INTRODUCTION
What this site is for
If you are a C6 male quad who likes the idea of independence but can’t get it, or you are being told you can’t, this site will give you instructions.
Its not meant to be some dodgy new age motivational self help book. Its a practical ‘how to’ guide that shows how I, as a C6 quad, do the every day tasks that all humans have to do.
Included in the list of tasks are things like, travel, work, going out and sex, because these are the basic things we need to do just because we are human.
What this site is NOT for
I am a C6 male quad and the site is solely based on my individual experience. I have not and will not try to generalise it in anyway, or even ground truth its accuracy as far as other individuals are concerned. If you find it is not relevant to you, or wrong, or offensive, simply move on to some other website.
It is deliberately expressed from the male perspective. This is not due to an oversight or an assumption. It is because the male experience of being a C6 is all I know, and I suspect quite a lot of the experience is different for women. In addition, I don’t presume to speak for anyone other than myself, in particular I don’t presume to speak for women. However, if some or all of it is of relevance to female quads that will be great.
How this site works
The page buttons above, which are repeated in the links below, will take you to a page on each issue. On each page you will find
My advice
My experience
Usually some pictures and/or videos
What the experts say
My rule number x
Update* – on pages marked with an * you will find an update to account for changes since 2015, mostly aging related
Why create this site?
I became a C6 quad as a result of a diving accident. It happened at a beach in 1986. At the time I originally made this site, around 2015, I had lived completely independently since 1987, basically 30 years.
I was motivated to make this site after speaking with a few friends who are very experienced spinal injury professionals. They told me two things that I found surprising. Firstly they said that in their careers they had come across somewhere between zero and one other C6 that lives independently like me. Secondly they said people who become C6s in the 21st century are not encouraged to, or even told they can, become independent.
Examples of spinal injury professionals saying independence for C6s is impossible include apparalyzed and medicine, and worst of all the consortium for spinal cord medicine. Fortunately they don’t all have that view. Experts that have a different view include spinalhub and spinal injury net.
It seems to me that this ‘don’t even try’ approach is very unfortunate for the C6s being advised by these organisations, and much less importantly, unnecessarily expensive for governments and insurers.
Obviously its up to each C6 to determine their own life, however if you do not know the options available you cannot make an informed choice. For this reason I thought it would be potentially useful and important for those recent C6s, and spinal injury professionals, to be shown that independence is possible for C6s.
Once C6s view the site I am hopeful they will get an understanding of what can be done and how. They will then be in a position to make an informed decision about the level of independence that suits them, and work towards that.
In other words, they will be able the choose their own destination and make their own horizons, rather than being at the mercy of a professional’s opinion about where their limits lie.
Why update this site?
When I initially created the site around 2014 I was about 50 and the impacts of aging were only beginning to kick in. Since then things have changed a lot for me. I have had a lot of hospital admissions for bladder related issues; a lot of shoulder pain which makes pushing hard; a lot of low blood pressure problems, which makes everything hard; I retired in 2020 at only 55 due all these issues; and in 2022 I had a stroke. So in 2023 I have decided to slowly update various pages on the site to reflect those changes.
WARNING: THIS SITE INCLUDES SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL, IF YOU ARE LIKELY TO BE OFFENDED PLEASE PROCEED NO FURTHER.
Links to pages
Quad rule number 1 – To get half as far, you need to be twice as good
Quad rule number 2 – Confidence is sexy
Quad rule number 3 – Its your life. Do what you can to make it as rich as possible.
Quad rule number 4 – Take control confidently, but do it with empathy.
Quad rule number 5 – Regret is pointless.
Quad rule number 6 – Take reasonable risks, but consider the worst case scenario and ensure you have a backup plan.
Quad rule number 7 – You are what you eat
Quad rule number 8 – Take control of your own health
Quad rule number 9 – Find a routine that allows you to enjoy eating
Quad rule number 10 – Get clothes altered for convenience and fit
Quad rule number 11 – Bare feet, or socks only, is a very bad look and very unsafe, so never go anywhere, even around the house, without shoes
Quad rule number 12 – Always overdress – The shirt maketh the man
Rule number 13 – If you you want a job, become the type of person who has that job, if that means wearing a suit with pride then do it
Quad rule number 14 – Focus on her eyes and clitoris
Quad rule number 15 – Being disabled is not an excuse for being unfit
Quad rule number 16 – Successful quad pushing requires 1) good body position (chair set-up) 2) good traction between hands and tyres (gloves and tread) and 3) reduced drag (weight)
Quad rule number 17 – Experimentation, practice and perseverance are the keys to success
Quad rule number 18 – Don’t let anyone make you give up independence, health, fitness and opportunity for fear of future pain that may never occur
S. PICKING THINGS UP – THUMB POSITION
Quad rule number 19 – The thumb is the key to a good C6 grip. Thumb position can be the difference between dependence and independence
Quad rule number 20 – The car is a ticket to freedom but it can become a prison
Quad rule number 21 – Travel is a trade-off, you have to put in a lot of money, time and effort but there can be substantial rewards
Quad rule number 22 – You don’t need to put up with anything difficult in your house, just get it fixed
Quad rule number 23 – Its important for self esteem that the house is not too bad, and important for socialising that you can invite people over
Quad rule number 24 – Cooking and sharing a meal with friends is as good as it gets
Quad rule number 25 – To get the job done you need the right tool
Quad rule number 26 – If you sit around waiting life will pass you by
The Independent Quad (C6) 