birding with a disability (1 Viewer)

[tracker]

Hi everyone,

Just read through this thread for the first time. I admire deeply everyone that has opened up about their various challenges and obviously, at times, very weak moments. I too have faced some colourful differculties over the years with illness and other life changes, etc. What has been a huge help for me in particular, certainly through these last 11 months, has been the joy i can get through my observation of wildlife, and my newly acquired love, digiscoping. Im not able to do it as much as i'd like, but its been a very positive focus for me.

I came across this quote a couple of years ago: 'There are those that live in rooms of experience, into which the majority may never be permitted to enter'.

How refreshing it is when maybe one person stops and kindly tries to peer into our 'room'.

Great thread everyone...... :t:

Tom

 

[Malcolm Fisher]

....I think this sharing of imformation can only be useful and you have all certainly given me something to think about because sometimes we dont realise what the difficulties faced by the individual are or even what illnesses there are out there. Also I think the seeming cruelty of people is very often fear, fear of reacting in the wrong way or saying something inappropriate. I know this is certainly true for me. But I`m learning.

Hear Hear! B I'll drink to that.

 

[Malcolm Fisher]

I came across this quote a couple of years ago: 'There are those that live in rooms of experience, into which the majority may never be permitted to enter'.Tom

Thats a great quote Tom!

 

[oceans]

Post Polio Syndrome

I just have to start talking about my disability ,and feel emotionally drained,Has any others got Post Polio Syndrome.

I didnt know this could still occur.
I had a great Uncle, he had Post Polio Syndrome, he had braces for his legs and a wheelchair and a one seater 3 wheeled vehicle, I was about 9 years old then (41 now...sniff!) and I thought with immunisation that we had seen the back of this....how are you affected Elgin?

 

[Henry B]

Immunisation started about 1954,after i contracted polio,.. ..henry..

 

[christineredgate]

Henry,my husband,Barry had polio when a child,also his sister.Apparently Barry had one of the first pioneer ops on his leg,and it was a success.As a child he was unable to play football,or run like the other kids,as he wore leg irons for many years,and he used to be pushed in a wheelchair by his Mum to the cripples guild.But when he found he could ride a bike as good as the others,he found his niche in life.Then progressed to motorbikes,whereupon being competitive chap he is, went on to racing bikes,and raced at national level all over the country ,racing both singles,and then outfits.He actually won the newcomers award over on the Island,so he proved that a disability can always be overcome in some form or other.

 

[Henry B]

Christine,is your husband getting any symptoms of the late effects of polio.

 

[christineredgate]

I don't think so ,Henry.He has aches and pains,and walks with a limp at times,but considering the knocks he has taken when crashing his bike when racing,this is only to be expected.Plus the fact he is not the most health conscious person.He smokes and drinks,stays up late,he walks with a limp,is somewhat over weight,I try to keep him to a healthy diet,but to no avail.But he has a very exacting outdoor job,which he enjoys,says it keeps him fit,so really cannot say.He refuses to acknowledge he had polio as a child,just shrugs it off.But I do think the polio is responsible for some of his joint probs he has at the moment.This is not really much help to you,but Barry just ignores health probs,and lives life to the full,regardless of the future.

 

[Henry B]

Christine i,m glad Barry is enjoying good health, but it is still worthwhile keeping tabs on any unexplained aches or pains.I also had avery active life but now have to pace my-self and rest more . regards ..Henry

 

[samuel walker]

Good on you Barry.I bought my last bike a vintage Honda 750 a month before my stroke.The loss of the left hand took away my clutch.The weak left foot removed the shifter.Keep riding for those who no longer can.
Sam

 

[christineredgate]

Sam,I used to ride a 750K Honda,big hunk of a machine it was.Could you not ride a trike.One of the Harley types.I would have one,but we have no room to store it,they can be adapted for disabled users.Barry still rides but has dropped down to a CCM,a super moto.He says that if he was riding his 900R on these roads he would be banned.The Super Moto is built for twisty roads.He is getting old now(bless) and has to adapt!!

 

[fatbirder]

Someone just popinted out this [long standing] thread to me and I hope all those who have so far posted are around and can take note.

I set up the dba nearly 5 years ago and we now have over 400 members in the UK and a good number in a separate chapter in the USA www.dba-usa.com as well as members around the world.

First can I urge you all to join up on www.disabledbirdersassociation.co.uk whether ot not you have a disability of a permanent or temporary nature or are just someone who sympathises... the more members we have the more we can help by getting better facilities, services, equipment and understanding.

Secondly, we have a mailing group for members so, if you join, you can ask about other people's experiences and see how they have solved their problems - isolation means each of us goes on inventing the wheel over and over

Since we got going we have begun to really impact on facilities where members are active. In the UK the RSPB has begun to be very responsive providing disabled facilitiies as it expands or improves its reserves and now understands just how helpful it is, for example, to provide a simple bench every 150 yards along a trail. It means I can go from one to another in a circuit that there is no way I could manage otherwise.

In the US some places [like Aransas in Texas where the whoopiong cranes are] have high towers that ramped making it possible for wheelchairs although they have yet to understand that only a small percentage of disabled birders are wheelchair users.

I am just back from co-leading a dba trip to Texas and Mexico [our fifth overseas trip - the dba has previously run trips to Kenya, India, Canada & Hungary - see www.birderstravel/tripreports for the reports on those trips]

So come join us whether you are a wheelchair user, an old codger, a temporary gimp or just a lazy fat b*****d like me.

bo
aka the Fat Birder
Founder dba

 

[fatbirder]

Ooops

Ooops that should have been: http://www.birderstravel.com/TripReports/

bo

 

[Malcolm Fisher]

Secondly, we have a mailing group for members so, if you join, you can ask about other people's experiences and see how they have solved their problems - isolation means each of us goes on inventing the wheel over and over

Thats a very good point Bo, I imagine there are quite a few re-inventing the wheel (like me) all the time! Also I agree that simple benches are most welcome, or even flat places come to that, which are good for a fishing stool like I carry about!

 

[Nina P]

I'm still awaiting redress on one of my designs but so far heard nothing, but I really could do with what I had designed right now, so how long will a simple design take? Mind you it wasn't too simple, just a computer type chair with Hydraulic ram to raise and lower it, joystick to turn it on it's ram and Bionics for the arm to enable lifting in and out of oven tray! I suppose it is too complicated to make knowing me!

 

[Aitch]

Hello Bo, Good to see you on the forum. I've made a point of being on holiday for the next BBF so will see you there. (at last).
238

 

[demojohn]

Need Help

Being disabled my self when I’m out birding at my favorite spot I wonder how I would get help if I needed it. (Seems to be a mobile dead zone.)
I never see anyone all day, so my answer is a whistle a loud referee type, the sound carries a long way and I believe 3 long blasts is the standard, (I need help signal,)Or possibly game over, Or is it offside???)Any way should the time come I hope it works.
D.J.

 

[Henry B]

Being disabled my self when I’m out birding at my favorite spot I wonder how I would get help if I needed it. (Seems to be a mobile dead zone.)
I never see anyone all day, so my answer is a whistle a loud referee type, the sound carries a long way and I believe 3 long blasts is the standard, (I need help signal,)Or possibly game over, Or is it offside???)Any way should the time come I hope it works.
D.J.

D.J.,It would be wise to let some-one know where you are likely to be. or try a different server for your mobile phone. hb

 

[Aitch]

DJ, I believe it's 6 blasts of the whistle for assistance. As Henry said, let someone know where you're going and what time you'll be back. Also, it's a good idea to take some food and water with you, just in case, depends where you are, of course. There're high energy foods on the market that take up little space.
H

 

[Nina P]

Getting stuck while birding

I have had a similar experience, but my husband hates me going out anywhere unless he knows where I am going and who I am going with, he discovered how vulnerable I am last week, we were walking in a shop, I took two steps and then went out the side door ( I had my good leg give way and went over the opposite way to normal) he was on the wrong side of me, and away I went!

He has now totally banned me from going anywhere without assistance, and he prefers me in the wheelchair, but I do like to try and walk a little bit, so where do I stand/sit in this way? Wheelchairs are alright to get further distances than my legs will take me, but to deny me the attempt to keep a portion of mobility is rather overbearing, so you know where I am coming from? Why we have to say where we are going is rather the same, but sensibility decrees we comply with the better "common sense" rather than try to be too cocky, the thing I am always trying to be!!!!

Oh well one day someone will come up with a more favourable idea, eh?