@stickmancomms
Stickmen helping to build understanding and acceptance of hidden disabilities and chronic illness, in a way that empowers us. (Run by Hannah Ensor - who has #hypermobility #PoTS and probably other stuff.) +talking about personal experience of #disability
Ditto! My neck and shoulders couldn’t handle that position. Also my chair has tilt in space (great for going down hills), lying down, and also seat raise (so I’m standing height) - great for outdoor concerts, and helping small children climb trees 😆
I’m a proper outdoorsy type, and I’d accepted I couldn’t do outdoorsy stuff anymore, until I found this chair. Expensive, but for me it’s been SO worth it.
A grass field with a few sporadic trees, undulating gently below a bright blue sky and evening sunlight
Hannah, in a green offroad powerchair, wearing a purple raincoat and a broad grin - sat on an unofficial path at the edge of some woodland, with really tall pine trees.
close up of delicate, white, 5-petal flowers on a tree.
The view from the top of a hill, out across Day's lock - a river and many flooded fields/ponds, in a landscape of patchwork fields and distant villages. Fading into a hazy distance
Couple of photos from a trip to Whittenham clumps (local nature reserve) the other day. It was SO beautiful to be out in the sunshine, enjoying the start of spring. And yes, going right through the patch of serious mud because my powerchair can handle it was definitely a highlight.
feel glad to be there instead of desperate to leave because of the noise.
This applies to all sorts of situations for me: noisy public spaces, concerts, church, social events, where noisy machines are running, on public transport, and more.
www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...
Without them noise will make me cringe, want to leave, and use huge amounts of willpower and energy to stay - leaving little left for actually enjoying the event or socialising or anything else. With ear plugs, I can often relax, enjoy, focus etc so much more easily. I can walk in to an event and -
I can't possibly actually need or benefit from ear plugs, in some strange, subconcsious way.
I avoided getting them for years, thinking it would just be silly and over-reacting - and now I have them (I use loop earplugs), they make such a difference I wish I'd bought them much sooner!
card reading “I find noisy places challenging. Please don’t ask me to remove my head/earphones or ear defenders. They help me to cope with the noise. I can still hear you.” with stickman illustration.
This is a reminder that if you find noisy places exhausting, then that is a totally legitimate reason to get some ear plugs! It's way too easy to think 'oh, but I'm not that bad, it's not like I totally can't cope' etc. Or think that not having a diagnosis that explains my noise sensitivity means -
Purple button badge that says "Light sensitive. Tinted lenses needed." - with cartoon drawing of tinted glasses in white.
There are many conditions that can make someone sensitive to light, and mean they need to wear tinted lenses - even inside or on dull days. They include: various eye conditions and visual impairments, migraine, autism, fatigue and more.
Badges from www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...
Card reading “My mobility aid is my freedom. I’ve put it where I need it. Please don’t move it or sit on it without checking with me first.”
We are reviewing our mobility aid card. We'd love your feedback, whether you might use the card or be shown it.
● Would you find this helpful?
● Is the info clear?
● Are any key points missing?
● Any improvements to suggest?
So interesting you say this - I do the same.
when it comes to pacing to manage chronic illness or disability, this ability to normalise a new situation is a complicating factor, and can make managing a condition harder..." - read my blog for more.
www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/post/when-ad...
Blog: When adapting to symptoms gets in the way of #pacing and self management.
"Human beings usually adapt pretty quickly to change. Absorbing it into a new normal - often without noticing it.
I'm sure it's a useful survival skill, but -
Sounds Like a plan (and also, relate!)
You know what? AI might have a better chance of convincing me that it's useful if it didn't keep offering to "summarise this document as it appears quite long". On a file of address labels. Because of course a summary of address labels is useful. Not.
These lymphoedema cards are available from our website: www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...
Keyring card with a simple, clear overview of lympoedema (or lymphedema) to help others understand and accept the differences it can bring. The text says: “I have lymphoedema. My lymph drainage system is faulty, causing swelling due to fluid remaining in the affected area(s). This can be painful, make moving difficult, and may even cause fluid to leak through my skin. I’m at risk of skin infections and damage. I may need to wear compression garments, raise/rest the affected limb, or use massage to reduce the fluid build up. There is no cure. Please don’t comment on my shape or size.”
Life with lymphoedema means looking different and needing to do some things differently. 'Average' people often just don't get it - like believing putting your feet up is lazy and selfish, when it's an important strategy to manage your condition! These keyring cards give a quick way to explain it.
Good point.
recharging card, with a plain green border and an utterly exhausted, cross eyed stickman and text "Sometimes I need to push myself so I can do more, and other times I need to recharge, Right now I need to recharge. Don't worry, I am looking after myself and will be ready to face the world again soon"
Recharging. Something that can look like laziness or selfishness, but is often absolutely vital for symptom management and long term health. If I don't do it my overall health and capacity gets worse quickly. Today's been audiobooks and watching the clouds in order to have a better tomorrow.
#PoTS
“when u next interact with a #DisabledPerson who is 'controlling or #demanding ' - please step back & look again, bcos maybe in reality all they r asking for is the basics that will allow them to function, to be part of #society.”: buff.ly/fi8Rmul
By @stickmancomms.bsky.social
#disability #spoonie
A brain fog card, with a plain border and a zombie stickman with cotton wool thought bubble. "Warning: Severe brain fog. currently in 'Zombie-with-head-full-of-cotton-wool' mode. I may struggle to remember or understand what I'm told, or to make myself understood. If it isn't an emergency please try later."
Brain fog can look like lack of care, lack of effort, not listening etc - but actually my brain isn't operating properly.
It helps to let people around me know when I'm in a brain fog state, because they can then have more realistic expectations. www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...
We've just sent out our lastest enews - you can read it here: www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/so/86PnwUPEq...
A card for people who sometimes can't speak. It says “I can't speak at the moment. I can understand you. I may respond with a gesture instead of speaking. Please let me be involved without speaking. I will speak if/when I am able to.”
Intermittent speech problems are really hard to deal with. People see you being chatty - and expect that will always be the case. And think we are offended or rude when we can't speak. That's why we have a new 'can't speak at the moment' card - so that when intermittent speech issues kick off -
whether it's fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, overwhelm, aphasia, migraine, or something else - you can explain what's happening to whoever you are with.
From: www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...
A card for people who sometimes can't speak. It says “I can't speak at the moment. I can understand you. I may respond with a gesture instead of speaking. Please let me be involved without speaking. I will speak if/when I am able to.”
Intermittent speech problems are really hard to deal with. People see you being chatty - and expect that will always be the case. And think we are offended or rude when we can't speak. That's why we have a new 'can't speak at the moment' card - so that when intermittent speech issues kick off -
- so we created this card.
Available from www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...
Having fibromyalgia means needing people to understand the symptoms, limitations, and variability that it involves. But at the same time, the #Fatigue and #BrainFog can also take away the ability to think and speak clearly - making explaining it a real challenge -
Just seen a young man taking his 3 year old son to meet the tractors out the back of my house. Very cute. And I wholeheartedly approve!
Green A4 poster titled "Pacing: getting the best out of life with limited energy". with 10 practical tips for pacing and getting the best out of life.
Green A4 poster titled "Pacing: getting the best out of life with limited energy". with 10 practical tips for pacing and getting the best out of life. Along the top it says: "Swap before you drop: Be honest about your limits and committed to making good decisions. This can help you achieve more and feel better in the long term." "Don’t soldier on: Being able to pretend you are okay doesn’t make carrying on a good idea." "Avoid if possible: Reaching ‘splat’ too often makes things worse. Save the splat for special occasions." - above a series of 7 ever more exhausted stickmen - the final one has faceplanted on the floor.
We're reviewing our Pacing handy hints poster and would love your feedback on it.
● Would you find this helpful?
● Is the info clear?
● Are any key points missing?
● Any improvements to suggest?
We look forward to hearing from you.
