Hobbies for disabled people

[Jess_1612]

Hi,

I'm trying to find ways for my husband to socialise more. He has a support worker now which helps with his social isolation and I am planning on taking him to a Headway (charity that deals with people with brain injury) day centre this week to try and meet people who understand his problems. However, I am hoping to come up with some ideas for other hobbies.

The problem is, he used to be into things he just can't do now. For example, bowling and walking (he is wheelchair bound outside the house now) and CAMRA meetings (he can no longer drink).

Any ideas? He is only 33 and retired (medically) so it is hard to find other younger people in his situation to do things with.

TIA

[bowlingbun]

Hi Jess,
Can you tell us more about him? What work did he used to do? Can he use a computer? Qualifications?

[susieq]

Hi Jess

The bowling club that my bro-in-law belongs to has a couple of disabled members who use specially adapted wheelchairs - might that be worth looking into ?

[jenny lucas]

Depending on the limitations from the brain industry, is it worth contacting organisations that promote 'para-sports' (not sure of the actual term for things like wheelchair rugby etc).

In general, it's probably a good idea to 'cast the net wide' and get him to 'sample' as many different things as possible, even if they were things that were of no interest to him previously. Our interests change as we get older anyway, and he might therefore take up activities he used to despise or not think he was any good at.

You could start by making a list of the abilities he does have, and the disabilities that are restricting his potential, and see if you can then find those activities that fall within his range?

Boredom is very hard to endure, and hopefully he can adapt to new things and new interests. He's tragically young to be limited in this way.

All the very best with Headway, and I hope that it opens a better chapter in his life now.

[jenny lucas]

Sorry - typo -'injury' not 'industry'.

(Speaking of typos, if he can still master a keyboard, learning to touch type could be really, really useful! It makes typing way faster - even if, in my case, prone to typos as I'm too lazy to type carefully. But learning to touch type in my teens has to be one of the most useful skills I've ever acquired. )

[Rosemary_1706]

Ditto what Suzieq said. The indoor (lawn) bowling club I play at have several members who use wheelchairs. I think some players use their own wheelchairs and the club as a couple of chairs which other players use

[jenny lucas]

Apparently a really good sport for wheelchair users is archery. It's because their centre of gravity is low, being seated, so they have a very good 'draw weight'. Might be worth exploring for your husband?

[Jess_1612]

Thanks for all your replies

I had a quick look and there is a bowls club not far from us - not sure if they have an indoor green but can find out good suggestion As for archery - he would love that, but he has ataxia down his left side (lack of coordination) from the brain tumour surgery so not sure he could hold a bow properly.

The frustration for him is, I think, is he is still a smart, aware guy. He just has trouble with memory and things like reading comprehension now. We tend to read together (I read out loud to him) as he finds it easier to follow when someone is reading to him out loud - was thinking about that and there is a short story reading group at our local library that might be of interest to him.

His main problem is his mobility is very impaired and his coordination. But, you're right, there must be a sport type thing he could join in on.

[MrsAverage]

Hi Jess, more of a pastime than hobby but some of the audio books are brillaint. You can also get audio versions of local papers and magazines.
I also find the digital radio very good,especially BBC radio4extra and podcasts..the radio iPlayer is good for short stories and plays and comedy.

How was mum's vist?

XxmrsA

[Jess_1612]

Good ideas

Mum's visit was lovely thanks for asking

We all just chilled and had a lovely dinner together etc. Lots of hugs and chatting. Was great to see her and my Dad.

I get the impression my Dad is more worried than my Mum about it all really! She has her surgery tomorrow and so has been a bit low and nervous today, and she's a bit scared, but I tried to reassure her as much as possible and just listen (over the phone - they only came for the weekend).

I'm a bit nervous for her, but I've got everything crossed it all goes ok. My dad said he'd keep me updated throughout the day.