Summer Paralympics, are you ready?

This quadrennial event is ready to take place in Tokyo this year. It will commence on Tuesday the 24th of August and conclude on Sunday the 5th of September. Via Channel 4, you can watch, be inspired and admire the talents of the Paralympians who are taking part.

In this blog, we are rounding up our favourite facts and exploring ways to make sports accessible for those with disabilities.

Some Interesting Facts about the Paralympics

Since 1960, the Paralympic games have been bringing the best-disabled athletes to internationally recognised sporting arenas. Although, before the Paralympics creation, disabled people did and still can compete in the Olympics. The criteria is and always will be to qualify to gain entry.

Paralympians stand up against adversity and have accepted the challenge to overcome their disability and make the most of it. The games and athletes are awe-inspiring, which often leads to a vast uptake in sports globally.

One hundred seventy countries and over four thousand Paralympians are to take part in the Tokyo Paralympics 2021.

There are Six Terms to Segment the Athletes:

The classification system within the Paralympics helps keep the competition fair and safe. The six segments are as follows:

• Amputee
• Cerebral Palsy
• Intellectual Disability
• Wheelchair
• Vision Impaired
• Les Autres/Others

There are 22 Summer Paralympic Sports

There are 22 summer paralympic games for athletes to compete in, with the two newest sports debuting at the Tokyo games, badminton and taekwondo.

Archery	Rowing
Athletics	Shooting Para Sport
Badminton	Sitting volleyball
Boccia	Swimming
Canoeing	Table Tennis
Cycling	Taekwondo
Equestrian	Triathlon
Football 5-a-side	Wheelchair Basketball
Goalball	Wheelchair Fencing
Judo	Wheelchair Rugby
Powerlifting	Wheelchair Tennis

Paralympic Only Sporting Events

Above are two Paralympic sports that have no Olympic counterpart, so let's explore them:

Boccia

Boccia is a mixed-gender turn-taking sport.

Initially, this game was curated with cerebral palsy players in mind. However, now many types of disabled people compete, often those with reduced motor skills.

There are many variants of this game worldwide. For example, in the UK, we have Lawn Bowling, the French have Pétanque, and the Italians have Bocce. They all fall under the umbrella term Boules. You throw/roll your balls as close to the target as possible, and your competitors try to beat your attempt.

One team is red, the other blue, and their target is a white ball. 

Goalball

Goalball, intended to be played by those who are visually impaired/blind. This game sees three participants per team use their hands to throw or roll the ball into the opponent's net, relying on senses other than sight, mainly hearing. Ear-hand coordination is imperative to compete as the ball contains bells inside that players rely on to understand its velocity. Non-disabled players should wear eyepatches and eyeshades to prevent sight. A Goalball game last for 12 minutes a half, 24 minutes in total. 

Adapted Technology for Sports

As a disabled person, finding a way into sports of any kind can be tricky, as they aren't always accessible. An example of this is an amputee taking up running. Running is defined as "the activity of going somewhere quickly on foot, as a sport or for pleasure:" - Cambridge Dictionary.

To make this sport accessible to amputees, a universally designed running shoe is not going to help. However, ergonomic adaptive equipment such as running blades can allow an amputee to participate in running events.

How to Make Sports More Accessible with Tenura Products

Let's look at ways Tenura products can help disabled people participate in sports and adapt their equipment further for better results and comfort.

Open Drinks with a Bottle Opener

When you are working out and training, you don't want your bottle lid to get between you and that fresh sip of water, so take a Tenura bottle opener to the gym. Tenura bottle openers are made of silicone that's grip-enhancing.

For people with arthritis, twisting and exerting strength through their wrists and hands is tricky and limited, so having this aid is beneficial.

Non-Slip Floor Mats for Mobility

When participating in events as a wheelchair user or someone who uses a walking aid, you may need an extra bit of grip to help you move from one mobility aid to another. For example, in Wheelchair Basketball, there are specially designed wheelchairs for the sport, but getting into one can be a struggle.

By having a Tenura non-slip floor mat under your feet, you can feel secure knowing you have a good foothold and have reduced the risk of slipping when moving between mobility aids.

Non-Slip Strips under Handle Wraps

You can wrap Tenura grip strips around the handle of your golf club, badminton racket or baseball bat and then add your handle wraps. This additional layer adds comfort to the handle as Tenura silicone is soft and cushioning.

For a permanent solution, use Tenura adhesive-backed grip roll, cut it to size and wrap it around the handle of sports equipment.

We can only recommend Tenura grip strips in this application to increase handle surface area and comfort, not grip. Tenura grip strips, like the rest of our silicone range, lose their properties when wet. Use a recommended and approved handle wrap for this application once Tenura grip strips are applied.

Grip Roll for Indoor Cycling & Wheelchair Sports

When practising your cycling indoors on an exercise bike, cut down Tenura grip roll and attach it to the bike's pedals, which will give you an excellent foothold and prevent your feet from sliding off the pedals. This adaptive method can also be applied to cross trainers and other indoor gym equipment.

Note, grip roll and our other silicone products, when wet, lose their non-slip properties.

Experience the same benefits of non-slip pedals by attaching the gripping roll to your wheelchair's footrest for indoor games of Wheelchair Basketball.

Non-Slip Fabric to Stop Saddles and Exercise Mats Sliding

You can use Tenura non-slip fabric to prevent saddles from moving, cut the non-slip material to a suitable size and place it between the saddle pad and saddle. Now, as a rider, you can feel secure in the knowledge that Tenura grip fabric is doing its job and stopping any unwanted movement of the saddle. 

Tenura non-slip fabric is also beneficial placed under yoga mats or other exercise mats to prevent them from moving whilst you're completing your exercise. Unwanted movement from your mat during exercise could lead to injury. 

 

Tenura silicone is antimicrobial, perfect for use in areas where you will be around heavily used equipment that is likely carrying many germs and bacteria.

Adapting your equipment to be more disability-friendly can help when participating and taking up hobbies in sports. If you have any more ideas, you would like to share. We would love to hear your thoughts via our socials (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin).

(12/05/21 https://­dictionary.­cambridge.­org/­dictionary/­english/­running)

 

In 1992 the United Nations started the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. An observance day that gives us the opportunity worldwide to reflect and raise awareness of public health and ethical issues surrounding disabilities. On the 3rd of December, the world will come together to support this cause.

In the UK alone, 13.9 million people have a form of disability which equates to 22% of the UK population. In support of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we have hand-selected some Tenura products that are of great value to those with a disability, and we are offering a 10% discount code you can redeem on these items.

An International Picture of People with Disabilities

Over 1 billion people worldwide have a disability, which is roughly 15% of the world's population.

In the UK, many of us have access to fantastic healthcare systems such as the NHS, but take a moment to think of the struggles a disability can have on a person in the developing world. We need to make sure that everyone has access to the help and healthcare they need.

Types of Disabilities and the Community

Another interesting point regarding disabilities is that there are many different types, with some affecting your cognitive behaviour, mental wellbeing or physical form.

Body dysmorphia has had substantial coverage in the news due to social media being a massive influence on our younger generation-this condition is a mental disability but can take a very physical form too. Our middle-aged population are currently feeling the effects of a high-calorie diet, which leads to many health implications. People in their later stages of life are often living with conditions such as dementia and heart disease. Adapting to a disability you weren't born with can be hard to overcome, taking serious will-power and a robust support system.

Disabilities are everywhere in life and can affect any age, which is why it is essential to be mindful and supportive. So join us in raising awareness this International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Many things are connecting this community of people, and it's beyond any one condition. As many of us are affected by disabilities daily, we may not have a disability ourselves, but perhaps a family member, friend, or work colleague might. It is also a day to reflect on the hard work young carers in our community complete daily, doing their best to support their parents, it's almost inconceivable what they go through without any recognition.

We hear in the news, now, more than ever, that a disability is not always visible, which is why we should treat everyone with respect.

Education and the Disabled – Employment and the Disabled

The education system in England is one of the best in the world, we lookout for early signs of learning disabilities such as dyslexia (problems with reading, spelling and other language processing skills), dyspraxia (movement and coordination, language and speech) and ADHD (issues with paying attention, controlling behaviour and hyperactivity).

Education could be affected by a disability which later down the line could affect employability. Therefore, we must learn more about disabilities and adapt our schooling system to be as inclusive as possible.

Tenura Products can be Helpful to Those living with a Disability.

Visual Aids for the Disabled – Tenura Non-Slip Mats

Tenura's silicone range comes in three bright colours and can be helpful visual aids for the disabled.

Red can signal heat or danger, so by placing a Tenura red non-slip mat in the kitchen, it can indicate that objects placed on its surface may be hot. By having that signal, a person can avoid touching the pan and prevent burns or other injuries. Of course, for a disabled person, an accident like a burn can affect their world differently. One disabled person may be unable to compute what's happened while another may not have felt the heat at all, and the burn goes untreated. There are many disabilities and many ways to help, with one being visual aids. This example demonstrates why it's super important to have visual aids and other disability aids around the home.

Tenura silicone non-slip mats are available in three bright colours-red, blue and yellow.

Bathing Aids – Tenura Non-Slip Bath Stickers

Dip your toe in the water of Tenura products with our most popular aid, Tenura non-slip bath stickers. Baths are notoriously slippery. To avoid injury, you can apply Tenura bath stickers. They help build confidence, and positively promote personal hygiene as the idea of a bath or shower is no longer as daunting knowing there's a bathing aid to help.

 

Bespoke Aids to Help in any Situation – Tenura Silicone Grip Strips and Grip Rolls

You can claim your 10% discount code off Tenura grip strips and rolls. You can create bespoke household aids as we see many customer wrapping strips of the grip roll around handles to make them easier and more comfortable to hold.

A disability often helped by Tenura grip roll is arthritis or other hand mobility impairment due to their decreased dexterity.

Tenura Jar and Bottle Openers

We all struggle to open jars and bottles. However, there is a solution, Tenura jar and bottle openers. Using these gadgets puts less strain on muscles and joints, which is vital for those living with conditions such as arthritis or other such hand deformity. This simple cooking aid can help to make one of the small daily tasks easier for a disabled person.

Tenura Non-Slip Fabric

Another adaptable aid is the Tenura non-slip fabric which can be cut down to size and fitted to the area you want to add non-slip qualities. Our customers have lined bookshelves and cupboards with Tenura non-slip fabric as it protects the surface and the objects that reside on it.

The Future of Disabilities

In recent years, we have come so far with the way we can diagnose, treat and care for those with disabilities, but we still have not reached the pinnacle. As science experiments continue, and so does the hard work of the care keyworkers, we can all help to achieve and understand better than we have before.

Don't forget to claim your 10% discount code, IDPD20 at checkout.

There is so much to say on the topic of disabilities, and we can't cover it all in one blog. But you can join the conversation over on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

Enjoy Halloween with the assistance of Tenura products! We want everyone to have a fantastic Halloween, which is why we have teamed up with MazeWebMedia to produce the latest Tenura video.

Watch the video, as it’s filled with exciting and innovative ways you can use Tenura products to make your Halloween accessible to all and avoid any weeping witches or sad skeletons during your festivities.

Tenura Bottle Opener

Enjoying classic autumnal drinks such as dandelion & burdock or pumpkin spiced lattes is easier when you can twist off the bottle cap with ease, all you need is a Tenura bottle opener. The silicone has grip-enhancing properties meaning less strength is required to open bottles.

 

Tenura Jar Opener

Twisting open jars full of treats or in this case, Nutella, is much easier if you use a grip-enhancing Tenura jar opener.

 

 

Tenura CupCaps (Drinks Cover)

Tenura CupCaps creates a seal around the top of your drinks container. The seal stops liquid from escaping, helping you to avoid spillages. Another great feature of Tenura’s drinks cover is it prevents debris from entering your drink, as you can see in our Halloween video.

 

Tenura Non-Slip Mats

When doing Halloween crafts such as carving a pumpkin or tucking into a Halloween themed feast, Tenura mats can be a great help. They protect your tables from marks, they’re easy to wipe down and are non-slip which keep objects securely in place, helping you avoid slips and spillages.

 

Tenura Cutlery Grips

Carving a pumpkin is a staple of Halloween, but for people who have hand impairments, it can be incredibly tricky and unpleasant. However, if you slip Tenura cutlery grips onto your cutlery/carving knife, they create a larger handle which increases comfort and grip.

 

Tenura Grip Rolls

You can cut Tenura grip roll down to size to create bespoke non-slip surfaces, for instance, in the video, we have wrapped Tenura grip roll around the handle of a butter knife. The user experiences increased grip qualities of the handle and therefore, has more control over the knife, making your Halloween activities safer for the disabled and elderly.

 

We hope you have found this blog helpful and that you can now celebrate Halloween regardless of age or disability. You can watch more Tenura videos via our YouTube channel.

You can tag us and show how you have put Tenura products to use this Halloween via social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), we can’t wait to see your scary pumpkin carvings.

At Tenura, we have a range of grip-enhancing daily living aids that at first glance seem to cater for more specific things than others.

Tenura anti slip grip rolls is simply a roll of grip-enhancing silicone! Offering a DIY approach to a grip or slip problem around the home. We offer many sizes of our grip rolls in two different colours, red or blue.

We have been trying the anti slip rolls out at home, and it simply is as versatile as we say it is! Any situation where we have been devoid from grip, we have simply cut out a piece of the roll, and either laid it on a surface or wrapped it around an object to increase grip and prevent slippage or spillage.

I personally have used the Tenura anti slip rolls as a draw liner, mat for a plate (I had just made soup and wasn’t prepared to let the bowl slip off the plate), grip enhancer on cutlery handles and tools. You can also increase the amount of Tenura anti-slip roll you use when wrapping around an object to increase grip and comfort without having to tighten your grip! Many people with arthritis are restricted in the amount of pressure and grip they can maintain. With the ability to increase the handle size rather than cause you pain and potential injury, this makes Tenura anti-slip grip rolls, in a sense, revolutionary!

There are literally too many applications the non slip rolls can be used for to list here, and some, no doubt many, we haven’t thought of yet!!

Feel free to let us know on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages stating what you would, could or have used it the Tenura anti slip rolls for. Send us a picture if you have used it in a certain way.

Buy Tenura anti slip grip rolls directly from the Tenura website.