Graphic - Blog Posts

My contribution for ElippoWeek Day 4, Canon Compliant. It was supposed to be for Day 2, Photography or Art, but then I’ve got an idea for a fic for that day, so I decided it can be as well for today.

I’m not good with graphics, but I had this idea in my head and I decided it’d be cool and I think it came out pretty good, so I decided to post it. After all, the more content we have the better! Moreover, I’ve spend a lot of time doing it and I really wanted to share it.

+ bonus

How to approach a wheelchair user in your way

-> A visual guide

[ID: a graphic with simple figures. on the left is a column of 3 identical images of a wheelchair user sitting in front of a pedestrian. on the right are examples of do's and don'ts. the first don't is a person attempting to step over the wheelchair user. the second don't shows a person attempting to push the wheelchair user. the final image is a do with a person saying "excuse me" to the wheelchair user]

❌ stepping over wheelchair users

❌ pushing wheelchair users

✅ asking politely for the wheelchair user to move

A general cane guide for writers and artists (from a cane user, writer, and artist!)

Disclaimer: Though I have been using a cane for 6 years, I am not a doctor, nor am I by any means an expert. This guide is true to my experience, but there are as many ways to use a cane as there are cane users!

This guide will not include: White canes for blindness, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs as I have no personal experience with these.

This is meant to be a general guide to get you started and avoid some common mishaps/misconceptions, but you absolutely should continue to do your own research outside of this guide!

The biggest recurring problem I've seen is using the cane on the wrong side. The cane goes on the opposite side of the pain! If your character has even-sided pain or needs it for balance/weakness, then use the cane in the non-dominant hand to keep the dominant hand free. Some cane users also switch sides to give their arm a rest!

A cane takes about 20% of your weight off the opposite leg. It should fit within your natural gait and become something of an extension of your body. If you need more weight off than 20%, then crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair is needed.

Putting more pressure on the cane, using it on the wrong side, or having it at the wrong height will make it less effective, and can cause long term damage to your body from improper pressure and posture. (Hugh Laurie genuinely hurt his body from years of using a cane wrong on House!)

(an animated GIF of a cane matching the natural walking gait. It turns red when pressure is placed on it.)

When going up and down stairs, there is an ideal standard: You want to use the handrail and the cane at the same time, or prioritize the handrail if it's only on one side. When going up stairs you lead with your good leg and follow with the cane and hurt leg together. When going down stairs you lead with the cane, then the good leg, and THEN the leg that needs help.

Realistically though, many people don't move out of the way for cane users to access the railing, many stairs don't have railings, and many are wet, rusty, or generally not ideal to grip.

In these cases, if you have a friend nearby, holding on to them is a good idea. Or, take it one step at a time carefully if you're alone.

Now we come to a very common mistake I see... Using fashion canes for medical use!

(These are 4 broad shapes, but there is INCREDIBLE variation in cane handles. Research heavily what will be best for your character's specific needs!)

The handle is the contact point for all the weight you're putting on your cane, and that pressure is being put onto your hand, wrist, and shoulder. So the shape is very important for long term use!

Knob handles (and very decorative handles) are not used for medical use for this reason. It adds extra stress to the body and can damage your hand to put constant pressure onto these painful shapes.

The weight of a cane is also incredibly important, as a heavier cane will cause wear on your body much faster. When you're using it all day, it gets heavy fast! If your character struggles with weakness, then they won't want a heavy cane if they can help it!

This is also part of why sword canes aren't usually very viable for medical use (along with them usually being knob handles) is that swords are extra weight!

However, a small knife or perhaps a retractable blade hidden within the base might be viable even for weak characters.

Bases have a lot of variability as well, and the modern standard is generally adjustable bases. Adjustable canes are very handy if your character regularly changes shoe height, for instance (gotta keep the height at your hip!)

Canes help on most terrain with their standard base and structure. But for some terrain, you might want a different base, or to forego the cane entirely! This article covers it pretty well.

Many cane users decorate their canes! Stickers are incredibly common, and painting canes is relatively common as well! You'll also see people replacing the standard wrist strap with a personalized one, or even adding a small charm to the ring the strap connects to. (nothing too large, or it gets annoying as the cane is swinging around everywhere)

(my canes, for reference)

If your character uses a cane full time, then they might also have multiple canes that look different aesthetically to match their outfits!

When it comes to practical things outside of the cane, you reasonably only have one hand available while it's being used. Many people will hook their cane onto their arm or let it dangle on the strap (if they have one) while using their cane arm, but it's often significantly less convenient than 2 hands. But, if you need 2 hands, then it's either setting the cane down or letting it hang!

For this reason, optimizing one handed use is ideal! Keeping bags/items on the side of your free hand helps keep your items accessible.

When sitting, the cane either leans against a wall or table, goes under the chair, or hooks onto the back of the chair. (It often falls when hanging off of a chair, in my experience)

When getting up, the user will either use their cane to help them balance/support as they stand, or get up and then grab their cane. This depends on what it's being used for (balance vs pain when walking, for instance!)

That's everything I can think of for now. Thank you for reading my long-but-absolutely-not-comprehensive list of things to keep in mind when writing or drawing a cane user!

Happy disability pride month! Go forth and make more characters use canes!!!

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“Get Top Dawg On The Phone…”

Sean bienvenidos japonistasarqueologicos a una nueva actualidad del país del sol naciente, en esta ocasión en el tema de actualidad de esta opción será la natalidad y de cómo afectará al país dicho esto pónganse cómodos que empezamos. - La esperanza de vida en Japón es la más alta del mundo, llegando a los 100 años, lo cual lo convierte en el país más longevo del mundo, Japón para 2046, según nuevos estudios llevados a cabo por National Geographic, será de 37.5% de población envejecida. - La tasa de natalidad y los estudios realizados por Statista Research Department en septiembre 29, 2022 natalidades son de 1,69. Seguramente llegue a un punto en el que se llegará a un equilibrio entre la tasa de natalidad y la tasa de mortalidad. - ¿Cuál será el destino de Japón? ¿Qué opinan al respecto? Espero que os haya gustado y nos vemos en próximas publicaciones que pasen una buena semana. - 今回は「出生率」と「出生率の推移」についてです。 - 日本の平均寿命は、それが世界で最も長く生きている国になり、100年に達し、世界で最も高いです、日本は2046年までに、ナショナルジオグラフィックが実施した新しい研究によると、人口の37.5％が高齢化されることになります。 - 2022年9月29日にStatista Research Departmentが行った研究によると、出生率・出生数は1.69である。おそらく、出生率と死亡率が均衡する地点に達するだろう。 - 日本の運命はどうなるのか、あなたはどう思いますか？私はあなたがそれを好きで、将来の記事であなたを参照してください願っています良い週を持っています。 - Welcome japanistasarqueologicos to a new news from the country of the rising sun, this time the topic of this option will be the birth rate and how it will affect the country, that said, make yourselves comfortable and let's start. - Life expectancy in Japan is the highest in the world, reaching 100 years, which makes it the longest living country in the world, Japan by 2046, according to new studies conducted by National Geographic, will be 37.5% of the population aged. - The birth rate and birth rates are 1.69, according to studies conducted by Statista Research Department on September 29, 2022. It will probably reach a point where a balance will be reached between the birth rate and the death rate. - What will Japan's fate be, and what do you think about it? I hope you liked it and see you in future posts have a good week.

this is why i have trust issues /j

Monday May 22.

Footage of a horrifying tiger attack.

You really don't want to see this

I mean, why would you do this to yourself?? It's horrible

Nothing good can come from watching 

Look, if we give you $5, will you promise to leave? It's really for your own good

You know, the more we think about it, the more it feels a little uneasy. Are you sure you're OK? Why do you want to see it so much? It's kinda weird

Really? 

This is your last chance! It's not too late to turn back

Fair enough, have it your way. But it's about to get grizzly

You didn't really think we'd put you through that, right? We're far too fond of you. After all, it's Monday, #tigers are trending, and we simply could not be happier.

Got another process gif to go along with this one. How’s your 2017 going so far?

Pencil and digital can go pretty well together no?