Welcome to our Photo Gallery!

Welcome to our virtual Photo Gallery where photos represent various individuals with a neurological impairment experiences transitioning out of rehabilitation and back to their home and community. The photos and captions below showcase an assortment of things that have either helped or hindered one's transition back into the community after discharge, along with a caption describing each photo. We acknowledge the support of Western Research for us to host this event.

Photo Gallery

Please view the photos and captions below!

If interested in getting involved in the research connected to this, please see the flyer below and/or reach out to the study lead, Janelle Unger (janelle.unger@uwo.ca)!

Backyard where my dog is sniffing the flowers. She enjoys the flowers.

Accessing kitchen island.

My ramp has been my biggest connection to my community, without it I'd be stuck at home or may have never been able to get home to begin with. Shortly after I got sick my mother created a go fund me for me and money was raised by my friends and family to get me home with the financial support I may have needed to purchase accessibility items that would be a great expense for my family.

Raised garden.

The stairs look like Mt. Everest!

Wheels are cool and sexy.

New equipment: the bathroom doesn’t look the same.

Plastic finish on cupboards to help limit damage to it. I found using plastic was better than metal.

My pal won’t leave my side or share the remote!

Leon’s bed with handles from Motion, movable bed table from Walmart, and bed lifts.

Walking and playing with her in my backyard was good exercise when I just got home.

Home to food I love.

Hand cycle to go biking.

Home office where I supervise students, answer emails and have zoom calls...Initially I did only one hour a day...but now I can work about four hours a day.

This photo needs no explanation.

I still exercise on most days but often its hard for me to adhere to the exercise program because I get distracted easily by other things at home.

When I came back home from Parkwood, the flowers were blooming. The tulips and the cherry was blossoming. So I took this picture and of course it made me feel happy and nice and calm and all of those feelings. It was a relief to be back home.

Handmade pottery that was made on an accessible pottery wheel with hand controls at Clayworx! When I was transitioning back home and into the community, I wanted to get back to what I loved and one of those was ceramics! I had been practicing pottery for 10+ years, when I got sick and my hands suffered a lot that was one of the things I was scared I'd never be able to do again.

It was difficult to see that my wife was so busy with managing everything because on the one hand I needed time for myself to recover but on the other hand I also thought, I am needed at home and in volunteering and community activities.

Adjusted coat rack at lowered height.

This parking spot used to be a wheelchair accessible parking spot that is close to the entrances of the plaza stores. It was removed to make way for an electric charging station that is wider than a wheelchair accessible spot. Note that there is no access to the charging pole and nozzle. There is no curb-cut to access the charging station. Why can't charging stations be located at the back of a parking lot? Why was it a wheelchair accessible parking space that was eliminated? Why were accessibility experts and/or people who live with mobility challenges not consulted?

This parking spot used to be a wheelchair accessible parking spot that is close to the entrances of the plaza stores. It was removed to make way for an electric charging station that is wider than a wheelchair accessible spot. Note that there is no access to the charging pole and nozzle. There is no curb-cut to access the charging station. Why can't charging stations be located at the back of a parking lot? Why was it a wheelchair accessible parking space that was eliminated? Why were accessibility experts and/or people who live with mobility challenges not consulted?

2x6 base for Lazy Boy chair. Helps with transfers.

Patient Engagement

Both Paul Garrett and Jason R. Gray are a part of Parkwood Institute's patient engagement team and have greatly supported this project. Thank you for sharing your time, expertise, and experiences with us!

Paul Garrett

Read more about Paul's rehabilitation journey with Parkwood Institute here!

Father, Grandfather, Mortgage Advisor and Spinal Cord Injury Warrior. Acute onset of a rare neuroimmune disease started Paul on a journey to raise awareness for his condition and the challenges faced by people who live with disabilities and rare diseases. Determined to help others navigate their new worlds, he became a member of the Southwest Executive Council for Spinal Cord Injury Ontario (SCIO), and is now a peer mentor and the Group Lead in Canada for the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association (SRNA). Paul served as a member of the Parkwood Main Care Partner Advisory Council, the Care Partnership at St. Joseph’s Health Care, London, sits on several related committees, and has participated in cutting-edge initiatives at Lawson Research Institute. Within the community, he owns and operates Garrett Mortgages, is a member of the London Chamber of Commerce and is the President of the Kiwanis Club of Forest City-London. www.garrettmortgage.ca

Jason R. Gray

Jason is a filmmaker, writer, photographer, and much more. You can check out his website to see some of his various works and films!

You can also read some of Jason's rehabilitation story from Parkwood Institute here!

Get involved in our research study!

janelle.unger@uwo.ca

Contact

If you have any questions or inquiries, please reach out!

janelle.unger@uwo.ca