Please check out this new facebook group, its been set up by a friend of mine to help re-home adapted textbooks. VI Adapted Textbooks “This group is specifically for visually impaired young people/parents to give and receive VI adapted school textbooks (Braille, Large Print, etc). I have a reasonable number of large print textbooks thanks…Continue reading Adapted Textbook Exchange – Blind / Visually Impaired – Braille / Large Print
Author: JBOT
I am an Independent Occupational Therapist & an expert patient with many years experience self-managing complex health conditions.
I began my working life in the sport and Outdoor Adventure industries. After being diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, I returned to study and gained a BSc in Occupational Therapy from the University of Northampton, where I was named Changemaker Student of the Year 2016. This is in part to recognise my efforts as a volunteer for the HMSA, for helping to bring Wheelchair Basketball to the university and for my blogging and online advocacy starting in 2013. The final noteworthy reason was my final placement, which made me the UK’s first OT practitioner to work in the travel industry.
I finished my degree in September 2016 after 5 years, thousands of miles of travel, 57 nights in 4 different hospitals, 5 different A&Es (some more than once), 4 ambulance trips, countless hospital and GP appointments, 3 work placements, living in student accommodation, hotels and friends’ houses.
Exercise with a Chronic Illness or Variable Disability.
I’ve thought about an exercise post for a while. I’ve had a couple of half-formed ideas about how to write this post but a recent article shared by the BBC has spurred me on. The article, Difficulties of Getting fit if you’re disabled by Kate Ansell, was brilliantly written and covered a lot of the topics I think…Continue reading Exercise with a Chronic Illness or Variable Disability.
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Flexivity (SudoGrip) Walking Stick Handle Cover
For many people the balance between style and function is a difficult one. I know I should be using walking sticks with ergonomic grips but I also really wanted one with flames around the bottom (just like Dr House). This is the perfect compromise.
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Ross’ Wildlife Boat Trips
Hello folks, This post will be a quick review of a boat trip I went on last week. Mum, Granny & I were spending the week in Norfolk and stumbled across a man called Ross with a boat full of birds. Ross’ Wildlife Boat Trips is a one man wildlife tour out of Horsey Mere on…Continue reading Ross’ Wildlife Boat Trips
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Relationships, chronic illness & intimacy.
This one is a requested post and the first time I’ve co-written a post! Since this post is about maintaining healthy relationships I’ve invited my partner to share his side of the story too. I will apologise now for elevated levels of sarcasm and any unnecessary use of puns featured in this blog post. Just…Continue reading Relationships, chronic illness & intimacy.
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Temperature Regulation Hints and Tips
Introduction Temperature Regulation is supposed to happen naturally. Unfortunately, many people with complex health conditions find that this simply doesn’t work. As many of you may know I have Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS). Basically, because of my Ehlers Danlos my autonomic system is a bit wonky. I struggle to adjust to postural changes and…Continue reading Temperature Regulation Hints and Tips
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Types of Splinting and Bracing for Hypermobility Syndromes.
There are many different types of splints for different uses. When deciding what will suit you there are lots of points to consider. So here goes, my run down on different methods of supporting your joints. Neoprene or Elastic Supports These are often fairly basic lightly shaped stretchy sleeves you simply pull on, commonly available for…Continue reading Types of Splinting and Bracing for Hypermobility Syndromes.
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Yoga with Hypermobility Syndromes – Safe Stretching
Please remember throughout this post, I am not a yoga instructor, I am not a physiotherapist. This is all info I’ve learned through personal experiences with yoga and Ehlers Danlos. I recommend checking with your Dr or physio if you’re unsure about anything.
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DisabilOT – OTs with disabilities
I’ve made a big effort to engage with the online OT community and I have to say I’m loving it. Tweet chats like #OTalk and the up and coming #WeAHPs are making it much easier to connect with likeminded people across the world. Social media is making the world a more accessible place and I…Continue reading DisabilOT – OTs with disabilities
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Tinted Lenses – Visual Stress, Migraines and more
I’ve been wearing tinted glasses since I was 12 years old. I started out with dark green but very quickly moved to orange. I’ve had a fair few pairs of orange tints. I’m used to them, I think I look a little odd without tinted glasses now! I just see them as part of myself…Continue reading Tinted Lenses – Visual Stress, Migraines and more
