The bond was instant.  The exchange was conversational and yet so deeply personal in a way that only parents of children with special needs can understand.

This is one of the most heartfelt, encouraging and amazing messages I have ever read. From this Special Needs parent to you, please know that I, and ALL of us here at FATWHEELS ,see you!

I See You

I see you taking your kid to therapy while your friends take their kids to football or ballet.

I see you sneak out of the conversation when all your friends boast about achievements and exam notes.

I see you juggle events and meetings.

I see you sitting on the computer for hours investigating what your child needs.

I see you make a bad face when people complain about what looks like nonsense.

I see you disappear little by little but you keep going beyond for your family.

I see you pull strength from weakness with a force you didn’t even dream you had.

I see you showing respect for teachers, therapists and medical professionals who help your child and help you.

Watching you wake up early in the morning to do it all again after another chaotic night.

I see you when you’re on the edge of the precipice struggling to live.

I know you feel invisible, like no one notices.

But I want you to know that I see you.

I see you push forward always. I see you choose to do everything you can to give your child the best care at home, school, therapy and the doctors.

What you do matters. It’s worth the struggle.

On those days when you wonder if you can make it one more minute, I want you to know I see you.

I want you to know that you are beautiful.

I want you to know it’s worth it. I want you to know that you are not alone. I want you to know that love is the most important thing, and that you are the best at it.

And in those days when you see an improvement, those moments when hard work has its reward, and you can taste success, I’ll see you then too.

And I’m proud of you.

Whatever day today…

…you’re doing it right.

And I see you.

 Alethea Mshar

 John Walker / Flickr

Wasn’t that spectacular? Tell me what you think?

I am SO happy that we can “see each other” on this Beautiful Ride!

Until next time,

Colleen

The Statistics

Every year in the United States, 600 children are killed in bicycle-related accidents.

• 60% of those injuries occur on minor roads, usually within 1 mile of home.

• 60% of bicycle injury deaths in children are a result of severe head injuries.

• 85% of brain injuries could have been avoided if cyclists wore bike helmets.

Helmet Guidelines

Buy a helmet that fits your child correctly and make sure it is always worn properly.

And remember:

• Set a good example and always wear a helmet yourself.
• Price does not necessarily suggest safety. check for approved safety standard stickers.
• A molded shell has the best construction.
• The helmet should be worn securely and squarely with the front edge resting less than 1″ above the eyebrows. It should not go above the forehead. The chin strap should be tight, centered, and always fastened.
• Make sure that no more than 3 fingers can fit between the chin & helmet strap.
• Buy a helmet with bright colors or reflective stripes to be easily seen.
• Never use a cracked helmet or one that has been in an accident.

Following these guidelines will ensure that you and your family are safe while cycling.

At FATWHEELS, we take bicycle safety very seriously. Our adaptive training wheel kits are used in hospitals, school settings and by riders of all ages and abilities all across North America. We use only the highest quality materials for our products and back them up with 100% confidence.

Until next time,

Colleen

Adaptive cycling is a great way for seniors to rehabilitate their knees after surgery or better yet before surgery is even necessary.

Benefits of Adaptive Cycling for Seniors

Increases or restores range of motion
Increases or restores knee joint stability
Increases or restores muscle strength
Decreases or eliminates pain
Prevents re-occurrence of injury
Is non weight-bearing
Is low impact
Is an aerobic (cardiovascular) workout
Offers variable resistance
Keeps you in a stable position

Common Conditions

Arthrofibrosis
Also known as ‘stiff knee syndrome’ is said to be one of the most difficult orthopedic conditions to treat. It is an abnormality triggered by injury or trauma to the joint and is most common in the knee joint. In layman terms it is ‘excessive scar tissue that forms in the joint leading to limited range of motion’ despite rehabilitation efforts. Early recognition and proper treatment is critical for a best outcome. The Arthrofibrosis foundation is a great resource in helping understand this often frustrating condition.

Knee Injury
According to Ortho Info, there were 10.4 million visits to doctors offices in 2010 for knee injuries. Common knee injuries include: fractures, dislocations, sprains and ligament tears. Nonsurgical treatments include immobilization, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen and physical therapy are often prescribed before exploring surgical options.

Knee Surgery
There are many types of knee surgery performed and one of the most common is meniscus cartilage repair or removal. This is usually performed arthroscopically as a minimum invasion technique. Meniscectomy is the official medical name. Other common knee surgeries are ACL repair or replacement and knee replacement.

Knee Replacement
Total Knee Replacement (TKR) or partial knee replacement have become some of the most common orthopedic surgeries performed with over 600,000 performed in the U.S. during 2016 alone, and various sources project over 3 million will be performed per year by 2030. Knee Arthritis is the root cause for many of these surgeries. Studies show that approximately 90% of people experience pain relief from knee replacement surgery but there are potential complications to be aware of from risk of infection to sometimes longer knee rehabilitation and challenges with regaining knee range of motion. Surgeons typically encourage patients to work to regain their range of motion early on in the knee rehabilitation process. Physical Therapy often includes the use of a stationary bike and later on, adaptive cycling can help patients gradually increase their knee range of motion during the knee replacement recovery process.

If you are an older adult that is trying to reduce or rehabilitate knee pain, you may want to consider outfitting your bike with a set of wheel stabilizers like FATWHEELS. These heavy duty “training wheels” retrofit to almost any bike on the market and they will provide you with the stability you need to enjoy the FUN, FREEDOM & HEALTH benefits of riding a bike.

Until next time,

Colleen

Recreational Therapy (RT) is a treatment service designed to restore, remediate and rehabilitate a person’s level of functioning and independence in life activities. Recreational Therapists treat the whole person and are uniquely qualified to assist clients in improving their quality of life and reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Recreational Therapy can help you feel like you again.

WHAT?

Recreational Therapy (RT) is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-base interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling
conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health. RT also promotes recovery and well-being.

WHY?

Recreation and leisure pursuits enrich our lives with purpose, meaning, and community and are an important part of our overall well-being. Recreational Therapists utilize evidence-based practices to
help clients develop the skills and confidence needed to engage in
meaningful, health-promoting leisure activities.

WHO?

Recreational Therapists are skilled healthcare professionals who utilize a systematic process, evidence-based interventions, and purposeful activities to help clients achieve well-being.
Recreational Therapists work in a variety of clinical and community settings—from schools, to hospitals,
to community programs and beyond—and utilize their unique expertise to help clients overcome barriers to well-being and/or participation in meaningful activities caused by an illness or
disabling condition.

HOW?

Whether utilizing recreation and leisure activities as therapeutic interventions to promote well-being or
facilitating therapeutic interventions to promote participation in meaningful recreation and leisure
pursuits, Recreational Therapists are cherished for the far-reaching impact
of their vital services.

At FATWHEELS, we are so proud to work with such an amazing group of Recreational Therapy professionals all across North America! We are beyond grateful for the work that they do for their clients in promoting adaptive cycling. We value their input and knowledge on how we can improve our products, and we look forward to continuing to partner with them as we move forward in our goal which is to ensure that EVERYBODY CAN RIDE!

Until next time,

Colleen

My son Geordi has a speech disorder that is annoying, heartbreaking and funny at the same time. My patience wears thin when I listen to him s-l-o-w-l-y  work through what he is trying to say.  Other times, my heart goes out to him as he struggles to express his feelings.  But mostly he simply cracks me up with some of the stuff that comes out of his mouth.

Slips of the Tongue

Often it’s a slip of the tongue that makes his words comical.  One day, he’ll be explaining how he put his jeans in the clothes hamster; the next day he’ll be asking to watch the lighting of the Olympic porch on TV.

Lyrically Speaking

Talking with Geordi is always interesting, but listening to him as he plays his guitar and sings takes the experience to a whole new level.  He often goes into his room, plugs his electric guitar in and fiddles around with the buttons.  Then he adjusts his microphone and after a quick sound check, he is ready to begin his set.

First he might start off with a Tom Petty cover:

She’s a good girl,
Loves her llama,
Loves Cheezits & America too…

______________________________________________________________________

Next, he may decide to slow it down a bit and try some Beatles:

Hey Dude!
Don’t make my bed,
Take a bad song and make it better…..

______________________________________________________________________

Gangsta Rap

Other times he works on original compositions.  His favorite genre for freestylin’ is gangsta rap.  Unfortunately for Geordi, he doesn’t have any street cred.  We live in the small town of Plymouth, Michigan and despite the fact that it is only 30 minutes outside of Detroit, nothing remotely gansta ever happens here.  To overcome this artistic hardship, Geordi uses personal experiences to help him create his hardcore originals.  For instance, after a recent visit to the neurologist, where he was told that he couldn’t get a driver’s license due to his seizure disorder, he went home & penned this song that he belts out with gut-wrenching intensity:

She is not the boss of me!
She says I can’t drive a car…..

I am gettin’ a Mustang someday,
Gonna drive far.

_______________________________________________________________________

What Disability?

Sometimes I peek into Geordi’s room when he is jamming, and I see the look of pure joy on his face.  He is having the time of his life with no inhibitions.  His funny lyrics, ear splitting guitar riffs & epic front moves all combine to create a scene that consistently makes me smile.  It also prompts me to ask myself, ‘What disability?”  Because, at those times, all I see is a confident young man who is happy, healthy and comfortable in his own skin.

And when you think about it, isn’t our goal as parents to raise kids who are ok with themselves and their place in the world?  Don’t we want them to express themselves in their own unique way and to find joy in that expression?  It sounds like a pretty good gig to me.

 The Final Word

So to close out this post, I am pulling a Geordi:

Look out Bruno Mars,
And watch your back Justin T,
There’s a new kid in town and his name is
Geordi B.

He may not be a household name,
He may not be a star,
But I promise he will make you smile,
Just give him a guitar.

Mic drop.

Until next time,

Colleen

The Statistics

It was reported recently in an article by Shaun Heasley of Disability Scoop that researchers have found that a significant number of caregivers of children with special needs reduce their work hours or leave jobs altogether. This costs their families an average of $18,000 per year in lost earnings.

The findings come from a study published recently in the journal Pediatrics that is based on an analysis of data from the federal government’s 2016-2017 National Survey of Children’s Health.

The study discovered that nearly 15% of families with children who have chronic health conditions including autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy have scaled back their participation in the workforce. That figure jumps to more than 40% in families of children with an intellectual disability.

I know this to be true because it is exactly what happened to our family. When my oldest son was small, we had so many medical appointments, therapies, and school meetings that I decided to become a stay-at-home Mom to ensure he got the care and resources that he needed. Fortunately, we were able to live on one salary, but the decision did not come without sacrifices and trade-offs.

In 2013, our family purchased the FATWHEELS brand and we embarked on this amazing journey. The fact that we could supplement our income while also helping other families whose lives have been touched by disability, was a double blessing.

In the past 8 years, this business has really become a family affair. Both of our sons help my husband and I in the warehouse and with any other jobs that need to be done. Today, as I write this blog post, my youngest son is in the other part of theFATWHEELS building painting our supply room

We have found a way to make lemonade out of lemons and I know that there are many of you out there that have too. I would love it if you would share with me some of the things that you have done to make up some of that lost income.

And, if you have been able to work outside of the home, tell me how you are doing it!

Who helps you in your care giving duties? Who are your Tribe? What are your workarounds and secrets?

Did your work status change during the Pandemic?

I hope you take the time to share with me – I would love to have some company on this beautiful ride.

Until next time,

Colleen

Exploring the world beyond their own neighborhood gives children a sense of independence.

Never pressure children to ride a two-wheeled bike, consider children’s coordination and desire to learn to ride. Children develop at different rates, but most “typical” children can graduate from tricycles to training wheels between the ages of 4 and 6. If your child has special needs consider investing in a set of adaptive training wheels such as FATWHEELS so that they feel safe & secure while learning how to ride.

Children Under Age 10

This age group usually has not developed the skills to ride with traffic and should not ride on the street.

• Make sure you and your children wear approved helmets

• Children under age 7 should only ride with adult supervision even on the sidewalk.

• Children age 8 & 9 may be allowed to ride unsupervised , but not on the street.

• Unless you are riding with them, never allow children to bike in or around traffic.

Children over Age 10

This age group may ride on their own with proper training, but may need to be restricted to certain streets.

• Explain that a bicycle is a vehicle and must obey all traffic signs and rules.

• Street riding should depend on traffic, maturity, adequate knowledge, and ability to control the bike and follow the rules of the road.

• Bicycle or walk all routes with your children to identify safe routes for bicycling between home and school etc.

At FATWHEELS, we take bicycle safety very seriously. Our adaptive training wheel kits are used in hospitals, school settings and by riders of all ages and abilities all across North America. We use only the highest quality materials for our products and back them up with 100% confidence.

Until next time,

Colleen