As a practicing pagan and certified herbalist, not to mention being only 2’7″ tall, to say Jane Hash’s life is “unique” would be an understatement. Her attitude and dark humor make her one of my favorite guests yet. The cajones she has to be who she is, openly and with no apologies, is an example for all of us. Jane is also a podcast host, political activist, a blogger and is finishing up filming a documentary about her life that’s taken nearly 3 years to complete titled, Plain Jane.

Also in this episode, I talk about two of my favorite recent blogs: a creepy documentary that discusses disability in North Korea, The Red Chapel, and the upcoming reality show, Push Girls, featuring four women who use wheelchairs (premiering on the Sundance Channel in April).

- Read Jane’s blog: The Adventures of The Gimp Avenger
- Listen to Jane’s podcast: Hashing It Out With Jane for KUSF-In-Exile
- Watch the trailer for her documentary: Plain Jane
- Join Jane’s Facebook Group
- Watch her funny videos: 1 Dwarf, 1 Cup, 5 Guys 1 Dwarf

Jane’s work listed above and the following podcast are intended for mature audiences only. Use the player below to hear the show (56 minute run time). Music by Lupe Fiasco ft. Evidence - ”Catch Me”
Podcast 82_Jane Hash

I suggest taking 11 minutes and 39 seconds of your life to better understand what we in this industry do to help those with disabilities lead more active, normal and healthier lives. Take a moment to glimpse into the lives of people with disabilities. To understand how essential for health and life Complex Rehab Technologies (wheelchairs power and manual, seating and positioning, standing devices, and gait training to name a few) are to their daily lives. Nothing quite explains CRT like the people who use it every day.

Complex Rehab Technology- Essential for health. Essential for life. from NCART on Vimeo.

If you feel this was 12 minutes well spent, and you feel like you have come to better understand what CRT is – please share this video with others. Help us to further the learning among all peoples.

Please share your thoughts on the importance of this video to those with disabilities and the rehab industry as a whole.

Jennifer Longdon is an amazing woman who found herself paralyzed after a shooting in 2004. She’s become a disability advocate since her injury and is the Chair of the Mayor of Phoenix’s Commission on Disability Issues. Jennifer is also a blogger with a strong voice you simply must check out: Living Life From Butt Level: Where I Sit and a dynamic speaker, which you can see in this Ignite Phoenix video of her on-stage talking frankly about life with a disability.

We also talk about the search for a cocktail dress that can look great sitting down and the hiccups in using dressing rooms. I also share my top disability news of 2011 and my review of the new travel show featuring a disabled host, Rollin’ with Zach.

I briefly mention online safety and how it impacts what both Jennifer and I share online. Listen to my August Podcast – Wheelchair Self Defense & Online Predators for more info on this topic.

Use the player below to hear the show (58 minute run time). No Free Rides is sponsored by EasyStand.

Podcast #81_Jennifer Longdon

It’s time to play EasyStand “Holiday Move Trivia”!

Have a fabulous holiday season!

Photo (introduction page) courtesy of Ronald Deventer

Aired by the very savvy radio station Resonance 104.4 FM, Technical Difficulties is one of the best on-air disability radio shows you’ll find in the world. This show discusses important disability topics, from third world accessibility to deaf issues to mental health support. View the full archive for Technical Difficulties.

In the beginning of the podcast, I also talk about winter driving safety (no frozen hand controls so you don’t die!) and the dire importance of keeping your wallet safe from the wheelchair vantage point.

Check out Tim’s Facebook sister group for sharing info on disability: Light Chronicles

Use the player below to hear the show (37 minute run time). No Free Rides is sponsored by EasyStand.

Podcast #80_Tim Abbott

Tune in as we reveal the best places in the country to get your diving certification if you’re disabled and the equipment you’ll need to dive safely (without freezing; a common quad complaint while diving). We also talk about Brian’s incredible neuro implants that help him move his hands again. A definite must listen.

- Adapted diving school: Diveheart

- The place to buy a 30/30 dry suit (vs. a wet suit) to help you stay warm underwater: Diving Unlimited International

Opening song: “That’s My Number” by Toots and the Maytals

Listen in the player below (run time is 54 minutes). No Free Rides is sponsored by EasyStand.

Episode79_Disabled diving

Tragedies can strike anyone, and for David McCauley, a successful businessman in Manhattan before his injury in 2008, his diving accident proves how true that is. McCauley has an impressive drive that brought him to a point where in only a few short years after his accident he’s already looking outwards, and helping others. His awesomeness was even honored this month as he was awarded the NJ Hero award (read story) by New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie.

His non-profit, Rise Up To Cure Paralysis, awards Quality of Life grants to people with SCI so they can participate in the latest therapies insurance won’t cover and to help pay for the adapted equipment they need. David’s brilliant idea of selling art created by artists with spinal cord injuries, Rise Up Galleries, is their main fundraising source. Check out the official site for Rise Up To Cure Paralysis

During the podcast David discusses his non-profit, his injury, and how he found the strength to not only fight to overcome his own injury, but to help others as well. I also talk about PCAs, the sad but necessary topic of protecting personal items from theft, and amazing cheap winter shopping finds like these must-have black fleece-lined leggings.

Use the player below to hear the show (54 minute run time). No Free Rides is sponsored by EasyStand.

Listen now! Episode 78: David McCauley

Therapists know the importance of clients being able to use their wheelchair when they need to for mobility, but should also encourage clients to stand in a standing frame and walk in their walkers for their overall health and well being. Anthony is a perfect example: he has maintained excellent range of motion through all of these years of growth.  Now he is a young man and he is very independent with his mobility and because of his range of motion he is able to use his stander, walker and wheelchair all functionally with all the activities that he does at home and in school every day. 

Watch Anthony stand through out the years!

Do you have an older child that began standing at a young age? What benefits are you noticing now after years of standing?

In episode #77 of No Free Rides, I have on Tamara Mena, a model and spinal cord injury survivor. Tamara opens up about her injury, losing her boyfriend in the crash, and learning to love again.

Life is always full of unexpected turns, and Tamara shares how a road trip to Rosaritas, Mexico ended in her life being changed forever. An advocate for the disabled community and a recent grad from California State, Tamara’s beauty goes much further than skin deep.

Tamara and I also discuss the nuances of dating with a disability, and why being aggressive may be in our advantage. Fashion, clothes that work when you can’t walk, and learning to feel beautiful again also get in on the conversation.

At the end of the show, Tamara shares her experience using the revolutionary walking exoskeleton - eLEGS – a breakthrough invention that’s scheduled to be released for personal use by 2013. Learn about Tamara’s work as an ambassador for eLEGS

Use the player below to hear the show (103 minute run time). No Free Rides is sponsored by EasyStand.

Episode 77: Tamara Mena – Taking beauty to a whole new level

Erik has been a paraplegic for over 25 years, making him more than qualified to dispense advice on this sensitive subject. He is the founder of Not-Me.org, a non-profit dedicated to teaching the five D’s of self-defense – Decide, Deter, Disrupt, Disengage and Debrief. Erik is a fountain of information and his advice is a must for anyone new to being disabled!

We also discuss how to spot wheelchair predators online, as well as those pretending to be a wheelchair-user (“pretenders”), which is another tactic that is used to pry personal information from unaware individuals.

Check out Erik’s self-defense site, Not-Me.org, for more information on staying safe no matter the situation.  There’s a related blog post that you might be interested in reading “Ability To Protect: Self Defense for Wheelchair Users” written by Mike Duenas, ATP. 

Use the player below to hear the show (52 minute run time). No Free Rides is sponsored by EasyStand.

Self-Defense and Online Predators

We also discuss dating, and how women inevitably treat you differently when you’re in a wheelchair, the recent loss of his mother to cancer, and the hardest accent he ever had to learn.

Check out Drew’s site to see his work, and more: DrewBates.com

Use the player below to hear the show (55 minute run time).

Podcast # 75 Drew Bates

Mimi and I discuss some very unique spinal cord injury + pregnancy issues, from planning a natural home birth when you’re paralyzed to conceiving when you’re a paralyzed male, without the assistance of expensive equipment. We also discuss Mimi’s new possible reality show!

To listen to the podcast, click play below! (Intended for mature audiences only.)

Podcast #74 – Pregnant on Wheels

Like this interview with Mimi? Listen to my July, 2010 Podcast #67 Mimi Emery – Fierce, Canadian, paralyzed!

Tiffiny and Ally also discuss growing up with a disability and the great material she’s found from online dating.

Be sure to check out Ally’s site - I Laughed at the Crippled Girl – for her AMAZING YouTube videos and contact info.

To listen to the podcast, click play below!

Click to listen to episode 73 of No Free Rides

Like this podcast? Listen to Tiff’s interview with another comedian with a disability, Meaghan Gallagher.

Andrew has several great videos on this YouTube Channel and website www.angl747.com.  Here is a video that he recently posted. It’s an animated look at the EasyStand assembly process starting right from the beginning when his two large EasyStand boxes were delivered, and ending with Andrew transferring and standing up for the first time in his new Evolv stander!  Pretty cool!

Andrew offers several informative videos on paraplegic life, disability events, the Triumph Foundation, and much more! His videos show that “You can get back to life and still do what you love”, and the many wonderful experiences, people, talents, events, and technology this world still has to offer.

Watch more EasyStand Evolv Videos.

Read Shawn’s  personal blog: One Man’s Access or connect with Shawn on Facebook: Shawn R. Dean. You can also read his posts on the EasyStand Blog, or read Shawn’s EasyStand customer story.

The blog post that Shawn’s refer to several times during the end of this podcast can be found here: This Guy’s Take on Dating with a Disability

Use the player below to hear the show (80 minute run time). No Free Rides is sponsored by EasyStand.com.

No Free Rides episode #72