The Readers' PageLETTERS ABOUT WORKING WITH DISABILITES
from SGN #68:• Diane Hosteter
• Margaret Jambor
• Lisa Warriner
• Bert Ochterbeck
• Sue Vitagliano
• Richard Alley
• Shirley Dooley
• Pam Wegner
• Ron Chase
• Joanne DiNardo
• Vickie Kamerik
• DIANE HOSTETERI want to respond to the communication in "Dear SGN," The Reader's Workshop" in issue #67 from Jeanette Greene of Colorado.
I have been doing glass for over 10 years now. About six years ago I became wheelchair bound. I have degenerative joint disorder, a form of arthritis that causes the bones of joints to disintegrate. So far it has effected my knees, one hip, upper back, and right hand.
When I became disabled friends and family where essential to my sanity but doing glass work to take the place of all the physical activities I used to do was a close second in importance. It not only helped fill the time but resulted in something I feel proud, good, and worthwhile about doing. I kept my mind on the beauty and color in life instead of on "poor me." And everyone who does glass knows the wonderful feeling of giving their work as a gift a seeing the joy it brings to others.
I find the most difficult challenge caused by sitting to work on glass is getting a consistent pressure while cutting, especially circles. Haven't come up with a solution to that one yet.
Cutting for more than a few minutes at a time becomes painful for me but that is easily avoided by cutting a few minutes then alternating with foiling or soldering a few minutes. When my condition flares up and is really painful I have a Taurus II for cutting.
I find that when I am working on a large piece that I can't reach comfortably from a sitting position the best thing is to work on a surface that I can wheel around and reach from (ideally) all four sides. It also makes it easier to work on sections, like the upper right corner for example, separately and then solder the sections together at the end. Then I only have one difficult work session when I solder the quarters together instead of being in pain all of the time trying to reach and work throughout the entire project.
When working on a smaller piece I have found that using a drop-down, adjustable level computer key board helps me avoid cramping and upper back pain that can result from working in one position too long. They also tilt and angle like a drafting table. When one level or angle becomes uncomfortable I just change levels for a while. My library has a check out desk with an entire eight foot by about two and a half foot section of adjustable surface. I dream of having something like that one day.
Feel free to pass this along to Jeanette with my e mail address. I have learned that everyone's disability is different and I don't know if my ideas will be helpful for her. I would like to correspond with her about this and see if she has tried other things that might be helpful for me also.