Tracy Odell

It shows what one person can do!

The U.S. Access Board is undertaking a study with the Transportation Research Board to assess the feasibility of wheelchair restraint systems on aircraft, and will make their conclusions known this fall.

It is totally possible to design aircraft so that a person can fly safely while sitting in their own…[Read more]

I stay in the kitchen on the tile floor for twenty minutes or so until the snow melts off my wheels, and then the tiles get mopped off. If I’m in a hurry, though, I will get them wiped off with a towel.

There seems to be something wrong with the link. I get an error message saying “Access denied. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks.”  I also tried to link to it directly from the article and got the same error message. Did anyone else have this problem?

Thank you for sharing about your service dog. I don’t have a service dog but I imagine it is a big decision. Watching your video and seeing your ingenuity and picking things up maybe think that we should have a series of videos on this forum about all our tricks for doing everyday things. There’s a lot we can learn from each other! I haven’t tried…[Read more]

If someone has hurt themselves say with a serious back sprain and the call in sick, I don’t let them return until they produce a doctor’s note confirming it is safe for them to resume their normal duties.

But colds or flu – I let them come to work if they feel up to it. Because I can’t reach to touch taps, doorknobs, etc. I don’t pick up anyone…[Read more]

Hi Brianna,

I like to have several backups when I’m in bed. I’d never at home alone if I’m in bed. I feel too vulnerable.

I use a CPAP machine at night and recently was recommended to go to a full face mask. I found out that it muffles my voice and made it impossible for me to call loud enough to be transmitted by the baby monitor so my…[Read more]

I really like your posts! I especially like it when you introduce me to technology like bone-conducting headphones and recording eyeglasses.

I complain incessantly about being cold until the temperature reaches about 90°F and is very humid.

I have been told that being cold is a typical experience for those of us with SMA. We don’t have the muscle mass to generate heat, we tend not to eat as many calories which also generates heat and of course we’re not physically moving about to…[Read more]

Definitely most comfy in my ‘chair!

On top of SMA 2, I had a stroke last year. My trouble swallowing became more of a concern after that. Here are some suggestions from a stroke manual. I find many of these helpful to me:

Some ways to help are:

• Changing the texture of food and the thickness of drinks
• Changing the feeding position
• Sit straight with head slightly forward and…

[Read more]

Maybe try jeggings? They have “give” all over. See examples at http://www.torrid.com – sizes range from 10-28.

Maybe try jegging? They have “give” all over.

I can relate. Sometimes it is very hard when people have to move on – and this has happened probably more than 100 times in my lifetime and is bound to happen a few more times in the course of my life.

Growing up in an institution, I remember being devastated when one particular nurse who we all adored decided to leave. We knew we would never s…[Read more]

Catching up on SMA forums, reading and volunteer work.

This is a huge issue for me, and one I have shared about on an earlier forum.

Most recently I watched a TED Talk by Founder and President of All Wheels Up, Michele Erwin.

Here is the description: Erwin’s interest in accessible air travel began when she realized travelling with her son who has a severe physical disability and uses a wheelchair w…[Read more]

I think there is a problem with the URL link to your Morale Monologue issue.

I have trouble with a tablet because I can’t reach all parts of the screen, and I tend to use some fingers to raise my hand up enough to support my pointer finger to activate icons on the screen.

I prefer having a talking book through my iPhone. I have a subscription to audible.com which gives me a fair number of books to read. My local library…[Read more]

I have not flown for over 10 years. Fear of having my chair lost or damages is a significant reason, but did not on its own dissuade me from flying. The last straw was getting hurt by being transferred from the various series of wheelchairs to the airplane seat, and being in pain in the airline seat because it did not have the postural supports…[Read more]