My Accessible Pandemic

by Jared Wayland

The lifting of restrictions around the world is no doubt a huge sigh of relief for everyone!

For some however, life in lockdown presented a new plane of accessibility. Disability activist Ruby Jones recently started the #MyAccessiblePandemic hashtag which has gone viral with thousands sharing how elements of lockdown have improved their lives and helped manage a variety of conditions. Read more about it here: https://bbc.in/3yg3Nhc

We spoke with our Quantum Rehab Ambassador Jared Wayland to hear his thoughts and how his life during the pandemic became more accessible.

Life at iLevel Canada: What are some of the biggest impediments to accessibility you experience in your daily life? How have these changed throughout the periods of lockdown over the past year?

Jared Wayland: There are quite a few areas in my daily life where I have to deal with accessibility issues. While there are always new challenges every day when it comes to this, there are some constants. I tend to need quite a bit of help at home when it comes to things such as getting out of bed, getting dressed, showering, etc. Also, I often need help carrying or lifting heavy things.

My partner is my main caregiver (even before the pandemic), but we also had some help in terms of PSWs coming to the house when needed, and a lot more flexibility in terms of friends/family coming over to help with whatever we needed. However, once the pandemic started, we stopped our PSW service, as we didn’t want people coming in and out of our residence due to safety concerns of the virus.

We have managed, and are looking to start these services up again soon....but it has definitely been a challenege in terms of help around the house.

L: What was your workplace situation prior to COVID lockdowns, and how has that changed during and after?

J: Luckily for me, not much has changed in terms of work during the COVID pandemic. I have been fortunate enough to work from home as a freelancer for the past 5 or so years, and that was status quo during the pandemic. There were definitely some shifts in terms of the type of work I was doing (no events, etc.), but I truly believe I came out stronger for it.

L: Are there any ways in which you have seen public interest increase in accessibility? Ie. more options to work from home, greater emphasis on live-streamed entertainment and concerts, etc?

J: I am not sure whether the general public actually realizes how much this pandemic has done in terms of accessibility, but I feel that it has actually been a positive. From working to home to live-streamed conferences, concerts and events, everything has been literally one-click away for most people with internet access. I have really enjoyed tuning in to some live concerts especially where I wouldn’t have been able to go otherwise for various reasons, accessibility being a big one.

L: Have you found technology to be a help, hindrance, or combination of both in your work and social life?

J: Technology is always a huge help for me, and I don’t feel as though that has changed much during the pandemic. However, one thing I will say, is that I have found myself trying to more actively pay attention to how much I am using my phone/computer/tablet and making sure that I am giving myself much needed breaks. That could be anything from a roll around outside in my Stretto, to just putting all technology down and picking up a book or magazine.

L: Are there any aspects of lockdown that you wish to continue as we start opening up again?

J: The whole re-opening thing is a bit of an iffy subject, but if there’s one thing that I hope people take away from this whole thing, is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with washing/sanitizing your hands, practicing good hygiene and taking extra caution in spreading germs.

L: How has your experience with Quantum products shaped your working life before and after lockdown? (Comfort, independence, etc.)

J: Quantum has completely changed my life from about 5 minutes after waking up right until it’s time for bed. Working from home in a powerchair, I need something that is comfortable, has good support, and allows me to maneuver freely around my house. My Stretto Edge 3 with iLevel checks all the boxes for me when it comes to that. It has also allowed me to venture out of my house to go for rolls around the neighbourhood and visit my parents while everything else was closed. The Stretto is a complete and total gamechanger for me!