Please excuse the boring nature of this post… I need to create something new to test that the sharing settings on my blog are working across all the platforms they should be.
Here’s a picture of my Guide Dog Ollie enjoying some free play time on a field.
Gaming accessibility is something I’m really passionate about because I have grown up gaming and with a visual impairment.
A lot is being done it has to be said mostly by Microsoft (the Xbox one has a screen reader, Magnification and a plethora of controller set up options) it seems the whole gaming community is getting together to spread the word on accessible gaming.
I would have loved to have been at this conference able to get my voice heard.
I have a Nintendo Switch and I love it dearly but it lacks even basic accessibility settings when you compare it with the big boys of PlayStation and Xbox (however there is give and take on both sides)… purely based on accessibility I would love to own an Xbox as well as my Switch.
NEWSFLASH! People with all kinds of disabilities play console/computer games of all kinds. We are as diverse as any other group it’s time for industry to hear our voice.
Please see below for original post
Upgraded: The Gaming Accessibility Conference 2018
https://uncannyvivek.wordpress.com/2018/11/27/gaconf2018/
— Read on uncannyvivek.wordpress.com/2018/11/27/gaconf2018/
This is really worth a read it sums up the experience of having your life shattered (for me it was like lots of mini shards falling off slowly over time) everything you wanted and dreamed of being flushed away down the pan and having to set new goals.
My goals are very day to day I’m going to focus on what I need to achieve today or this week and not think too far into the future.
One thing is very clear for me if I did not know that God has a perfect plan for my life and He had this plan set out for me before I was even born! I put all my trust and hope not in medicine (which tells me there is no hope) but in God who has a plan.
Living Well When You Are Not Well…
Living Well When You Are Not Well…
— Read on lilyingrace.com/2018/11/01/living-well-when-you-are-not-well/
Ok I’m going to wade in and out this point across on the flip side.
There are many games that ONLY have subtitles and no narration this thus excludes blind gamers.
There is no one size fits all to make gaming accessible to everyone.
I’m currently playing Let’s Go Pokémon and for me given it’s a RPG driven by text I’m really genuinely surprised there is not the option to change the text size or text contrast.
I think what we need to take away from this is that game developers need to do more and think more about the accessibility of the content they are creating.
Spyro The Dragon Remake Excludes Deaf Gamers
Spyro The Dragon Remake Excludes Deaf Gamers
— Read on samedifference1.com/2018/11/20/spyro-the-dragon-remake-excludes-deaf-gamers/
Human gut study questions probiotic health benefits — ScienceDaily – Sept 2018 Probiotics are found in everything from chocolate and pickles to hand lotion and baby formula, and millions of people buy probiotic supplements to boost digestive health. But new research suggests they might not be as effective as we think. Through a series of experiments looking […]
via Human gut study questions probiotic health benefits — EDS and Chronic Pain News & Info
So I don’t write much these days, I don’t have the time or energy and I kind of feel like I don’t have much to write about that wouldn’t be either self indulgent or read like a medical textbook! However its been over a year now since I became a part-time wheelchair user and got my electric Wheelchair Buzz and I’ve been thinking for a few weeks it would be good to put some thoughts down on paper, being a visually impaired electric wheelchair user and a guide dog owner in the UK is still a very rare thing so I kind of want to share in an attempt to help others.
The first run down of this will be some general thoughts and observations and then I intend to do some bullet point lists because everybody loves a good list.
Buzz is an Invcare Fox and I chose to have him in blue, he is on a lease from the Motorbility Scheme meaning I pay for him. A substantial amount of my weekly benefit pays for Buzz each week I also had to pay an upfront deposit and pay for necessary adaptations. I chose the Fox because of its ability to break down and fold to fit in a car, it was the most rugged and easily transportable chair I could find.
Yer I was terrified! I knew this was something I had to do to keep my independence and mobility but in reality I was very anxious about the whole thing. The thought of injuring another person or my Guide Dog Ollie terrified me and I mean terrified me! my first tentative sessions of driving Buzz I was on full alert using all my senses even though I had sighted people with me who were supportive encouraging and telling me I was a natural. From this test drive I went on to learn to use a long cane from Buzz
For me the first step was learning to use a cane with my left hand, I’m right-handed and had always struggled to hold and use my cane properly with my left hand. it felt alien at first but after looking at the way I grip the cane and some practice it became more natural. during this time I aimed to do extra cane practice whilst walking to get used to using the cane I learned though doing this that oh boy did I have a weak left wrist! The sweeping motion is exactly the same only the angle is obviously a bit different and you need a longer long cane. Initially going in a straight line is really difficult because you have to get used to one wrist making the arc for your cane and the other driving your chair. Sometimes the chair driving hand tries to copy your cane hand and you move from side to side unintentionally – I was reassured everyone does it. In my initial lessons I felt like I would never get the hang of it and then add in holding Ollie on the lead controlling her and I thought this is impossible!
by far the hardest part is that your brain has to focus on two or three things at once it takes a huge amount of concentration to get the cane skills down correctly to keep you safe and drive the powerchair. It is hard work, so next time you see me making it look effortless remember that it isn’t!
Having a good scanning technique is incredibly important if you are using a wheelchair a slip of a curb or down a step could result in flipping the chair with you in it and that would not end well.
Once I had mastered the local area the next step was to try to get on the bus again I was terrified but probably not for the reasons you might think.
As a new part-time wheelchair user I was really worried about the reaction of other people on the bus and the bus drivers – yes i was worried about what people where thinking about me. I was also concerned about the dreaded reverse round the corner and all the poles on the bus to get into the wheelchair space… there is a lot to bump into! My first attempt at getting on and off the bus it was raining and the bus was leaning on a camber towards the pavement it was an out of service bus and there was no pressure but it did not fill me with confidence. the combination of wet and sloping meant that every time I tried to get off the bus my wheelchair slid and I had very little control I thought if its going to be like this everytime I wont be getting the bus very often. Thankfully its really not like that all the time and after more practice and then introducing Ollie to the idea we now travel by bus regularly in Buzz.
This is the best bit even when I am really poorly I can now get Ollie out for a walk or get to the hospital or my GP. I can now take ollie for a free run independently without the help of another person which has been so good for both of us. I can enjoy walking along the shore and stopping to watch the world go by and take pictures. I can take ollie for really long walks and go to events and carnivals without constantly looking for somewhere to sit down. At times when im fatigued I can still go out and enjoy life without pushing my body beyond its limits.
And with that I will sign off for now but there is more to come on this topic
I received an Amazon order in the post this afternoon and it was my bright orange Medpac and I’m very impressed.
This Will not be a full review I’ve only had it a few hours but I wanted to share as they have sizes and shapes to suit all needs and I’m genuinely impressed by what I have seen so far.
They are no joke bright orange this is good because in my case in contains epipens and they need to be found quickly if they are needed.
I ordered the one to fit two epipens and it fits 2 epipens snugly it has a clip on the side of it and helpful little cards to put important information on.
I’ve only had it an afternoon and already someone has asked me where I got it so here is a link Medpack Link
Sadly this does not surprise me
Many of us in the POTS community have shared stories, posted websites, and pictures hoping to raise awareness during the month of October(the above picture is me sitting outside so I can watch my daughter play. Yes, I have to use an umbrella to shield the sun and wear compression hose. But that’s ok). Knowing October is Dysautonomia Awareness Month, we have made a more concerted effort to use our voices to advocate for this debilitating condition. Just this week I started going live on a POTS support and awareness page, and I have been blown away by the responses. I have heard story after story about regular people living pretty incredible lives and then…wham…POTS showed up. For many of us, we can remember the moment when POTS entered our lives. It’s like a crazy ex-boyfriend/girlfriend showing up out of nowhere and refusing to leave. I think is it incredibly…
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