Wellness Wednesday

Happy Wednesday Friends!

In honor of Wellness Wednesday, lets talk about exercise!

There are many kinds of exercises you can do, no matter your age or ability.

What Tyrell told The mighty in his interview is right, “Being disabled, we always have to adapt.” He says "started small" at home, using water battles as weights and from there progressed. Even if you cannot move a certain muscle, ask for help.

Watch the video below that Tyrell Eddy and Lisa Rivera from The Axis Project in New York City, made on 7 simple exercises you can do in a wheelchair.

Click here for the full article and read Tyrell and Lisa's descriptions.

I will leave you all with this quote from Tyrell, 

“Even if you have no mobility, but can move your head, keep moving your head. Keep moving something, The more you do it, the better it gets, the stronger you get.”

What is your favorite exercise? Which exercise looks interesting to you? 

Leave a comment below.

MI Paralyzed Veterans of America's Online Auction

The BFA LLC. team has known the Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America for years now. They are an immensely valuable resource to the community. As a nonprofit, they need our help to continue to directly serve their organization’s mission. 

The MI Paralyzed Veterans of America has opened their online Auction! Take a look at the great items or do some holiday shopping, while supporting their mission. Wondering what kind of items are in the Auction?

• 2 tickets to the November 23rd, 2017 Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vickings Game
• 4 tickets to Henry Ford Museum or Greenfield Village
• City of Livonia Golf Division Foursome Gift Certificate for 9 holes of golf
• Bagger Daves Gift Certificate and so much more!

Click here to check out the Auction!

Happy shopping and Thank You for your support.

Water Therapy?

Sofia and her PT Christie, enjoying therapy in the pool.

I recently came across a nonprofit organization, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of kids with Autism and their families. And, well, that is right up our alley! 

Izzy, a pro-surfer and father of two, found out his son, Isaiah, had Autism at the age of three. After a rough day and no one being able to reach Isaiah, Izzy took him on the surf board with him in hopes that the waves would help Isaiah in the way they help him. The waves did exactly that, so he started his non profit, Surfers Healing, a surf camp for kids with Autism and their families.

Besides relating to the passion for enhancing the quality of lives of people with disabilities and their families, I could also relate to seeing the water, especially the ocean, be therapeutic for Sofia. As many of  you know, Sofia is the inspiration to our families business. Just like Izzy, Luis and Gwendolyne knew that there were other families dealing with the same difficulties and wanted to a resource to them. 

Sofia and Gwendolyne on the beach in Turks and Caico.

Sofia loves Adventure, so our family cruise to the Caribbean was her cup of tea! Did I mention she loves being in the water? I have never seen her be in a bad mood when she is in the water, even in the shower. Her favorite part of summer is going to PT in the pool. So, of course we had to take her to the beach. After figuring out a way to take her to the shore, in her wheelchair, and successfully complete it, she was finally in the water. Sofia radiated pure joy. You could tell her body was relaxed, her muscles didn't hurt and she was in paradise. Literally!

The point I am trying to make, is that I am finding more and more people in the disability community, find relief and a sense of calm in the water. Have you tried  any kind of water therapy? What is your experience with your loved one with disabilities and the water? 

Let us know in a comment below.

Make sure to follow our facebook page to see updates on current projects and events we participate in!

Sensory Kits at Restaurants

If you have a loved one or friend, with a sensory processing disorder, you know that it may be stressful going to restaurants. Anova, the nonprofit for children with sensory and learning differences, is now providing restaurants with sensory-freindly kits specifically designed to avoid meltdowns.

This all started when Jackie Hadley, Anova’s manager of charitable development and community relations, mentioned that she had many parents and family say that they just do not go out to restaurants due to the challenges related with sensory processing disorders.

What a great idea!
Unfortunately, the Anova kits are only in 11 restaurants in California...But, The Mighty has also provided a link to make one yourself. Click here to make your own sensory kit.

Let us know if you made a kit, or already have a versions of a kit.

Glamping?!

Yurt with an accessible entrance.

Have you heard of Glamping, or glamorous camping?

Glamping is a "comfort-focused way" to enjoy the outdoors. Thanks to this trend, people with disabilities can now enjoy the great outdoors easier than ever. Lynn Anderson, a professor in the recreation, parks and leisure studies department at the State University of New York at Cortland mentions in the Momentum article that “You’re able to spend time in the outdoors overnight but have some of the amenities that you’re used to in everyday life to facilitate that experience.”

Karen Francisco, a customer service specialist who was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS says, “I go for lots of walks. The quiet is very peaceful, and the fresh air is energizing. It gives me the opportunity to think about life and decompress.” Wouldn't you agree that wilderness therapy is a great way to de-stress?

Check out the article here to read more stories of fellow glampers with MS telling their experiences with glamping. The article also provides information on planning your next trip and places to stay that are accessible.

Yurt with an accessible entrance.

“I tell people to think about the experience they’d like to have, rather than potential limitations. Maybe it’s getting into the mountains, or maybe it’s waking up to the sound of crashing surf? With glamping, there are ways to make it possible.”

I am inspired to plan my next trip. Are you?

I don't need that yet...

When it comes to having an accessible home, the best advice we can give you is to think ahead !

Families often call us after mom has fallen for the second or third time. We want to be able to prevent you or your loved one from that happening in the first place.

This is why I was immediately sucked in to this article from Momentum, the magazine for the Nation MS Society.  The article has stories of individuals with MS. Read below to learn from their experience.

After Anthony Andrade noticed difficulty going up and down stairs, he got a ramp. Anthony says, “Now I can drive my electric wheelchair up the ramp. It’s so much easier getting in and out of the house. And I can be home by myself.”

Another women diagnosed with MS, Retta Yorns mentioned this, “I knew things would become more difficult for me, so we started making certain adaptations." She renovated the bathroom and kitchen, as well as the doorways and floors throughout her house to make them more accessible. “I’m not using a wheelchair now, but I’m trying to think ahead,” Yorns says.

“Often people don’t want to do something until they need it, But you want to stay ahead of the curve, even if you don’t need it right now.”

Check out the article here.