Stickman Communications

Stickman Communications trifold open on the inner pages - showing some keyring cards, some disability related badges, stickers, and status squares.

Excellent news! We are now shipping to the USA again! - Shipping prices are slightly up as we have to pay an additional fee and there's a maximum order value of £60 due to the tariffs, but at least we can ship there again!

Off to get a new wheelchair. First NHS chair - so it won't be as good as my current one, but current one is falling apart, and replacement is about £3k - that I just don't have. But it should work - and possibly have a better seat position. mixed feelings. Will update about it when I'm ready to.

I hear you! Fingers crossed for you.

That’s terrible! I got my lease extended the month before they discontinued extensions, in the hope I’ll be able to save up enough to buy something suitable because the downpayments on what I need is getting ridiculous - can buy an adequate second hand one for that!

Oof. thats really rough 😞

I sat on the patio for a bit, and oh my word I felt better!
So this is my annual reminder to everyone else with heat intolerance issues: outside might be cold enough - but inside can be warm. Don't forget to monitor and manage your environment during winter as well as summer!

It's winter! Therefore it is cold. So I forget.

This afternoon I was sat in my room wondering why I felt quite so rough, and happened to glance at my room thermometer....21 degrees! It's usually 17-18! And I'm dressed for 17-18. So I was actually warm enough to trigger my heat intolerance symptoms.

Heat intolerance card with plain border and a stickman keeled over in the sun, and another happy and upright with 3 snowflakes. "Severe heat intolerance. When too warm I may have difficulty speaking, become sleepy, confused, or lose consciousness - even in temperatures most people find comfortable. It is not life threatening, just inconvenient. If needed, please help me to somewhere cooler (e.g. outside, near an open windown, or fetch an ice bucket or handy snow-storm). Normal service will resume once I cool down.

One hidden challenge of #AutonomicDysfunction is heat intolerance - the body can't cope with being too warm, and it causes all sorts of symptoms (for me: brain fog, coordination loss, speech and word finding difficulties, and reduced consciousness). It often catches me by surprise in winter. -

i have no words. i hear you loud and clear. I find minor changes in ‘I know what works for me’ hard to handle…but your level of change… I really hope you manage to find some routine/stability soon.

Fidget card with striped border, that says: I fidget or move to manage a condition/disability. Don't expect me to sit or stand still. Moving or fidgeting helps me to function." - with a smiling, fidgeting stickman.

Oh my. Just had an excellently productive zoom call....but it was nearly two hours and I forgot to move! OW! Totally didn't notice the pain during it. I don't when I'm concentrating. Now it's done...OW! I think in the future I might keep a copy of this on my laptop or desk as a reminder!

then chatted with people who were interested. SO much more manageable than having a full stand, (with all the packing, planning, set up, and take down, and unpacking that involves) let alone needing the brain to sell things too!

Leaflet in pale purple with a stickman saying "tools to help you communicate about your disabilities, symptoms and needs." Then a wordle that says "including: anxiety, pacing, fibromyalgia, hidden disability, incontinence, diabetes, narcolepsy, fatigue, MCAS, wheelchair use, deafness, dyscalculia, migraine, ME/CFS, speech difficulties, ADHD, lupus, overwhelm, multiple sclerosis, sensory processing, allergies, pain, hypermobility, autism, mental illness, brain injury, dyspraxia, tourette's, phobias, autonomic dysfunction, eating disorders, and more.... StickmanCommunications.co.uk

I really do love spending time at events with a high proportion of autistic people! I always meet a few kindred spirits there. Sunday's Bicester Autism Craft Fair was, as usual, lovely. Exhausting, but lovely. I only took a few sample cards and the status squares, and a stack of leaflets though -

Thank you - People sharing my work is one of the only reasons I can keep it going! (also: don't diss your experience. Our experiences all differ - but are still valid, and what's difficult for us, is difficult for us - regardless of the experiences of others.

Smiling Hannah next to a craft stall, with a few cards and Stickman leaflets - then a long table extending into the distance full of 3D printed creatures and keyrings

At the Bicester autism craft fair - lovely stuff as usual. I have a massively paced down stall because it’s all I can manage at the mo - alongside my sister-in-law’s fab 3D creatures. Come visit at littlebury hotel, kings end, Bicester! 11-3pm.

Hugs. I've been needing to recharge and pace for 20 years now, and trust me, it does get easier as our brains and body's learn how to do it, and how useful it is. I've now built a lifestyle that works for me - and has a lot of recharging built in.

I can well believe it. It’s a far harder thing to do than people realise.

Recharging card | Stickman Comms This card says "Sometimes I need to push myself so I can do more, and other times I need to recharge, Right now I need to recharge. Don't worry, I am looking after myself and will be ready to face…

learning that each time I step back to recharge is actually a huge success - enabling me to do more *and* feel better is probably one of the core skills that helps me manage my #PoTS #Hypermobility #Pain #Fatigue and #Overload.

(This card is from www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...

Tired woman with glasses and hair tied back holding up a card that says: "Sometimes I need to push myself so I can do more, and other times I need to recharge, Right now I need to recharge. Don't worry, I am looking after myself and will be ready to face the world again soon"

It's been a busy day - happy but busy. By midday I needed to rest- once relaxed I completely flolloped, couldn't face moving. Not quite asleep, not quite awake. 2 hours later I started to emerge, and by 4pm felt SO much better. Society mistakenly makes us think stepping back is a failure, but -

4ft Christmas tree with lights sparkling and red and gold baubles everywhere, on a small table covered by a cross-stitched Father Christmas and snowman Christmas tree skirt. Next to a patio door through which you can see the a rain soaked patio and grass.

Christmas decorations are up! And the rain. All the grey winter rain. I’m so thankful for the cosiness that brightens it! - I even quite like the rain when I can watch it from warm, dry, cosiness.

Also loving being able to see it from bed and living room! #studioFlat #disability

Blue A6 flyer that says "please leave a gap so wheelchair users and pushchairs can get past. Thank you" - with a stickman in a wheelchair unable to pass a car parked on the pavement, up close to a wall.

Pavement parking is a real issue across the UK. People don't want to block the road, and so they park on the pavement. Which makes sense - until you realise that this usually means making the path so narrow it becomes impossible for wheelchair users and pushchairs to get past!

Browse by product type | Stickman Comms Browse through the full range of products by stickman communications by symptoms and management strategies

These flyers are a handy way to let people know they are blocking the pavement - you can hand them out, or tuck them under a windscreen wiper etc. You can find them here: www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/browse-by-pr...

Blue A6 flyer that says "please leave a gap so wheelchair users and pushchairs can get past. Thank you" - with a stickman in a wheelchair unable to pass a car parked on the pavement, up close to a wall.

Pavement parking is a real issue across the UK. People don't want to block the road, and so they park on the pavement. Which makes sense - until you realise that this usually means making the path so narrow it becomes impossible for wheelchair users and pushchairs to get past!

Oh I hear you! Really hope you cope ok and get everything done that you need to.

A room with vinyl wood flooring? A bed with dark green bedding, a desk, armchair, some physio kit, and the corner of a sofa in the foreground.

My PA helped me give the floor in my room a proper clean for the first time since I moved in, and sort out a few more things into proper places. A tidy/clean space really does help me, especially when my fatigue Is high. So thankful.

I hear you. Really hope you can get some proper switch off time to start to recover

Ocean Wave breathing exercise | Stickman Comms Keyring card showing the ‘Ocean Wave Breathing’ exercise, with a simple explanation on the reverse. Ideal for people with anxiety, depression and various mental health issues. It gives a calm, simple…

I like the gentle repetition, and imagining the waves of the sea connects with some lovely childhood memories which further helps with the relaxing effect.
(the back of the card has more detailed instructions.)
Card from www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...

Ocean wave breathing exercise: front of the card has stickman inhaling through nose, exhale through mouth, imagining a wave, inhale through nose, exhale through nose, imagining a wave. text: For slowing your breathing when overwhelmed by physical or mental discomfort.

Although in some ways I'm very good at self management - I find I easily forget strategies if I don't use them for a while. And if I'm really stressed. Cards like these can give a much needed - and comforting - reminder of how to help myself.
I love this particular exercise for overwhelm and pain.

Browse by product type | Stickman Comms Browse through the full range of products by stickman communications by symptoms and management strategies

Status squares from www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/browse-by-pr...

Status square with a red side showing that says "I can't talk right now" - with a stickman illustration. Held in a status square unit with clip, and clipped on to a jumper of a smiling white woman with curly hair.

Status square with a green side that says "I'm okay to talk" - with a stickman illustration. Held in a status square unit with clip, and clipped on to a jumper of a smiling white woman with curly hair.

One challenge of having a disability that means you sometimes struggle to speak, is that it also means you can't tell people when you can't speak!! I find these Status Squares so helpful in allowing me to let whoever I'm interacting with know - without needing to try and talk.
#Fatigue #Autism