Supporting Talent: Stickman Artist and Cartoonist Hannah Ensor

Stickman Artist and Cartoonist: Hannah Ensor

 

At Living with Disability, we love to celebrate talented individuals and the work they produce. One such person is Hannah Ensor (@stickmancrips) who illustrates and writes cartoon books about life ‘on wheels’  as well as producing children’s books with ‘her’ charities Whizz-Kidz and HMS benefiting from the proceeds. At Living With Disability we love the witty and endearing style used throughout the books and the cleverly drawn characters.

Hilarious and heart-warming


As well as providing a humorous look about life on wheels and living with disabilities, Hannah also gives her reader a true portrait of exactly how it feels to be living with a disability and all the seemingly hilarious things that can happen, if only they weren’t happening to you. In You Know You’ve Been Pushing it When… we get a hilariously funny and witty look at life in a wheelchair, complete with Ensor’s complementary cartoons which just add more humour to her work. With every copy of this book sold, £1 is donate to HMS, the Hypermobility Syndrome charity.

Whizz-Kids Fundraisers


Stickman artist, Ensor has also written two children’s books, with the charity Whizz-Kids benefiting from the proceeds. Written for 2-5 year olds, Welly Walks and Biscuit Baking feature stickman cartoon kids in wheelchairs and are instrumental books for understanding the fear of being ‘different’ as a child growing up with a disability. Both are extremely funny, entertaining and pitched perfectly for their age group. Even better, £1 per sale goes to the Whizz-Kids charity, who strive to give disabled children the chance to lead independent fulfilling lives.

Ensor’s work extends beyond her books and as her success continues, we’ll be seeing more and more of her work in the public domain, with more commissions being sought all the time. From political protest to company logos, Hannah Ensor has a talent which deserves to be celebrated. Follow her work and success on her blog or on twitter.

If you’re interested in buying any of the books, please click here to visit the Disability Horizons store.

Image of the Welly Walks book by Hannah Ensor Image of the Biscuit Baking book by Hannah Ensor

Ingenious Ideas: Illuminated Magnifiers

Ingenious Ideas: Illuminated Magnifiers

Living with a visual disability shouldn’t mean you miss out on reading your favourite newspapers, books or magazines. If you have impaired vision, there is no reason you can’t benefit from this great product: an illuminated stand magnifier, meaning whatever you need or want to look at can be even further magnified, making it clearer to see.
As well as reading for pleasure, there are many occasions where you might need to be able to read something and it can be frustrating to need other people’s support, with a stand magnifier, you can read your own bills, letters and such like and act on them independently without the need of support from others around you.

Stand Magnifiers: adjustable and illuminated

There are a huge range of magnifiers on the market but the most effective ones are complete with LED lighting and a sturdy adjustable stand of their own, meaning you can use them with ease whatever you want to read. This video shows a particularly popular brand in use:

These models were originally designed for use by crafters and those working with small parts but they have become more popular in the disability sector as people have realised how valuable they can be for those living with visual disabilities. Some models come complete with neck cord rather than a stand and this is just as useful when trying to read or decipher something. They can even be used for completing crosswords and puzzles.

Portable pocket devices

In addition to the larger home models available, you can also get illuminated magnifiers small enough to fit on a key ring, brilliant for when you’re out and about and you might need to check things such as price tickets etc. Rather than asking a shop assistant or fellow shopper for help, you can simply use your magnifier to check out the cost of something yourself.
If you’re interested in purchasing a magnifier, click in one of the boxes below:

High-Tech Helpers: Robot Vacuum Cleaners

High-Tech Helpers: Robot Vacuum Cleaners

iRobot Roomba


The advancement of technology continues to speed off at an alarming rate and as each new product is developed, there are new ways that people living with disabilities can gain independence and fulfilment from their lives with less support from others. Now, the development of robotics has been seen more in sci-fi movies and books but it’s not longer a thing of the past, innovative robot vacuum cleaners have been developed and are available for general purchase.
Robot vacuum cleaners are a development which could significantly help those living with disabilities who find the general vacuum cleaner too heavy, too difficult to grip or have problems with bending and stretching. Rather than relying on support from carers or family, a robot vacuum cleaner can do the job for you on its own.

Samsung vs iRobot

vacuum cleaners robot

Samsung Navibot

There are two main brands of robot vacuum cleaner on the market and both have their advantages and disadvantages. This video shows in depth which model benefits from which qualities and also their strengths and weaknesses:

As the video shows the iRobot Roomba is the original design, complete with all the features you think you may need in a robot vac but then along comes the Samsung NaviBot.

Now, the Navibot seems to be a newer, more technically advanced and highly developed model but on testing, it’s possible to see how both products have their strengths and how according to CNET the original design is much stronger than the new, apparently more technically advanced development.
The Navibot is fantastic for thorough and in depth cleaning and it’s vision mapping technology means it knows where it’s already been and won’t spin in circles but it does struggle with obstacles. The Roomba may take a little more time to get things done and may keep going over the same spot but the job will get done and the original technology proves to be superior in most instances.
If you’re interested in finding out more about either product, click in the boxes below: