I'm gonna be heading a work project starting June 9th thru the 13th and am looking for any willing participants. I will be moving around the sanctuary making as many of the spaces more accessible for people with mobility issues. This will include building ramps, installing handrails (would be nice if they could be a combo of utility and artistry but time and people power will dictate how pretty things look), creating a wheel chair accessible path to Beelzebub shitter, installing support assistance bars where needed (shitters, shower areas). Anything else we can do to make the sanctuary more accommodating for those of us with special mobility issues. This is only the beginning.

I have been living with a person with a chronic life long disability for the last 13 years. There are so many challenges for a person who lives with a chronic illness or disability. Mobility is a major common theme. Through my years of being a primary care giver I've learned the importance of my partner being as "independent" as possible. Independence of mobility allows a person with disability to live their life closer to the way those of us without mobility issues live. This in turn allows a person with disability to be less defined by their specific illness or disability. People don't want to be defined by what they can't do but rather what they can do.

Imagine if every time you wanted water or food, you had to ask someone to get it for you. You need to take a shit and can't get yourself to the shitter by yourself. I know from experience how exhausting and disempowering this can be for one's self esteem.

As a primary caregiver, I have learned that a major part of caring for someone with mobility issues is allowing them to do for themselves. This involves constantly pushing the limits on what one can or can't do. With some simple installations of assistance devices (mainly rails, ramps, clearances, wider steps, door openings, etc) we are offering our loved ones a chance to do for themselves. Some may still need assistance in certain situations and there will always be someone there to help, but we need to allow people to try and do for themselves.

To not be defined by ones inability, it is essential to know one's possibility. To know what is possible, one needs to try.

I am offering everyone and anyone interested ( whether you have a mobility issue, disability, chronic illness, or none of the above) to come and join me in making Wolf Creek Sanctuary a place more accessible to more people. This can involve physical labor, ideas, questions, support of any kind.

Again, I plan on arriving after the closing circle for Naraya and will be working around the land until the 13th or the 14th. And again, this is just the beginning. Hopefully with some work done making our sanctuary more accessible will come a better understanding of what is truly needed to make Wolf Creek a sanctuary to all people regardless of the physical form they appear to be in.

If anyone wants to contact me before I start work, questions, suggestions, support, tell me you're gonna be there with a toolbelt on and nothing more (I'll supply the tools), feel free to contact me at blutfire@mac.com.

Blessed Be

Joshua Blood Fire