Fernanda's Hands Free Life
Donation protected
Our dear friend, Fernanda, needs our help.
Fernanda Castelo is one of the most amazing people we know. She was paralyzed in an accident 23 years ago, but has continued to live life to the fullest and has found a mission as an advocate for inclusive design. Among her many achievements, she is the President for California Inclusive Sailing and was the skipper for the winning yacht for the Red Bra Regatta in 2018. This is an all women's regatta in San Francisco. The Team raising the funds were her crew for this milestone achievement of our victory in an able-bodied race with a disabled skipper.
Early in 2019 Fernanda had a traumatic accident with her wheelchair which has resulted in her now losing use of her arms. Fernanda has many challenges and expenses ahead of her and we hope her wide network of friends and supporters will help out.
Fernanda is working every day to recover dexterity in her hands and arms, but it is clearly going to be a long journey. Fernanda is motivated to continue her work as an advocate and consultant for inclusive design. Her focus has now moved to technology to support those (like her) who are living a totally hands free life.
Please subscribe to her related You Tube Channel to follow her journey and offer your encouragement and support. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcjjZ_V3Vk4
We are raising funds for Fernanda to support the following expenses as she adapts to a hands-free life and :
1. New MacBook laptop which has the latest capabilities for accessibility.
2. Software to support accessibility to navigate the internet and interact with applications on her laptop.
3. Physical therapy / occupational therapy expenses and assisted living expenses after her insurance coverage ends. (Her insurance will cover only the first 100 days of assisted living. Fernanda is determined to live independently again and is working very hard at her physical therapy, but this will be a long road.)
Beyond just a financial donation, there is much more that you can do to assist Fernanda. Please assist with the following:
1. Share her story with everyone in your network.
2. Fernanda very much appreciates visits from her friends. When you are visiting, she welcomes people touching/holding her hands and touching her arms to help with the physical therapy to recover sensation/capabilities in her arms.
3. Fernanda needs coaches to help her understand how to make the most of hands free technology. If you are an expert with Siri, Apple Home Pod, and (soon) Apple Mac Book accessibility options, please reach out to Fernanda and offer your assistance with helping her make the most of the technology that is available.
4. Fernanda very much wants to consult to technology companies who are working on their accessibility features. She would love to be a test subject for any technology that is being developed that is totally hands free.
5. Provide Fernanda with advice on any and all resources available in the SF Peninsula / South Bay that she might be able to draw on for her recovery.
To reach Fernanda directly, please send a text message to her mobile.
We will post updates as we acquire technology to assist Fernanda with her hands-free life and as she works on regaining her dexterity.
Thank you for your support.
The Red Bra Regatta Team
Phaedra Fisher
Patty Cocoran
Yuning Wang Pathman
Fernanda Castelo is one of the most amazing people we know. She was paralyzed in an accident 23 years ago, but has continued to live life to the fullest and has found a mission as an advocate for inclusive design. Among her many achievements, she is the President for California Inclusive Sailing and was the skipper for the winning yacht for the Red Bra Regatta in 2018. This is an all women's regatta in San Francisco. The Team raising the funds were her crew for this milestone achievement of our victory in an able-bodied race with a disabled skipper.
Early in 2019 Fernanda had a traumatic accident with her wheelchair which has resulted in her now losing use of her arms. Fernanda has many challenges and expenses ahead of her and we hope her wide network of friends and supporters will help out.
Fernanda is working every day to recover dexterity in her hands and arms, but it is clearly going to be a long journey. Fernanda is motivated to continue her work as an advocate and consultant for inclusive design. Her focus has now moved to technology to support those (like her) who are living a totally hands free life.
Please subscribe to her related You Tube Channel to follow her journey and offer your encouragement and support. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcjjZ_V3Vk4
We are raising funds for Fernanda to support the following expenses as she adapts to a hands-free life and :
1. New MacBook laptop which has the latest capabilities for accessibility.
2. Software to support accessibility to navigate the internet and interact with applications on her laptop.
3. Physical therapy / occupational therapy expenses and assisted living expenses after her insurance coverage ends. (Her insurance will cover only the first 100 days of assisted living. Fernanda is determined to live independently again and is working very hard at her physical therapy, but this will be a long road.)
Beyond just a financial donation, there is much more that you can do to assist Fernanda. Please assist with the following:
1. Share her story with everyone in your network.
2. Fernanda very much appreciates visits from her friends. When you are visiting, she welcomes people touching/holding her hands and touching her arms to help with the physical therapy to recover sensation/capabilities in her arms.
3. Fernanda needs coaches to help her understand how to make the most of hands free technology. If you are an expert with Siri, Apple Home Pod, and (soon) Apple Mac Book accessibility options, please reach out to Fernanda and offer your assistance with helping her make the most of the technology that is available.
4. Fernanda very much wants to consult to technology companies who are working on their accessibility features. She would love to be a test subject for any technology that is being developed that is totally hands free.
5. Provide Fernanda with advice on any and all resources available in the SF Peninsula / South Bay that she might be able to draw on for her recovery.
To reach Fernanda directly, please send a text message to her mobile.
We will post updates as we acquire technology to assist Fernanda with her hands-free life and as she works on regaining her dexterity.
Thank you for your support.
The Red Bra Regatta Team
Phaedra Fisher
Patty Cocoran
Yuning Wang Pathman
Organizer
Phaedra Fisher
Organizer
San Francisco, CA