Birdability: Accessibility and Inclusiveness in The Outdoors
If you’ve ever been to one of the AnCan art classes, you might know me as the art/ painting instructor. It’s me, hi! I’m the kind of person who likes to make it my business to remind everyone to take a deep breath and smell the roses. Maybe paint the roses, too. Do something you love to do. That’s easy to say to an able-bodied person. What if you’re not quite an able-bodied person, but you still adore outdoor activities, like bird-watching?
That’s where Birdability comes into the picture! Meet Virginia Rose; Birdability’s Founder and Chair Emeritus. Virginia fell off a horse when she was a teenager, and has been a wheelchair user ever since. She and Rick Davis had a chance encounter at the grocery store recently when he helped her reach a bottle of champagne from the shelves. That’s where he learned all about Birdability and Virginia’s passion for merging accessibility with her love for birds and natural spaces.
Birdability works hard to call attention to the need for accessible spaces and an inclusive mindset in places that aren’t traditionally thought of as accessible: the outdoors.
“Often it is the environment that is disabling, rather than the person who is disabled” – Birdbility
Their entire mission is to bring the joys of birding and the outdoors to those who may not otherwise be able to experience it. Birding was a hobby that Virginia really leaned into and it helped her to “discover her best self in nature”. Birding can be for anybody and and body; it’s up to the abled to be welcoming to those who may not be as abled.
Even if you, or a friend, have some visual impairments, there are guides on how to bird watch with limited vision; including using sounds and tools to help with your identification. Maybe some of our VSS people can benefit?
Probably my favorite feature, however, has to be the birding map, which was made in partnership with the National Audubon Society and local contributors. It’s a map intended to help locate accessible trails and outdoor spaces throughout the world. You can filter through so many different features, including surface type (asphalt, concrete, gravel, etc), bathrooms along a trail, parking fees, car birding, and so much more.
I scrolled through other continents just to see what’s out there. I’m sad (but not surprised) to see that there’s not much in he way of accessibility outside the United States, Canada, and Europe. I’m sure there are more parks and places that can be added. I think this just shows how much of a necessary resource that this organization provides. Honestly, I may even use this tool myself to find accessible trails for my own outdoor activities, like painting outside in the park.
“Websites and recommendations from park staff are frequently incomplete — and so unreliable — sources of a location’s true accessibility, and what is accessible for one user may not be accessible for another.”
So many of us want to be outside, but just can’t find reliable information about how to just exist outside. It’s easy to say that an outdoor area has accessible pavement, for example, but is the concrete well-managed and actually accessible for a wheelchair or cane user? Is it on a slope? Are there van-accessible parking spaces? Is there enough shade from the sun? Are there food trucks or other snack/food options? So many things to consider.
That’s where you, if you’re interested in birding, can come in and organize a fun local meetup. You have the tools you need right here!
Anyway, hopefully it isn’t too cold for you to be outside just yet! Go check out Birdability and their Blog and tell us what you think!
Bang your drum… it could make you smarter and healthier!
I don’t want to work I want to bang on the drum all day I don’t want to play I just want to bang on the drum all day
–Todd Rundgren
Twice in the last several months, the topic of drumming came up in our AnCan Men Speaking Freely group and it generated some excitement both times. So this month’s invite will be on that topic.In my former practice whenever I have given a non-verbal treatment there is a big relief that no talking is involved. In bypassing the verbal and left-brain systems we gain access to a typically unused part of ourselves. I wonder if we can use this approach to cope with our serious illnesses and have a better life?
Our brains have a characteristic called plasticity, the ability to change. You may have heard of this regarding the little finger brain circuit of violinists; it grows as they become proficient. Drummers also have different brains than the rest of us. They have fewer, thicker nerve fibers between the two halves of the brain. They have more efficiently organized motor cortices. (Schlaffke, 2019). Because of this, drummers can do things that we can’t. They can coordinate the two sides of the brain better, and perform motor tasks with greater efficiency. They can play different rhythms with each hand and foot at the same time.
Schlaffke’s subjects had drummed many hours per week for decades. But Bruchhage’s (2020) subjects trained for only 8 weeks and showed several changes in the cerebellum plus changes in the cortex, showing not only cerebellar plasticity but also communication and coordination between the cerebellum and brain sensorimotor areas as well as areas for cognitive control.
Drumming is very complicated, which is why it’s unfair that the lead guitar and vocal guy gets all the girls (Greenfield, J. 2022).
For some reason, there is a close association between beat synchronization (integrating auditory perception with motor activity) and reading ability in children (Bonacina, 2021). Higher synchronization ability predicts better literacy skills. Maybe early intervention involving drumming can improve literacy in kids?
Cahart et.al (2022) showed that drumming can improve behavioral outcomes for autistic adolescents and elucidated some of the neurology involved. Does this mean it could help us?
Drums have been used for millennia for healing, inducing trance, and even psyching up soldiers.
We have learned that drumming is not just about waking up the right brain, but also about connecting the sides of the brain, and the cerebellum with the cortex. It can induce alpha brain waves. It can release endorphins. Even T-cells respond to drumming (Bittman). It induces present-moment experience, which we often work toward to deal with death anxiety. Interpersonal connections are made when people drum together. Despite the effort involved, it induces relaxation. I have come across papers describing drumming and music therapy for a wide variety of emotional problems and currently, there are 8000 music therapists in the US.
How about for us? We see above the possibility of reductions in anxiety, tension, pain, isolation, depression, and over-thinking the past and future. There are many studies of music therapy in ICUs, with patients on ventilators, easing hemodialysis pain, with positive results. Also, helpful with narcotic use, social integration, and depression. MSKCC uses music therapy.
With terminal cancer, there is data showing that music helps breathing, QOL, psychospiritual integration, reducing pain in chemotherapy, radiation, and helps pediatric breast and lung Ca patients (Ramirez 2018, Hilliard 2003, Burns 2015 Tuinmann 2017, Barrera 2002, Li 2011, Lin 2011). Atkinson (2020) found improvement with fatigue. I couldn’t find any studies focused only on Prostate Cancer.
Well, all this scholarly stuff is really unnecessary to anyone who ever banged a pot with a wooden spoon. Kids love it. Adults love situations where it’s OK to be wild and make noise, such as drumming circles and Pound classes. It’s just fun and feels good.
Dr. John Antonucci
Editor: Dr. John wrote this for our Men Speaking Freely Reminder on Dec 7, 2023. It’s such a perceptive, helpful and instructive piece, AnCan wanted to share it widely.
Hi-Risk/Recurrent/Advanced PCa Video Chat, Dec 4, 2023
AnCan is grateful to the following sponsors for making this recording possible: Bayer, Foundation Medicine, Pfizer, Janssen, Myriad Genetics, Myovant, Telix & Blue Earth Diagnostics.
AnCan respectfully notes that it does not accept sponsored promotion. Any drugs, protocols or devices recommended in our discussions are based solely on anecdotal peer experience or clinical evidence.
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Editor’s Pick: Take a trip with ketamine!! + lotsa useful tips this week. (rd)
Topics Discussed
Only ONE QB, and make sure they are the best choice; out-of-touch rad onc; Keytruda fails – moving on to Pluvicto; ketamine provides remarkable insight BUT don’t overdo it; Mettle Health & BJ Miller; community med onc doesn’t provide standard of care; is a PCa collective voice feasible?… old hands think not!; name the doc you want to see via your provider portal; renal cysts are rarely malignant; use FMI’s mobile phlebotomist to save time; how YOU can load images to MyChart; what to do about ADT fatigue… possibly over exercising??; is PSA too low for liquid biopsy analysis when you have known mets?; hotel deals available for cancer treatment.
Anti androgens: abiraterone, enzalutamide, apalutamide, darolutamide
Bob Gsent · 7:02 PM
Have to go now. I’ll be back a lot sooner. Have a good night.
Jim Marshall, Alexandria, VAsent · 7:10 PM
DOD’s Center for Prostate Disease Research gets $110M per year for Prostate Research. They hire contractors to analyze the proposals and do not go outside their own sphere. Jim Marshall
Here at AnCan, we like to highlight the perspectives of every person that enters our virtual “door”, so to speak. That includes religious perspectives; we are SO proud of how diverse our community is. So, as such, these views aren’t an official AnCan viewpoint.
Now that that’s out of the way, we just thought we would share a more religious perspective on a person’s cancer journey. In her blog, Stingray of Sunshine, author Dana Hendershot asks the question, “If it is truly a God blessing that my cancer was found early, then I also have to believe that God did NOT bless the person whose cancer wasn’t caught early.”
Author, and cancer survivor, Dana Hendershot, goes into depth about those words and phrases that others might deem comforting to someone going through cancer. Phrases like “God has his reasons” are the opposite of comforting for her.
CLICK HERE to read Hendershot’s blog post about her “Theological Quandary”
No matter our religious (or nonreligious) perspective, these sentiments may be felt by many in our community – regardless of which illness you may have.
And when we say free, we mean that in addition to the lesson being free, the supplies will also be free, too!! We are SO happy that we are able to offer this class – especially because it will benefit a community of individuals that is much more in need of mental health benefits than they might realize.
Last day to register is June 19th. We want to make sure everyone receives their supplies on time!
Your instructor, Hannah Garrison, currently works with the VA hospital system in San Antonio, TX, as a creative arts instructor for their psychiatric units. She has been there to witness the incredible mental health benefits of a creative arts practice in the individuals she works with. We’re here to provide space for a community of like-minded individuals. Starting a new hobby can be intimidating, so that’s why we are so happy to be able to provide your supplies completely free.
PLEASE send this class registration to any and all Veterans you know, that may be interested.
We’ll be using watercolors and watercolor pencils! You’ll be receiving everything needed to complete this project in our class time – minus any napkins and water, of course.
Are you a Veteran in need of some virtual support? Whether you have chronic illness, cancer, mental health concerns, etc; we welcome you with open arms. We’re a virtual support group filled with other peers who have a lot of advice and support to offer.
Next meeting is June 22nd at 8pm ET / 5pm PT. Drop in HERE. No need to register.
Looking to make some art a little sooner? We have our next general art class on June 8th at 8pm ET! It’s free, and it’s BYOAS (Bring Your Own Art Supplies). We’re making an acrylic painting on canvas!
Hello friends! In case you missed April’s AnCan Friends Art Class, we wanted to share the recording with our amazing community. This project uses both crayons and watercolors for a crayon wax resist effect! Check it out below:
You’ll need crayons, watercolors, mixed media paper or watercolor paper, and either a round brush or a flat brush. I happened to use a size # 8 round brush.
In case you’re having trouble figuring out what colors to use, you’ll see a few different examples of paintings I’ve done in the past. Mostly I just had fun experimenting with the colors, and I hope you can do the same, too! We’re always so proud of the work that comes out of this class. Happy painting!!!
With terminal cancer, there is data showing that music helps breathing, QOL, psychospiritual integration, reducing pain in chemotherapy, radiation, and helps pediatric breast and lung Ca patients (Ramirez 2018, Hilliard 2003, Burns 2015 Tuinmann 2017, Barrera 2002, Li 2011, Lin 2011). Atkinson (2020) found improvement with fatigue. I couldn’t find any studies focused only on Prostate Cancer.
