BeautyAbility » Spinal Cord Injuries

Iraq vet becomes first enrollee in FDA-approved adult stem cell trial

Tiffiny — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 21:41:52 +0000

And Cpl. Matt Cole deserves this opportunity, that’s for sure. He was paralyzed in an insurgent attack in 2005, and has been paralyzed from the chest down since. A New Orleans chef and an amazing fighter, I hope he gets some movement back. Even the tiniest improvement helps.

The trials are being conducted by TCA Celluar Therapy, and yes, they’re taking a different path on the controversial stem cell issue (versus the other the current FDA trial using embryonic stem cells getting on the press coverage), and they’re hoping to prove to the world that adult stem cells are truly viable.

Will they succeed? I’ve head adult stem cells are useless from people who actually know what they’re talking about. But for Cpl. Cole’s sake, I hope they’re all wrong. I hope ALL these damned stem cells work, embryonic AND adult. Why not add some variety? I mean, us quads can use all the help we can get. I miss putting my feet in warm sand goshdarnit, kicking jerks in the balls, typing blogs with both hands….ok, enough whining for today.

What the Geron stem cell trials mean to a paralyzed girl me

Tiffiny — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:58:00 +0000

If you’ve glanced at the news lately, it seems the time is nigh for a for a spinal cord injury (SCI) cure. What’s the world buzzing about? The FDA giving Geron (a bio-med corporation in California) the go-ahead to begin the first ever human trials in the United States using embryonic stem cells. Full article…

Pledge, help make “Redneck Ninjas” a reality

Tiffiny — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:58:31 +0000

Out of all the interesting people I’ve met online, Drew Bates is one of my favorites. A quadriplegic (C5, injured on a road trip in 2007), I adore this mouthy Southern boy for multiple reasons: 1) He makes me laugh (hard), 2) He’s foine (vs. fine), AND 3) He’s creative, like professionally creative. He is a voice-over actor and writer, with a super exciting project in the works. But he needs your help!

His creation, Redneck Ninjas (think Blue Collar Comedy Tour, animated, and featuring a wacky family instead of whiny men), is an idea he’d LOVE to make into a 60-second short.

To make it happen: Help Drew raise $10,000 by September 30^th, 2010. If he meets his goal, he will use the money to pay Powerhouse Animation (animation studio) in Austin, Texas, who will – using traditional 2D animation and Adobe Flash animation – bring to life Drew’s already written and produced 60 second short for Redneck Ninjas.

And have no doubt, IT WILL BE AWESOME. I don’t know about you, but it would be fucking cool to know a quad is behind an Adult Swim program one day. Just sayin’.

Pledge and see Drew’s intro video here! Good luck Drew!

Read more about Redneck Ninjas and it’s awesome characters on Drew’s official site here.

Hate Chipotle’s high counters too? Wheelchair-user sues, wins

Tiffiny — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:36:33 +0000

Whatever you do, don’t get between a man and his burrito. You’d think someone who makes burritos by the millions would know this truthitude, but no, Chipotle managed to make this faux pas with their truly thoughtless counter design. Their high counters have been getting off scott-free for years, violating every ADA law in the book, and FINALLY, finally they’re being (legally) chastised. But only in California, for now.

The pissed AND hungry wheelchair-user we have to thank is San Diego State University professor Maurizo Antoinetti, who became a paraplegic in the Italian army. He began his crusade against Chipotle in 2005 after he realized he couldn’t see a damned thing. He couldn’t see which ingredients he was picking, couldn’t see his burrito being made….nada. And might I add how much I hate this?? Fucking Chipotle. I’m lucky, my chair has an elevator seat if I really want to see my burrito being made, but the line is so fast and rushed, it just isn’t practical.

I love your burritos Chipotle, but your counters can suck it.

Professor Antoinetti in completely in the right. He believes every wheelchair-user has the GOD GIVEN RIGHT to see his burrito being made, and he’s right! And while California courts have been disappointing as of late (Prop 8), they finally got it right this time, with a Federal Appeals court in Pasadena ruling Chipotle violated the Americans with Disabilities Act at two of its San Diego locations. And Antoinetti didn’t do it for the money. He said he’s spent over $500,000 on the multi-year legal battle. Here’s what Chipotle had to say after the battle:

“We respectfully disagree with the court’s ruling, however, the matter is largely moot because several years ago, independent of this lawsuit, we retrofitted all of our California restaurants with a new counter design that eliminates concern regarding wheelchair accessibility.”

So let me get this straight – they knew the counters were too high, fixed them at two locations to appease Antoinetti, but why don’t they replace all of their counters across the country if they know they were too high?

See, this is total BS. Support your locally-owned Mexican taco stands people. Chipotle is evil.

Podcast 67: Mimi Emery – Fierce, Canadian, paralyzed.

Tiffiny — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:07:02 +0000

In episode #67, I finally get to talk with the dynamic Mimi Emery (her blog), a T8 paraplegic, model for Quickie Wheelchairs, accomplished athlete, and newly minted tattoo shop co-owner. Listen here, or click below…

Geckos, mice hair, and O2 deprivation latest in SCI cure hopes

Tiffiny — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:42:29 +0000

Jockeying to win; world’s top researchers are trying everything to a cure for paralysis. Read more

Quadriplegic, former NYC fashion assistant develops buzz-worthy skin care line

Tiffiny — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:10:16 +0000

Michelle Obama is just one of the many fans of this skin care line with a conscious. More…

Paraplegic elected to Legislative Assembly of British Columbia

Tiffiny — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:49:20 +0000

Stephanie Cadieux, 36, was paralyzed in a car accident at age 18. More…

Paralyzed drummer invents mouth-operated bass drum

Tiffiny — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:45:27 +0000

It’s as simple as taking in a breath, but you still need skills. Here’s how it works!

3 disability etiquette rules you probably don’t know about

Tiffiny — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 20:03:56 +0000

Everyone knows it’s rude to stare (one would hope so). And if you attended school at some point in the last 20 years, you were probably taught the other rude no-no’s regarding disability etiquette, like to never make someone‘s wheelchair your footrest, or never help someone with a disability without asking first. These are the basics of disability etiquette and I hope for your sake and mine, that you know them. Or else you’re causing me unneeded stress

I have a problem however with the standard disability etiquette proffered at schools and corporations throughout America. It’s simply not enough, and the basic ten rules leave a lot of important, less-obvious, things out. Important things you should really know if being a non-douchebag to people with disabilities is important to you (and I hope it is!). And while my word isn’t the end all and be all, I’m an observant gimp. Let my last 17 years of paralysis serve you well. Here are 3 important disability etiquette rules that will take you from amateur land to the land of the super evolved.

3. Inviting us to your party? Everyone loves the token disabled person at a rockin‘ shindig (jk). If you’ve invited people with mobility disabilities (wheelchair, walker, cane) to your get-together, remember that you also need to let them know about the accessibility part of the equation, either in the invite or in a separate email, just to let them know how you plan on getting them into the party. One never assumes. And while the disabled invitee could ask, proper etiquette deems that the host makes it their responsibility all guests are cared for.

2. Think before you try to be funny: While most people’s intentions are usually pure of heart, throwing out random ass comments to people in wheelchairs as they fly by is no way to make them feel good. While it may make YOU feel good to say, “Hey slow down or you may get a speeding ticket!” it’s something we’ve all heard before, and btw, IT IS NOT FUNNY. Really, not funny at all. No laugh.

1. Stop complimenting us for doing simple things: Everyone loves a compliment (especially me), but being complimented for going to Target? Ummm…not so much. I didn’t go to physical rehab for months on end to have strangers give me two thumbs up for successfully making my daily errands. Condescending? I don’t even know where to begin.