Patrick Lenihan

I have an ActionHeat battery powered heated vest that I love. They also make heated base layers and jackets. The thing  that I like about ActionHeat vests and base layers is that you can power them with any 5 volt usb power bank. The power bank that came with the vest only last about 2 hours but I purchased a 30000 mAh power bank that powers the…[Read more]

I have a 4 year old high energy lab so staying in isn’t really an option. I often walk him or go with my s/o to watch her exercise him at the dog park or in the bay. I like to hang out in the yard with my s/o as she works in the garden. I like to go to our local deli and our weekly farmers market.  I love going to many of the local breweries and…[Read more]

I wear IZ Adaptive’s jeans, chinos and sweat pants.  I love them but I  have had to replace the zippers on a couple of the pairs after a couple of years. I tend to purchase base layer shirts with thumb holes so that when I put on a jacket or top layer my sleeves stay down. I tend to go with whatever brand happens to be on clearance at REI, LL B…[Read more]

Adding bone broth and or collagen to soups will increase the protein. Lentils and chick peas are high in protein and can be blenderized and turned  into dal and hummis respectively to make them easier swallow. Fresh soft cheeses like chevre and burrata and ripe runny cheeses like brie and triple creme cheeses are also easier to swallow sources of protein.

The reason smoke alarms are on ceilings is because smoke rises.  It only spreads out when it can’t rise anymore. If the smoke detector is low, it won’t sense the smoke until the room is full of smoke. Fire safety officials recommend changing smoke detector batteries every time you change the clocks.

I spend a lot of time outdoors in the spring, summer and fall. If the temperature is 60º or higher I am comfortable with just a base layer and a long sleeve shirt. I can handle mid 50’s without bundling up if it is sunny and there is no wind. In the summer I love kite flying, going to Farmers’ Market, enjoying the produce and flowers from my…[Read more]

I have 2006 Buick Terraza with a Braun conversion. It is cool that you have an MV1. That is quite a sweet rig. I remember reading about those when they first came out. They were initially being marketed to cab companies in NYC and to public transit authorities in smaller communities as a more affordable alternative to larger paratransit buses but…[Read more]

I have a Roho and a Synergy Solutions foam and gel combo cushion. I prefer the Synergy Solutions cushion because it is a bit firmer and that enables me to shift and adjust myself in the chair a little easier.

I use a combination of agencies and I.P.’s . I have 6 people total working with me every week. I have some body come in for a couple of hours every morning to get me up, showered and dressed. They also prep my breakfast, do some light housework and prep my lunch if I am eating at home. My s/o of 20 years makes my dinner and puts me to bed most…[Read more]

I have flown a lot. While I would be more comfortable flying in my own chair it isn’t a deal breaker for me. The most difficult part of flying for me is dehydrating myself before the flight so I won’t have to use the bathroom while in the air. I would love it if the bathroom was at least aisle chair accessible. I did have an airline lose my chair…[Read more]

DeAnn & Katie, straw bale gardening is a great affordable alternative to raised beds for wheelchair users. You can pull the chair right up to or parallel to the bales and harvest your garden. There is no weeding and after one or two seasons of gardening you can compost the bales. I have grown lettuce, tomatoes, tomatillos, cucumbers, sugar snap…[Read more]

You can easily clip a mini electric guitar amp like the  Danelectro Honeytone N-10 to your chair and plug the mic into that. If the plug for your mic doesn’t fit into the amp there are adapters that you can buy that will help.

Kevin what you are describing is similar to Cohousing. Couhousing is an intentional community that emphasizes and values interdependence and diversity of community. While Cohousing communities are not exclusively targeted to those with disabilities, they welcome a diverse range of abilities, ages, cultures etc… .   Check out the Cohousing…[Read more]

I recommend the Down Under Bag from the Advantage Bag Company.

https://www.advantagebag.com/collections/all

I don’t recall ever posting anything on Facebook about SMA. I have on occasion shared articles about disability rights that I found interesting. Most of my posts are photos of my life that I share with my family and friends back east, recipes that I like, and jokes and observations that I write.