Tomoko Jojima
Enjoy Polio Group

My disease is polio. Polio is an illness which is caused by a virus. Many of the people who catch it are children, and it is also called infantile paralysis, because paralysis can occur in the muscles in the arms and legs or those used for breathing. I developed post-polio in addition, when I was around 50, and I now wear long leg braces on both legs and use a wheelchair.

Until around ten years ago, I was able to go about my daily life with long leg braces on both legs and a stick, but there are many differences in level in my house, and I repeatedly fell and broke bones. I believe that disabilities are reduced by making environments barrier-free, so I had the floors throughout my house raised to match the highest level (the floor in the bathroom). The floors became around 16 cm higher, so I removed the doors below the kitchen counters and bathroom sink, and got rid of the parts which were sunk below the floor (Photo 1). This made them just the right height for a wheelchair.

Photo 1

I thought that I had put a completely barrier-free environment in place. However, I developed severe pain in my shoulders and arms. Moving to and from the toilet or the bed, changing clothes, and housework became difficult, so I decided to make use of the things around me to make some self-help tools. I will introduce a few of them here.

First is the hairdryer stand. I attached a plastic bottle holder for a bike onto a banana stand which I bought at the 100 yen shop with cable ties, and fixed my hairdryer there. With this, I can dry my hair without holding the hairdryer (Photo 2).

Photo 2

If you use a wheelchair in your daily life, your reach becomes more limited. A reach extender is convenient when fetching things or opening and closing the curtains. When it comes to picking up small items in particular, such as pills which have fallen onto the floor, barbecue tongs come in handy.

When I need to switch the circuit breaker back on, such as after a power cut, I struggle because it is placed high up on the wall. I had my circuit breaker installed upside down, and attached a cord to the string. If I pull the cord, I can switch it back on (Photo 3). Also, most electric sockets are too low for me to reach. I have fixed short extension cords in places where I can reach using double-sided sticky tape, making them into sockets which are close at hand (Photo 4).

In addition, I am developing 365 buddies. I aim to develop many buddies who are willing to help me at least once a year. People who readily help me, even if they are only acquaintances, are very important.

Photo 3 and 4

I intend to go on arranging my environment, without forgetting wisdom or ingenuity, and valuing the buddies who support me as I go about my daily life.