DISLABELLED!

Still crushing on the amazing Elizabeth Oke, the Nigerian blogger, we are sharing her story of before and after her accident. #WCW  To the Disabled from Lizzy Oke "Physical disability does not mean mental disability and it’s not a plague. That a person is disabled physically, does not make them less important or condemned. You are the best person who understands what you’re going through, so let your voice be heard. Be presentable, look the best you can. Get rid of all bitterness – I agree that sometimes people “just don’t understand” what we’re going through. But please don’t make this an excuse to be a bitter, angry, or an unforgiving person. My final message of hope for people experiencing a similar situation is 1stCorinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it”.God Bless you all". Source of image : sweetbaby.com.ng Source : bellanaija.com

The Electric Wheelchair Converters. #techtuesday "WHILL Aims to Improve Mobility for the Disabled Not everyone can afford an electric wheelchair, so WHILL was created to bring a cheaper alternative. The WHILL is basically an add-on component to the wheelchair that provides temporary electric drive. The two hubs have a lithium-ion battery powered 24-volt motor that brings a range of 30 kilometers and a top speed of 20 km/h (12.5 mph). Each one takes about two hours to charge in order for it to be fully functional. The band that connects the hubs is a steering device that works by having the individual lean into the direction they wish to go, so it's similar to a Segway. With the prototype already made up, WHILL is currently looking for users to test out the product". By: Matt Ho - Dec 11, 2011  References: whill.jp & gizmag Image source: trendhunters

Happy holidays! #mentalhealthmonday Did you know what you a good diet is essential for physical health, but does it make much difference to your mind? A growing body of evidence suggests that the answer is yes. You may be thinking that this is about so-called ‘superfoods’, a term used to describe certain foods with very high quantities of particular nutrients. From the early descriptions, you might almost have thought these foods had magical powers to improve mental and physical health. Most sources now, however, suggest that the term is simply a marketing tool. The European Union has even banned the use of the term 'superfood' in marketing except where the claim is backed by credible scientific evidence of a proven medical benefit. However, the Mental Health Foundation notes that a good diet is important for mental health. It also suggests that diet can play a role in the development, management and prevention of several specific conditions, including schizophrenia, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer’s disease. Image source : middle life crisis. Source : www.skillsyouneed.com

Our superwoman the amazing Elizabeth Oke, the Nigerian blogger, before and after her accident. #WCW "Family support, including support from my best friend, my boyfriend and certain other friends was something I didn’t lack and still don’t lack. During my stay in the hospital and the rehabilitation center in Oklahoma, my parents, best friend and little brother, would travel back and forth (from Texas to Oklahoma) to see and be with me. I remember some of my good days being days when my mom would bring me home-cooked meals, and I would eat it with such joy because I got tired of hospital food. My little brother was a breath of fresh air, he smiled at me every time he came; and just was the cutest and wonderful source of joy. I remember my dad and mom sitting down in the room, keeping me company bringing up topics that were not related to the situation at hand and my best friend curling up on the little hospital chair and as uncomfortable as the hospital chairs were, they all stayed there for hours keeping me company. I remember my mom praying and assuring me that “God is good, and he has kept me alive for a purpose”. We all prayed together, laughed together, and had some silent tear shedding moments together". To be continued next week... Source : bellanaija.com

Christmas! Christmas is usually a time for celebration. But unfortunately for some people the festive season can intensify mental health difficulties. #mentalhealthmonday "Keep busy – don’t make Christmas the be all and end all. Do the things you always enjoy, like walking or going to the cinema. Volunteer - There’s a huge feeling of satisfaction from volunteering and many charities and organisations need help at Christmas. Get up and exercise – it reduces stress and the serotonin your body creates gives your mood a lift. Keep healthy – all that eating and drinking makes us lethargic. Eat plenty of fruit and veg and it will make you feel more energetic. Phone a friend – talk to people who care, even if you can’t be with them at Christmas. And remember, there are many charities who arrange get togethers at Christmas so you don’t have to be alone". Source: MentalHealthy.co.uk

Tech gift ideas for your visually impaired loved ones #techtuesday Assisted Vision Smart Glasses “What we’re trying to do with the project is produce a pair of glasses that can enable someone who has got very little sight to allow them to walk around unfamiliar places, to recognize obstacles, and to get a greater independence,“ Dr Stephen Hicks from the University of Oxford, recently explained to The Royal Society as he showed off his smart glasses". Source : digital trends

Our #WCW today is the amazing Elizabeth Oke, the amazing Nigerian blogger, before and after her accident. " After some time had passed, I decided to call a friend, who was also going to school, so we could drive in a convoy. We planned to meet each other at a gas station, to embark on our three and a half to four hour journey from Texas to Oklahoma. When I got there, I still felt uneasy and even contemplated leaving my car at the gas station for my dad to pick up. But when I thought about having to keep asking people for rides at school, I decided to get over “this back-and-forth” crap, and get in my car already. The drive began and I had some Sammie Okposo playing in the car. I started singing“Jesus I thank you, Wellu Wellu, You do well for me, Wellu Wellu … I no know wetin I do, Wey make you love me so”. Not too loud, not too low, just something to keep me awake. I drove behind my friend, and everything appeared fine. I wasn’t drunk, talking on the phone, or doing one of those driving don’ts. I later learned from my friend that about 30 to 40 minutes to our destination, she looked back in her rear mirror, and saw my car flipping. The cops at the scene and everyone who “witnessed” the whole situation couldn’t explain what happened or caused the accident, as my car was the only one involved. My car flipped over for about 4 times, and it was up-side-down when the ambulance and helicopter crew got there". To be continued next week... Source : bellanaija.com

Today's #techtuesday feature is a small hearing boosting app Computer use isn't an enormous challenge for the hearing impaired, but it can still be difficult to work in an office when you can't make out what co-workers are saying. If you can't quite hear everything that's being said around you but aren't ready to wear a hearing aid, your iPhone or iPod Touch can help with an app called soundAMP from Ginger Labs. With sophisticated audio-processing software, soundAMP can amplify words while filtering out background noise, helping make audio more comprehensive in meetings, noisy cubicles or elsewhere. A sound-level meter lets you adjust the volume or tone at any time to suit the environment. You can even mute the sound if your boss is getting boring. If you didn't catch what was just said, soundAMP can play back the last five seconds of material from its memory. The app can be downloaded from Apple's App Store for $10. By : Brian Nadel Source : computerworld.com

#mentalhealthmonday Better Mental health Let's be real: Sometimes, achieving better mental health means professional help. People may need a therapist, or even medication, to deal with disorders like depression or anxiety. "But those serious diagnoses aside, we could all do with a little brain tune-up. Fortunately, science has some suggestions for how to overcome personality quirks or unhealthy patterns of thinking that leave people functioning less than optimally. Here are a few things that studies have found may improve people's mental health: Set goals, but don't take failure personally Most people are at least a little bit of a perfectionist in some area of life. Aiming high can be the first step to success, but studies have found that high levels of perfectionism are linked to poor health and increase the risk of death. Perfectionism is also linked to postpartum depression. The problem is that perfectionism has two facets: Perfectionists tend to set high goals for themselves, but they also tend to worry about it if they fail to reach extreme levels of performance. The high goals are not the problem as much as the so-called "perfectionist concerns," or feelings of failure and worthlessness that come with falling short of reaching them, which can wreak havoc on mental health. The trick to getting around this perfectionism trap might be to set goals without taking failure personally, said Andrew Hill, a sports psychologist at York St. John University in England. One strategy, Hill told Live Science in August 2015, is for perfectionists to set small, manageable goals for themselves rather than one big goal. That way, failure is less likely, and so is the self-recrimination that can keep a perfectionist down. In other words, perfectionists should force themselves to think about achieving success in degrees, rather than in all-or-nothing terms. Go outside The indoor environment protects us from heat, cold and all manner of inclement weather. But if you don't get outside frequently, you might be doing a number on your mental health". Source : livescience Source of image : zoomerlife

Keeping a sound mind... #mentalhealthmonday *Daydream – Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a dream location. Breathe slowly and deeply, whether it’s a beach, a mountain top, a hushed forest or a favourite room from your past, let the comforting environment wrap you in a sensation of peace and tranquility. *“Collect” positive emotional moments – Make it a point to recall times when you have experienced pleasure, comfort, tenderness, confidence, or other positive emotions. *Learn ways to cope with negative thoughts – Negative thoughts can be insistent and loud. Learn to interrupt them. Don’t try to block them (that never works), but don’t let them take over. Try distracting yourself or comforting yourself, if you can’t solve the problem right away. *Do one thing at a time – For example, when you are out for a walk or spending time with friends, turn off your cell phone and stop making that mental “to do” list. Take in all the sights, sounds and smells you encounter. *Exercise – Regular physical activity improves psychological well-being and can reduce depression and anxiety. Joining an exercise group or a gym can also reduce loneliness, since it connects you with a new set of people sharing a common goal. *Enjoy hobbies – Taking up a hobby brings balance to your life by allowing you to do something you enjoy because you want to do it, free of the pressure of everyday tasks. It also keeps your brain active. Source of photo: mashup corner Source : http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health

Yaaaasssss can we ever get over our Accra Goods Market experience?! #ThrowBack One of our founding members tit-chatting with a potential buyer. We must admit, we loved being at the Accra Goods Market 🙈.

Our #WCW for today and in fact for next two Wednesdays is the amazing Elizabeth Oke, the fabulous Nigerian blogger, before and after her accident. I was that girl on Hi5 (the pre-facebook social networking website) who had the uncountable number of friends, and changed her profile picture just about every week. I loved getting dolled up, looking my best, taking pictures and knew how to have fun. Prior to the accident, I was a happy teenager who had dare-I-say everything I needed. I had my parents’ love and was studying to be a nurse. I remember some called me happy, bubbly, cheesy, cute, nice, smart, conversationalist and so on. On Sunday, March 23rd 2008, after spring break, I packed my things, and went to the living room to bid my parents farewell before going back to school. Before I got into the car, I got quite indecisive and even asked my parents if they thought it was a good idea to drive. To be continued next week... Source : bellanaija.com

Today's #techtuesday feature is a phone, not just any phone but the GeorgiePhone. What's so special about the GeorgiePhone? What can GeorgiePhone do? GeorgiePhone transforms the lives of its users by helping them perform day-to-day tasks independently. There are over 30 easy to use tools and utilities built into every GeorgiePhone. Here are just five examples of how they can help every single day: *Find your favourite red t-shirt or pair your socks (With Colour Recognition) *Read the mail or a menu in a café_ (With Document Scanner/Reader) *Open a tin of tomatoes rather than a can of custard!_ (With Object Recognition) *Keep in touch with your family and friends_ (Using Voice Text and Simple Dialler) *​Travel in to town to meet friends or to go to the shops_ (Using Talking Directions and Bus Finder with Journey Tracker) Source : assistivetechnology.org

Its an awesome #mentalhealthmonday again! Here are some tips to improve your mental health. 1. Create flow Flow is the state of being so highly involved in an enjoyable activity that you lose track of time. This usually happens when the level of challenge is about right for your level of skill. Flow can happen during work, hobbies, creative arts or sports. 2. Give to others Making a contribution to the community, however small, increases social wellbeing. Many people feel a sense of contributing through meaningful work, but this could also mean volunteering, helping a neighbour or doing small acts of kindness. Enjoy Take some time to do the things you really enjoy. Pleasant events can lead to positive emotions that can cancel out negative feelings.  Source of image : executive secretary Source of tips : mindhealthconnect.org

Isn't he adorable? He must be thinking, wow Dislabelled is awesome! It's #throwbackthursday fellas! Our unforgettable Accra goods market experience.

Today's #techtuesday feature is a Windows Screen Reading Software for JAWS! JAWS for Windows is a powerful accessibility solution that reads information on your screen using synthesized speech. JAWS provides many useful commands that make it easier to use programs, edit documents, and read Web pages. With a refreshable Braille display, JAWS can also provide Braille output in addition to, or instead of, speech. An array of versatile features and customizable options lets you tailor JAWS for your individual needs and preferences. Using JAWS, get started today, working with Microsoft and IBM Lotus Symphony applications. JAWS® is the world's most popular screen reader, developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content. JAWS reads aloud what's on the PC screen and gives the user a unique set of intelligent tools for navigating and accesses Web pages and all screen content. Source : assistivetechnology.org

Its #mentalhealthmonday fam! Here are some tips to improve your mental health. 1. Develop gratitude Count your blessings. Try keeping a gratitude journal and write down three positive things for each day. This can lead to increased wellbeing.  2. Identify and use your strengths We all have different strengths and weaknesses but finding out what you are really good at and using those talents can increase wellbeing. A strengths questionnaire is available at Authentic Happiness. Using your strengths to help others or contribute to the community creates a sense of meaning and purpose. Source of Image: Sheppard Pratt Health System. Source of tips : mindhealthconnect.org