Living with a Spinal Cord Injury is a daily challenge.
Focus on Ability Film Festival The Focus on Ability Short Film Festival asks filmmakers to tell a story about people with disabilities. This year the sponsors have donated over $140,000 worth of cash and prizes. MY disABILITIES book project Our MY-dis-ABILITIES book project has produced a film in the “Open Entrant Documentaries” category. The goals … Read more
My History Why would anyone in their right mind want to have anything to do with politics? How did I end up as a candidate in the seat of Torrens for Dignity Party SA? Growing up my parents continuously spoke of the good qualities of Labor Party politicians. And these included Gough Whitlam and Bob … Read more
When I didn’t stop bullying At the end of 1977, having just completed year seven at Payneham Primary School, I was looking forward to joining Marden High School. The school had a good reputation, and it was just down the road from my home. It wasn’t long until I faced bullying from two students, Tony … Read more
Midnight Oil World Tour I’ve been an Oils fan since the 80s after being introduced to the band by my friend Richard. During a concert at Memorial Drive in Adelaide, we lined up early and ran to get a spot at the front and centre of the stage, as this was in the days of … Read more
Wheelchair accessibility for weeing and parking As I drive and urinate, I make use of accessible parking and toilets. If you are wondering if I drive and urinate at the same time, the answer is yes. I have an indwelling catheter (just below my belly button) and drain into a leg bag. This blog relates … Read more
Why travel around Australia? I have paraplegia at the T3/T4 level, which is around the level of my chest, and therefore cannot use my body below my chest level. Combined with chronic pain, this presents many problems when it comes to travelling around Australia. My favourite band, Midnight Oil, announced they were reforming and setting out … Read more
What is Immersion Therapy? It is difficult to exercise when you are paralysed from the chest down, but not impossible. Once a week I attend Immersion Therapy with Determined2 at the Adelaide Aquatic Centre. Immersion therapy is “a world first way in which people with injury or disability can have access to movement and benefits … Read more
Chronic Pain Management On September 11, 2009, I broke my spine, leg, ankle and collarbone, bruised my heart, as well as fracturing my sternum and ribs, and my head split open. Although I don’t remember this, the only complaint I had a few minutes after the accident, was the pushing of towels on my head, to … Read more
Disabled Jokes I love hearing jokes, including those from stand-up comedians. I briefly considered becoming a stand-up comedian, but I cannot stand up. So I contemplated being a stand-up sitting down comedian. That was a joke in case you didn’t notice it. Steady Eddy is an Australia comedian with cerebral palsy, and the basis for … Read more
Esther Simbi and her speech Madie and I attended the “Wild Night in Australia” at Prospect Town Hall on the 30th of September 2017. It was a multicultural music and art night organised by the Divine Orchestra Music Ministry on the last Saturday of September each year. Our friend, Esther Simbi, gave a speech titled ‘Disability doesn’t … Read more
