Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Griffith University would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest team member Dr. Talitha Kingsmill, Research Fellow. Dr. Talitha Kingsmill is a Non-Executive Director, consultant, educator and solicitor with 25 years’ experience across the private, public and NFP sectors in law, education, educational leadership, research, digital citizenship, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and policy development.

With 18 years of experience working and raising a family while living with a vision disability, Talitha is a passionate advocate for equitable, accessible opportunities for all.

Talitha believes that access in all its forms is fundamental to equitable opportunity so that individuals may live their best lives. Her lived and professional experiences provide rich insights to the confronting and very real challenges and obstacles for people living with disability and equip Talitha to be a powerful and articulate disability and inclusion advocate.

Talitha’s doctoral research concerned the integration of digital citizenship (safe, responsible and respectful online engagement) in secondary school curriculum. She has published and presented within Australia and internationally in the field of building individual and collective digital citizenship capacity. In 2017, Talitha was awarded an Australian Council for Educational Leaders Research in Educational Leadership and Management Award for exceptional academic achievement in advanced studies in educational leadership.

Talitha understands that a collective voice achieved through consultation and collaboration is powerful, and passionately advocates for this.

Dr. Kingsmill will be working with Prof. Elizabeth Kendall to establish and develop the Queensland Disability Research Network (QDRN) – an enterprise led by researchers with disability and researchers with a particular focus or expertise in the disability sector across Queensland universities.

FIND OUT MORE:

https://qdn.org.au/meet-your-nominees/dr-talitha-kingsmill/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tkingsmill/

Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability:

https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/inclusive-futures-reimagining-disability

CONTACT:

t.kingsmill@griffith.edu.au or inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au or qdrn@griffith.edu.au

National Pain Week is Australia’s annual awareness event for chronic pain. National Pain Week takes place in the last week of July each year and aims to support and provide awareness to the 3.6 million Australian’s living with chronic pain.

This week Griffith Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, together with The Hopkins Centre has teamed up with Dr Nicholas Aitcheson, Rehabilitation and Pain Specialist, at Metro South Pain Rehabilitation Centre to raise awareness, further explain acute and chronic pain, how the body feels pain, current treatment options and lifestyle solutions.

Keep an eye out each day this week, as we share information, tips and tricks that can help you can create a new life path with pain and why you should do it.

Acute pain vs chronic pain

Picture a child with a band-aid vs a person with pills and injections and ongoing pain.

Our upbringing often tells us that pain is associated with body damage and that we need to rest and get other people’s help to fix it. This works for acute pain, but in chronic pain we need to take control of our own lives, actively work on changing our bodies and minds and find new ways of existing, instead of trying to return to a life that we miss and are nostalgic about.

Relying on rest leads to deconditioning, isolation and weakness. Relying on other people can lead to dynamics of disempowerment. Similarly, relying on medications and surgery leads to reliance on interventions that promise only temporary relief and can have serious side effects.

Check with your health professional that you are safe to proceed (most people with chronic pain are sore but stable and are safe to move). Then gently and progressively start to actively create a new life for yourself.

The graphic below shows the difference between Acute and Chronic pain.

Chronic pain is like a malfunctioning, overly sensitive alarm system.

In acute pain our alarm system is working well. If there is body damage or the potential for damage, then we feel it and do something about it.

In chronic pain the alarm system reacts too strongly with only very small input. It is like a smoke alarm going off when you are cooking toast or a car alarm going off when it rains. The alarm does not accurately represent the threat to the body. Often in chronic pain, the body is stable and safe, but the alarm system is still going.

The brain drives the pain

Pain is felt in the brain. What we are starting to understand is that our mood and the way we think about pain affects the strength of the pain signal that reaches our brain. If we are really worried about the meaning of the pain, then the pain tends to be worse. If you can successfully change your thinking around pain, then you can “decrease the volume” on the pain signal by affecting the pain signal transmission in the spinal cord and brain.

Here are some thoughts that may be unhelpful and some ways to address them:

My body is broken. It wouldn’t be so painful unless there was something seriously wrong.

Pain can exist without damage. Amount of pain does not reflect amount of damage. Think “sore but safe”, “hurt not harm”

This pain means I’m never going to be able to do anything I enjoy again.

Think of the things you can enjoy now even with your current condition. Enjoy those things and gently find ways to expand the things you enjoy.

My back is so sore that I’ll probably be in a wheelchair soon.

Pain is often not indicative of damage, especially not the kind of nerve damage that leads to paralysis.

I might not be able to work for much longer because of this pain and then I won’t be able to support myself or my family.

These are reasonable thoughts to have, however worrying about them can make pain worse. Trying to address unhelpful, repetitive thoughts can help with your pain.

I need to protect my body. That’s why I keep my muscles so tense.

Muscle tension in itself usually leads to worsening of chronic pain. Gentle relaxation and movement is much more beneficial.

Low mood, anxiety, excessive worry, poor sleep all increase pain as well, so dealing with these tends to improve pain.

Movement as a way to teach the brain

Sometimes our brain is unable to realise that our body is not broken and it needs the body to lead the way.

Slowly progressing activity with a relaxed and attentive attitude can help the brain to learn how the body is able to move in relaxed and less guarded ways. Tai chi, Feldenkrais, gentle yoga and qigong are all movement practices that can help in this way. Pacing yourself and slowly increasing your activity (rather than trying to go too hard too soon) can help with this approach.

Find out more by reading the Pain Revolution fact sheets:

https://www.painrevolution.org/factsheets

For more information, contact:

Dr Nicholas Aitcheson
Rehabilitation and Pain Specialist
Metro South Pain Rehabilitation Centre

Nicholas.aitcheson@health.qld.gov.au

A Griffith University and Queenslanders with Disability Network-led research initiative to discover the lived experience of Queenslanders with disability was released at Australia’s Disability Strategy Forum in Brisbane today.

The first annual Voice of Queenslanders with Disability report which aims to inform policy to remove barriers to access and produce equitable outcomes for a diverse Queensland, was funded by the Queensland Government and delivered in partnership with Queenslanders with Disability Network.

Griffith researchers adopted a unique approach to gathering survey information by engaging nine citizen scientists with lived experience of disability to enable participants to share their stories authentically and transparently about challenges and successes in their lives.

Griffith Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability and Hopkins Centre Research Fellow Kelsey Chapman said the initiative examined a range of areas which impact daily life for Queenslanders with disability.

“The findings reflect a meaningful step towards understanding what life is like for Queenslanders with disability, their family and carers, and the organisations that support them,” Ms Chapman said.

““Participants called for improved standard of living and social protection for Queenslanders with disability, to improve economic security, accessible housing, increased employment opportunities, and support lifelong learning.”

Read more about the report in Griffith News: https://news.griffith.edu.au/2023/06/19/first-annual-report-reveals-lived-experience-of-queenslanders-with-disability/

Please email inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au for a PDF copy of the dashboard (see below).

Image 1: Left: IFRD Researchers Kelsey Chapman and Dr Camila Shirota stand in front of the Queensland’s Disability Plan pull up banners, Top Right: Craig Crawford MP delivers the Ministers Address to attendees from the stage, Bottom Right: Panel 2 sit on the stage, including Katie Kelly, A/P Michelle Villeneuve and Jennifer Cullen with moderator Peter Tully. Bottom: Logos – Griffith University, Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability and The Hopkins Centre.

Image 2: Top: Panel 2 on the stage including Kevin Cocks, Katie Kelly, A/P Michelle Villeneuve and Jennifer Cullen with moderator Peter Tully, Bottom Left: Craig Crawford MP delivers the Ministers Address to attendees from the stage, Bottom Right: Mathew Ames sit in his motor chair and addresses the audience. Bottom: Logos – Griffith University, Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability and The Hopkins Centre.

Image 3: The Sunshine Troupe performing a western style line dance on stage at the Australia’s Disability Strategy Queensland Forum. Dancing in time to the music, the troupe are wearing western attire, consisting of black jeans and boots, shiny gold belt buckles with longhorn bull head and fringed or embroidered collared western style shirts and black cowboy hats. Bottom: Logos – Griffith University, Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability and The Hopkins Centre.

Below: The Queenslanders with Disability Dashboard infographic

SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH A DISABILITY

This scholarship supports a commencing student with a disability, who is experiencing financial hardship and/or educational disadvantage.

• Targeted: to commencing students with a disability.
• Value: up to $20,000
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Apply by: 4pm Monday 19 June 2023

APPLY NOW!

https://www.griffith.edu.au/scholarships/scholarship-listings/matt-levy-inclusive-futures-scholarship

More information: inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au

Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability and Disrupting Violence Beacons, Griffith University together with the team from Sport and Gender Equity @ Griffith (SAGE) presented a panel discussion about inclusive sport at the Sports and Social Justice Symposium on Friday, 2 June, hosted by the School of Health Sciences and Social Work.

What can sport and exercise do for social justice, human rights, and social inclusion?

This Symposium brought together some of Griffith University's most talented interdisciplinary researchers, partners, and alumni to amplify the national and international potential of sport and physical activity for social justice. Featuring a special guest presentation by University of Melbourne Fulbright Future Scholar Dr Kalyn McDonough, Symposium participants explored ways that Griffith University's existing international calibre research in exercise science, social work, sport development, social justice, tourism and leisure, sport management, disability rehabilitation and inclusion, and violence prevention can converge to promote health, wellbeing, and justice across diverse communities in Australia and internationally.

Building toward the Brisbane Olympic Games in 2032, this was a key opportunity for all interested staff, students, alumni, and partners to generate new interdisciplinary connections for community benefit and impact.

Panel

The panel included Dr. Georgia Munro-Cook PLY, Matthew McShane PLY, Glen Woods, Dr. Diti Bhattacharya, A/Prof. Popi Sotiriadou and Prof. Simone Fullagar.

Event aims

• Developing principles for high impact interdisciplinary research in sport for social justice
• Promoting connections, collaboration, and strength across SHS and the university
• Generating a collaborative vision for future research in sport for social justice
• Developing a foundation to guide future research
  
  

Audience and stakeholders

• Staff, Faculty, Students, and alumni in School of Health Sciences and Social Work
• Related research concentrations and individuals across Griffith University
• Existing and prospective community and industry research partners and collaborators
• Prospective higher degree by research candidates
  
  

Inclusion and Inclusivity in Sport: Challenging Inequities?

• What is sport for social justice?
• Excellent and equitable approaches to promoting sport and physical activity across the life course
• Human rights and sport: Challenging inequality, exclusion, and the “isms” (racism, sexism, ableism, homophobism, heterosexism, ageism)
• The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Do large scale sporting events increase violence and disadvantage?

Thank you to Kelly Clanchy and Paul Harris (organisers) and the panel for hosting a most impactful and interactive session that was enjoyed by all.

An accessible recording of this symposium will be available shortly - please check back soon for the link.

FIND OUT MORE:

Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability: https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/inclusive-futures-reimagining-disability

Disrupting Violence Beacon: https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/disrupting-violence

School of Health Sciences and Social Work: https://www.griffith.edu.au/griffith-health/school-health-sciences-social-work

SAGE: https://www.griffith.edu.au/griffith-business-school/departments/tourism-sport-hotel-management/sage-at-griffith

CONTACT:

s.fullagar@griffith.edu.au or alternatively inclusivefutures@griffith.edu.au

Author: Dr Chris Edwards, Adjunct Research Fellow

The concept of neurodiversity which celebrates the range of natural brain variations holds great importance for me as a neurodivergent individual. Neurodivergence refers to brain functioning that is different from the majority and encompasses conditions such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. The concept of neurodiversity challenges societal norms that have historically stigmatised neurodivergent people. In this personal narrative, I will explore why it is crucial for universities to create inclusive environments that accommodate neurodivergent students and staff.

Higher education is increasingly attractive to neurodivergent individuals due to better career prospects, increased earning potential, and improved well-being. However, universities often lack the necessary support systems for these students, resulting in unsatisfactory experiences and higher dropout rates. These experiences also apply to neurodivergent staff, staff who are often well placed to support these students.

As a neurodivergent individual, I understand firsthand the challenges posed by the physical environment of university campuses. Noise, crowded spaces, unpredictable routines, and sensory overload can have a significant impact on mental health and well-being. Moreover, societal barriers and a lack of understanding and support for hidden disabilities hinder effective engagement in higher education.

To create inclusive environments, universities should involve individuals with lived experience in the design or redesign of spaces. Flexibility and adaptability are key, allowing for varying sensory needs. Modifications do not have be expensive - simple changes like reducing visual clutter, modifying lighting, rearranging furniture, and establishing sensory-friendly spaces can make a significant difference.

Greater understanding and awareness of neurodiversity are essential across the university community. University-wide initiatives, workshops, and training programs can promote diversity, educate individuals about different lived experiences, and provide additional psychological and social support for neurodivergent students. Online social options, mentorship programs, and communication aids can also enhance their university experience.

Inclusive teaching practices, such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), can foster a more inclusive learning environment by promoting flexibility. By emphasising strengths and reducing the need for a formal disclosure, UDL benefits both neurodivergent and neurotypical students. Modifications such as structured learning opportunities, flexible learning methods, clear instructions, and providing learning materials in advance can make a positive impact.

Creating inclusive university environments for neurodivergent individuals is crucial for their academic success and overall well-being. Through embracing neurodiversity, universities can provide the necessary support and accommodations. Collaboration, awareness, and inclusive practices can pave the way for an educational landscape that values and celebrates the unique contributions of every individual.

Find out more about Dr Chris Edwards:

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0617-674X

Read Dr Edwards’ latest publications:

'Exploring Identity Importance for Autistic Adults and Associations with Disclosure Experiences: A Brief Report'

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/aut.2023.0005

'Using Experience Sampling Methodology to Capture Disclosure Opportunities for Autistic Adults'

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aut.2022.0090

Image: Professor Tamara Ownsworth, Research Director, The Hopkins Centre together with Julia Robertson, Hopkins Centre Ambassador and Griffith Alumni.

On average each day, 6 Australians are diagnosed with brain and other central nervous system cancers and 4 will die from such diseases. Brain tumour broadly encompasses three subtypes: benign (non-malignant) tumor, lower-grade glioma (less aggressive initially, but risk of progression or recurrence over time) and high-grade glioma (malignant). Compared to other cancers, people with brain tumour typically face greater disease burden and have the largest lifetime cost per person.

Individuals with a brain tumour of any kind experience considerable stress related to their diagnosis and complex neurocognitive impairments which significantly impact their mental health and that of their caregivers. Yet, there is minimal investment directed towards psychosocial care and a lack of research on ways to improve the well-being of these individuals and their families. Current statewide services available for people with cancer in the Queensland context include screening for distress and the delivery of up to five telephone-based support sessions with a nurse counsellor or psychologist. However, these services are not targeted to the specific needs of people with brain tumour who require an extended and specialised psychosocial intervention to address the complex cognitive, behavioural, social and emotional consequences of brain tumour.

In a major step to address this gap, Griffith University and Cancer Council Queensland (CCQ) collaborated in 2010-2013 to conduct the first clinical trial of psychosocial support for people with brain tumour; the Making Sense of Brain Tumour (MAST) program. Delivered face-to-face in people’s homes, this 10-session program (1 session p/w) was found to significantly improve mental health and quality of life (QoL) for people with brain tumour relative to standard care. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25251838/

Our MAST research informed international palliative care guidelines, with the European Association for Neuro-Oncology rating the evidence for the MAST program as higher in quality than pharmacological interventions for mood disorders. Yet, barriers associated with face-to-face therapy in a clinic (e.g. transport, distance, debilitating symptoms) restrict people’s ability to access the MAST program. We therefore trialled the feasibility of remote delivery of the MAST program through the use of video conferencing. As part of a work-integrated learning project, Julia Robertson worked with Professor Tamara Ownsworth to develop a person-centred guide to using Zoom videoconferencing.

Funded by a NHMRC Partnership Grant with Cancer Council Queensland and Metro South Health, we evaluated a telehealth version of MAST (Tele-MAST) with 82 people with brain tumour and their family caregivers. Compared to standard care (5 sessions of telephone-based support), Tele-MAST was four times more likely to reduce levels of depression, and also improved quality of life. Due to the established effectiveness of Tele-MAST, we are now evaluating the nationwide implementation of our program through a MRFF Brain Cancer Survivorship Grant. People living anywhere in Australia who have access to an appropriate device and internet can participate.

People interested in taking part are encouraged to read more about the study and express their interest through the following link. We are recruiting until August 2023.

https://healthcheck.griffith.edu.au/brain-tumour/

Carlo Alimboyong, is a 2013 Griffith graduate and now Operations Manager and Exercise Physiologist working in disability sport. As a member of Inclusive Futures: Reimagining Disability, Carlo advocates for physical activity and exercise to people of all abilities. He is passionate about creating a community, particularly for those that are disadvantaged and aren’t aware of the benefits of exercise. The results and impact that he and his team has created is continually growing and he is eager to revolutionise the way we look at health.

Carlo works predominantly with a vast array of disabilities, including; Neurological Disorders such Multiple Sclerosis & Cerebral Palsy, Physical Disabilities such Amputees, Meningococcal, Developmental Disorders and much more. The particular interest that Carlo facilitates when working with people living with a disability is simply working together to achieve their goals. Some of these goals have included becoming better at home-gardening, to wheelchair basketball, to goals of participating in the Paralympics.

We asked Carlo about sport and spinal health for people with disability and what the benefits are. Read what he had to say below.

My name is Carlo Alimboyong, and I am an Exercise Physiologist and Operations Manager at Atkins Health. I am passionate about community participation at all levels in our society. Disability sport is something I have been involved with over the last 5 years. Generally speaking, the involvement and awareness of disability sport is quite low. However the positive outcomes that I see from people with disability (PwD) participating in community sport is of high regard! These benefits are seen in both social and physical outcomes. I am an optimist that endeavours to navigate barriers so that I can influence as many PwD to achieve their goals and a better quality of life through sport. For spinal health specifically, positive benefits can result from training for sport.

Social and Physical benefits

The social benefits from community sport range from enhancing mood, reduced incidences of depression and social embeddedness. Experiencing this firsthand, I can say that the uplifting comradery and support that each individual offers is second to none. Being a part of disability sport is truly inspiring.

One would assume that a PwD participating in sport has exceptional physical abilities… this is not necessarily the case! We strive to encourage people of all abilities to participate, but also allow them to understand that training is an important habit to develop to compliment participation. Training is where the real benefits are achieved from. In regards to spinal health, specific resistance training has been shown to improve bone mineral density which is important for preventing any fractures. Resistance training will also improve muscle size & strength, which has shown to positively impact posture, reduce pain and enhance mobility.

Why is participation low?

Individuals face many barriers in being physically active. This can include lack of transport, impairment type, lack of trained volunteers and appropriate programmes and lack of information received from therapists following discharge. Yet it is evident that PwD are eager to participate and improve their health and physical function. However, participation at great levels will only occur if practitioners reduce the barriers to access, provide relevant training to staff and volunteers, educate their patients about the importance of physical activity post discharge, and create tailored programmes in safe and accessible community facilities.

What can we do as a society?

At a community level, there are many supports you could access. This includes your council, local sports teams (it isn’t uncommon for a local club to have a disability team), local area coordinators/support coordinators and allied health professionals.

At a macro level, be sure to keep up with organisations such as Sporting Wheelies and Wheelchair Sports Australia (WSR) on news and events. In the upcoming years leading up to 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic games, there will be great emphasis on participation in sport and recreation.

What can Atkins Health do?

Atkins Health is a proud supporter of training PwD for their spinal health as well as disability sport. Some sports that we have been involved for training include:

• Wheelchair basketball
• Disabled surfing
• Disability sailing
• Para-powerlifting
• Fun-Runs
• General Fitness

Atkins Health prides themselves achieving results for their clients. If community sport participation is a goal of theirs then we will help support you in achieving that goal, from building capacity to navigating the correct activity in community for you.

Find out more about Carlo and his work:

https://www.atkinshealth.com.au/about-us/practitioners/carlo-alimboyong/

More Information:

https://www.atkinshealth.com.au/contact-us/appointments/

Get Social:

https://www.facebook.com/atkinshealth

https://www.instagram.com/atkins_health/

My name is Lisa and I’m a member of the Griffith University Inclusive Futures Reimagining Disability Engagement Council. It’s a position I love, because I get to work alongside other passionate people who also want to use their lived-experience with disability to create positive systemic change.

I acquired multiple visible and invisible disabilities in my early twenties including a brain injury and amputations. In my experience and without a doubt, it’s all of the things you can’t see, such as chronic pain and fatigue (plus other things related to living in this disabled body) that are far more challenging than my wheelchair, prosthetic or anything you can see.

When I left hospital, I couldn’t wait to start working again. Being productive, using my brain, creating something were all what I loved to do in my previous roles in advertising and media.

I went back to agency life for a while but knew it wasn’t conducive to my ‘new normal’ with disabilities so went out on my own. I had always spent and stil spend a lot of time hunched over a keyboard, which might not be great for my spine but my brain appreciates it. Moving periodically has been the key for me.

I started my business back in early 2010. With a background in business communications, I saw significant gaps in the market where industries could be better working with and serving the disability community. But despite my best efforts, few mainstream businesses wanted to listen.

When I’d enter a corporate environment, people would see my disability (usually my wheelchair) before they had a chance to hear what I had to say or how I could help their business achieve its commercial objectives.

This continued for many years and still happens today, but fortunately, to a lesser degree. Business leaders now understand the need for diversity and inclusion of disability in their content and practices. They are realising that it’s not just a ‘nice thing to do’ and socially responsible but the financial and economic benefits can also be great.

As a result, the same businesses and industries that once told me to go away and to stop dreaming are now the same ones asking me to come and consult to them on disability inclusion.

My husband jokes that I have a “spine of steel” for persevering with work over the years despite the initial rejections and blatant discrimination. But in all honesty, my spine and the muscles and nerves around it probably aren’t in the best condition – despite my vigilante efforts to keep my spinal health in check.

Even though my spine was not injured when I first fell ill and became disabled, I still have a lot of problems with it and am in constant pain.

My body is riddled with arthritis and I had my first hip replacement at age 27. I have peripheral neuropathy (severe nerve pain 24/7) in my remaining right foot and we can’t be sure that my legs are ‘talking to’ my brain properly (because of the brain damage). I often wake in a very uncomfortable position with my spine twisted and spend the day taking pain-killers.

To deal with the constant pain, I’ve found that keeping myself occupied (sometimes with work) or staying active has worked for me. I live near a gym so see my exercise physiologist there each week. Seeing my physiotherapist fortnightly for deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy or dry needling is also beneficial.

Pressure injury prevention has also been an important part of my life with disabilities. I acquired 3 pressure injuries in hospital, including one stage-4 that still causes problems now, nearly two decades after it has healed.

Unfortunately, I have acquired a few since leaving hospital but am far more aware of what to look out for and what to do. Part of this has been because of my ongoing work with public and private healthcare facilities, working with staff and helping to write educational material for patients about pressure injury prevention.

In my own life, I’m also conscious of what I can do with regard to lifestyle interventions to lessen the impact that disability has on me and my loved ones. I’ve consulted dieticians and a great Functional doctor who is also invested in my health holistically – including my spine.

Even though I can pinpoint very specific parts of my body that have been affected by disability (such as my amputated leg), disability affects the whole body and the whole person. Spine and all.

Visit Lisa’s website:
https://lisacox.co

Follow Lisa on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisacoxwriter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisacox.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-cox-217588a/

Carol Taylor is an award-winning Lawyer and the world’s first Quadriplegic fashion designer and disability advocate. She is a Partner (Head Design and Production) of Christina Stephens, Australia’s most recognised adaptive clothing label, conceived by business woman and founder Jessie Sadler.

In 2001 an accident left Carol a quadriplegic. Carol’s spinal cord was severed resulting in complete paralysis from the chest down. Despite having only some arm movement Carol spent years teaching herself to use her paralysed hands. With the help of some specially made tools, Carol found a way to draw, paint, and create. Carol is now an award-winning artist and fashion designer, having shown her inclusive and adaptive designs at Australian Fashion Week.

Being a very businesswoman, spinal health is important to Carol, who occasionally suffers tension headaches and migraines, most often caused by stress. “I have a weighted eye mask; it can be warmed or chilled and I use this from time to time. Overwhelmingly for me though, the best remedy is physiotherapy, followed by resting in a dark room. I used to suffer chronically from migraines before my spinal cord injury, interestingly I have far less since I severed my spinal cord. I wonder sometimes that maybe the message can't get through to the brain so when I do from time to time have one it's probably pretty bad.”

When it comes to keeping my spine in check, I swear by physio twice a week. It's an essential part of my well-being, and I rely on it for proper functioning. I know that exercise is also critical for spinal health. Although I've been longing to attend Making Strides [an exercise physiology and allied health service] for a while now, various medical issues, coupled with the ongoing Covid situation, have hindered my participation. Thankfully, I've got things under control now, so I'm hoping to start there soon.

Now when it comes to adaptive clothing, I may be totally biased, but I strongly believe that it plays a crucial role in promoting spinal health. There are the obvious mental health benefits of feeling empowered and happy within yourself when you know you look hot and have the choice to wear what you want, not just what you're given. Then there are the physical benefits of clothing designed to meet your needs especially when it comes to things like pressure sores. That's why we developed our special seamless “bucket bum" pants, which allow customers to freely wear what they want without the fear of nerve pain or pressure sores. Pressure sores are incredibly dangerous, and their consequences are often underestimated. Our seated jeans have undergone extensive textile research and development to create custom denim blended with soft and sustainable fabrics like Lyocell. This design helps prevent pressure injuries by providing a soft internal surface.

A similar approach has been taken for individuals who use prosthetics. We carefully listened to their needs and concerns and recognised that durability and sustainability are significant issues due to the friction between prosthetic and fabric. Moreover, temperature regulation becomes problematic for those with limb loss, and they also require access to adjust their prosthetic as needed. Taking our customers' feedback into account, we have developed a unique and innovative approach to our prosthetic denim designs, aiming to address these challenges.

Designing adaptive clothing involves considering various aspects. Sensory-friendly fabrics are not only crucial for individuals with sensory issues but also for those who experience sudden and extreme fluctuations in blood pressure caused by their body's inability to temperature regulate. People with dexterity and mobility issues appreciate features like pull tabs and easy access. The design process goes beyond simply replacing buttons with magnets, since magnets may not suit everyone. Our designs are deeply influenced by the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities, including my own, as well as the perspectives of our customers. We genuinely listen to their feedback because, ultimately, they are the ones we design for.

We take pride in incorporating the lived experience of disability into our designs, and here's an interesting trivia fact that the general public may not be aware of: Officer Fitzroy Somerset, who later became Lord Raglan, was among the wounded in the Battle of Waterloo and lost his right arm. But this guy wasn't about to let this setback cramp his style. With his trusty tailor by his side, they developed a new shirt design. Instead of the traditional sleeve set into the armhole, they created a sleeve that extended diagonally from under the arm to the collar. This Raglan design allowed for greater freedom of movement, enabling Lord Raglan to dress easily and wield his sword effectively.

While we don’t see many folks swinging their swords these days, the enhanced mobility provided by this design remains relevant, especially when considering the physical exertion required for individuals who use manual wheelchairs constantly. For this reason, we have fully embraced the raglan sleeve design in our Unwrapped Collection.

More information:

E: Carol@christinastephens.com.au

W: https://www.christinastephens.com.au

Follow Christina Stephens on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopchristinastephens/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/christina-stephens/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopchristinastephens/