Welcome

What is “FreeRangeQuad”?

I came up with the name “FreeRangeQuad” several years ago while trying to think of a unique handle to use online. It’s a tongue-in-cheek reference to “free range” chickens and other animals that are allowed to roam around more freely and not caged for their entire lives. The idea is that spinal cord injury quadriplegics (“quads” as we call ourselves) need to get out of our metaphorical cages and experience life outside in public like we did pre-injury. That’s not easy. Besides the physical barriers that still exist everywhere, most “normal” people would prefer we stay out sight and out of the way. The willpower required to face those barriers and leave the house every day is significant. It’s still a challenge for me even after more than 37 years in a chair.

What’s the Point of this Website?

This site is mostly a way for me to share my thoughts and experiences as a quad. I finally decided to set up a blog after all these years because it’s a time of unprecedented attention to accessibility and technological advancement. I don’t think anyone will really care what I have to say, but it’s an encouraging time to be disabled in my opinion.

By way of example, one of my primary hobbies is computer games and I’ve seen a massive change in attention to accessibility in that industry. A few years ago Microsoft released an adaptive controller for the Xbox designed to make console gaming more accessible for quads and others with loss of hand function. It was a big deal because prior to that quads had to find a way to jerry rig controllers or purchase cobbled together custom solutions for hundreds of dollars just to play console games. They even went so far as to create quad-friendly accessible packaging for the controller, which inspired me to create an unboxing video on YouTube. On the software side, many new games now include entire menus devoted to accessibility settings for different disabilities. Advances in other areas such as AI are also increasing accessibility in amazing ways.

I don’t claim to be an expert in disability or even spinal cord injury, but I hope someone out there might find my rambling posts and silly experiments useful. If not, then at least I’ve found a cheap way to express my opinions and vent my frustrations.

Head Up & Wheels Down,
FRQ