind on account of a very busy and stressful week of work. So I will belatedly repost Part I and Part II now.

Related to all of this it is also fitting that as of July 12, 2012 you can visit http://mnscia.org/, the website of the MNSCIA. That is the circle of life, folks—minus me holding up a lion cub for effect. Donations can be made on the website, we appreciate any amount if readers are feeling generous and interested in helping out. See the link above to “Like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter here.

New EasyStand Blog post: Right of Way? More Like Get Out of My Way!

My new EasyStand Blog post covers the number of ways that people get in the way of me and my wheelchair while I’m going from place to place. Please check out “Right of Way? More Like Get Out of My Way!”

New EasyStand Blog Post: Making the Return to Work Accessible

After a long, tough three year job search I finally got a job as a legal researcher a few weeks ago. My latest EasyStand Blog post covers “Making the Return to Work Accessible.”

One Man's Annoying / Aggravating / Interesting Access Picture

A nice day like today reminded me that I never posted this picture I took last summer. It’s my viewpoint of the bright blue sky while I was reclining in my wheelchair relaxing and getting a little sun.

New EasyStand Blog Post: Trying Hard Not to Ask “Why Me?”

My new EasyStand Blog guest post covers the issue of trying not to ask “why me?” when it has come to my spinal cord injury and other things that have been disability lifestyle related. Please check out “Trying Hard Not to Ask “Why Me?”

One Man's Annoying / Aggravating / Interesting Access Picture

The picture below represents a bit of a nightmare scenario for someone without hand and finger function like myself – a doorknob on the accessible bathroom stall in the men’s room of a Don Pablo’s restaurant. The result is a lot of patience and extra effort to get the door open, me peeing with the toilet stall door open so I don’t get stuck inside hoping that no one walks in on me while I’m doing my business, and my beautiful dinner date waiting at the table for me for an extra long time. Although she just assumed that I ran into some issue. Handles are a much more accessible option, Don Pablo’s.