Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Weekend Watch: “Cripple Concepts” Shows How to Use a Workshop with a Physical Disability
makezine.com: There is no shortage of educational shop content on youtube. You can find people showing how to use any tool, in any number of ways. However, if you have a physical disability of any kind, you may find that those videos are simply not too helpful to you. Josh Winkler with Cripple Concepts fills that role. Josh is a C5/6 quadriplegic,meaning his spinal cord is damaged at the 5/6 vertebra, extremely limiting the use of his limbs. He shows exactly how he operates in the shop, in hopes to educate and inspire others.
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5 comments:
It was truly a gift to get to watch these videos. It is so invigorating to see someone continue to do what they love, regardless of the obstacles that they face. When I was initially diagnosed with MD, I thought I was going to have to change career paths, knowing that I would be in a wheelchair most likely before retirement. It is still a continuous fear to me that I wont be able to do what I love. Reading this article and watching his videos embedded in the article was so inspirational. I loved a particular phrase he said in the first video, which was, "I may not be as efficient at doing something as others, but I can still do." I think that is an important take away from anybody with a disability. My mom used to always say that "you just gotta make it yours". Seeing that there are a multitude of shop how to's on the internet it brings me a lot of joy that there are videos for everyone, and that you should not stop doing what you love because of your physical restraints.
I think it is fantastic that Josh Winkler makes these videos. Obviously the most important reason is that I’m sure there are plenty of people who either used to like working in a shop or have interest in working in a shop and can use these tricks/ solutions in order to be able to operate machines that were designed with only able-bodied people in mind. However, I also think it is important for able-bodied people to see videos like these. I have often seen a general misconception among able-bodied people that people with disabilities can’t or shouldn’t do certain things simply because it would be more difficult for them or the able-bodied person in question simply can’t fathom how a particular task could be accomplished with particular limitations. I think that it is important for people to realize that having a disability does not necessarily make someone unable to do a task, it just might mean they have to find a different way of accomplishing it.
This is incredible. I often find that social platforms like YouTube and Pinterest are about being able to accomplish things on your own, and authors don't think about anyone less than able trying. I love the work Josh Winkler is doing, and hope others follow his ideas. MS runs in my family, so I have many relatives who are in wheelchairs, one who is a full quadriplegic and we get together each summer for a camping trip. Often normal camping things they can't do, like cooking over a fire, and so we've made some interesting tools for them. I love what Winkler is doing, creative solutions to everyday problems is exactly what non able bodied people have to do, and making it more available for others in his situation is great. I hope the videos also open up the eyes of able bodied people so they are more aware of alternatives to accomplishing tasks.
I can hardly function in the shop despite the fact that I have average mobility. The accomplishments this man has made are so innovating and creative on such simplistic yet elegant level. Without letting his disabilities discourage him he pioneered a new way of thinking which is ridiculously impressive. It’s amazing to see passion in others that drives them to overcome even the most unforgiving of situations. Considering being in his shoes I don’t think I would have the courage and determination to accomplish everything he’s done. Not only making his condition work for him but simultaneously providing hope and inspiration to those in similar situations. It was also interesting to observe his solution for each individual problem and it became more and more apparent just how important it is to be both adaptable and positive in a negative situation. I wish I was as powerful and determined as him.
I am so happy to see an article like this on this blog. The theater industry, while it is very “accepting” of all people, is a far cry from diverse. People with disabilities are the largest minority in the United States and yet we seem to forget that they exist. We continuously fail to cast people with disabilities to portray characters with disabilities (actors with disabilities should also play non-disabled characters as well), choosing instead to work with able-bodies actors in those roles. This lack of inclusion isn’t just limited to onstage. Shop spaces are more often than not, highly inaccessible. From the small pathways through the shop fraught with clutter and obstacles are not exactly wheelchair (or any mobility aide) friendly. Much of our work is carried about in a way that requires physical strength to accomplish tasks. Tools can be adapted (similar to Josh Winkler’s modification to the horizontal band saw) to accommodate the specific needs of an individual with a physical disability, but first the layout and operation of the shop must adjust to allow people who use mobility aides to navigate and operate in the shop.
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