The King of the Quadriplegic Reacher

Livin’ proud and loud, ruz2g, a.k.a. Russell Bell, is a C5-6 quad from Milwaukee, WI with a whole lot of personality. He recently discovered how to upload videos to the internet and hot damn is there some amusing stuff coming out of his Earth Proof Productions. Injured at the age of 23 after diving into Lake Michigan, this rapper/cook has learned a lot of tricks over the years. And his quadriplegic reacher video, showing how to use that handy metal extender that’s our lifesaver in so many situations, ranks up there as one you should definitely watch.

He uses a quadriplegic reacher with a tenodesis split, which he can operate by simply moving his wrist (a cool contraption for people whose fingers are paralyzed). And it has your typical claw-end that you’ll find on most any quadriplegic reacher. In ruz2g’s video, he shows off his how he can take down china from the cupboard. And he performs how he can pick up pills off the floor, which he says “with practice you too can learn how to do with practice.” Not easy, and yes picking up pills like that would take forever, but he’s right!

A quadriplegic reacher however is not magical. They can’t pick up a case of beer, a bowling bowl, or kitten. But I bet if it was possible, ruz2g could do it. In my years of quadriplegic reacher-use, I’ve had many a moment where I’ve nearly thrown it out window after it couldn’t help me with that I was trying to do. Or it was unreachable, reminding me of my favorite line that I’ve yet to think of as a writer, “I need a reacher for my reacher.” But hey, nothing is perfect.

What I love about Bell is that he has no qualms showing the intimate aspects of his everyday life (and sometimes doing it without no shirt on). His how-to videos on doing chores around the house are a huge benefit to the disability community. Check out his videos – laugh, learn how to make fried chicken, why he’s pissed at Snyder Pretzel Pieces, and maybe get inspired too.

– Watch ruz2g’s “Reaching out to Quads” quadriplegic reacher video!

– Check out ruz2g’s full video collection