A reintroduction (after many years away from this site)

[Deleted]

Hi, I'm Cal, a 30-year-old man from Edinburgh, Scotland who has DMD. Not sure what else to say.

[Quad787]

Hi Cal. Welcome back. I myself have been away from the board for months. I've been meaning to get back for quite a while.

So what's Scotland like this time of year? I'm in San Diego, it's beautiful outside today.

[Deleted]

Thank you, Michael. Well, we just came out of a heatwave that pushed temperatures up to 25ºC, which I've never experienced in September. It's 15ºC and raining today. The mornings and evenings are getting darker as autumn approaches.

[dutchdev]

Hi Cal,

Welcome! Why did you leave (and come back)?

Bye!

[Deleted]

Sept 15, 2023 8:18:49 GMT -5 dutchdev said:

Hi Cal,

Welcome! Why did you leave (and come back)?

Bye!

We're talking maybe 6 years ago so I don't really remember why I left. I think I just wanted to focus on other things, a lot has changed in my life since then.

I came back because I want to connect with disabled people and those interested in disability, as well as possibly meet a romantic partner (I realise the geographical distribution of devs on this site means the chances of that happening are slim, to say the least).

[wheelsthrowaway1989]

Hey there. Welcome back. Fellow DMD guy here. Hope you can find some sense of community here.

[Deleted]

Sept 15, 2023 15:58:40 GMT -5 wheelsthrowaway1989 said:

Hey there. Welcome back. Fellow DMD guy here. Hope you can find some sense of community here.

Thank you, fellow DMD'er haha.

[lavly]

welcome back tell us more about yourself

[Deleted]

Sept 21, 2023 20:35:07 GMT -5 lavly said:

welcome back tell us more about yourself

Thanks for the welcome! Hmm, I'm a bit of an influencer, disability campaigner and accessibility consultant, though still working on turning this into a sustainable career. Right now, I'm writing a few articles to 'showcase' some of my skills and knowledge (as an aside, I'm a computer science graduate but wasn't passionate about the subject). I recently moved out of my parents' home to live independently in my own accessible flat and employ a team of PAs to support me. I’d describe myself as supportive, proactive and down-to-earth, with a bit of sarcasm and quirkiness thrown in too. I like books, movies, concerts, walks (wheels?), art galleries, museums, road trips, nature, social issues, politics, history and more. 

[Deleted]

Sept 22, 2023 10:44:48 GMT -5 aiden said:

Sept 22, 2023 9:38:41 GMT -5 @cal said:

I recently moved out of my parents' home to live independently in my own accessible flat and employ a team of PAs to support me.

What was that transition for you like? Any advice for a fellow DMD dude looking to do the same?

Well, because of the shortage of accessible social (public) housing in Edinburgh, I was facing more than three years on the waiting list once my needs were assessed. To make matters worse, I sent my application to be put on the waiting list just before the first cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the UK, resulting in my local authority cancelling all assessments, adding another year to the waiting time. I had to launch a crowdfunding campaign to raise the money to buy a 25% share of a housing association flat (a 'non-profit' organisation that provides housing for low-income groups) with wheelchair access and adapt the bathroom. My campaign took off on social media, getting me on local TV and in the newspapers, and I significantly exceeded my funding goal in less than a year. In terms of the transition to independent living itself, it was very stressful. I had to recruit three more PAs, adapt the bathroom, install a hoist, fix the central heating, replace a broken window and do all the other moving-related admin in a very short time, but my life was transformed once that was behind me.

I don't know what particular barriers and support structures you have to navigate in California as a disabled person seeking to live independently so the only advice I have for you is this: go for it! There will be problems and setbacks, no doubt about it, but keep in mind that they're most likely temporary and don't doubt you ability to solve them when the going gets tough.

[devoguy101]

Hi Cal,

Devotee guy from Scotland here. Wanted to ask how you find getting round Edinburgh in a chair? Can imagine its a tough city to navigate.

[Deleted]

Sept 23, 2023 9:52:43 GMT -5 devoguy101 said:

Hi Cal,

Devotee guy from Scotland here. Wanted to ask how you find getting round Edinburgh in a chair? Can imagine it's a tough city to navigate.

Well, the buses and trams are accessible, but parking my adapted van in the city centre is near impossible (even with a blue badge), the pavements are uneven and potholed, and many of the older buildings have steps.