The minute I heard about YouTube in 2006 I jumped on board as a creator and started uploading videos. The first videos I uploaded were of my Dalmatian, Galloway. I filmed as my husband poured dog kibble out of a 40-pound bag like a waterfall and Galloway gulped as much food as he could while choking and spitting it onto the floor to eat later. The videos are a hilarious visual memory of our beloved dog.

In 2007, I created a new channel where I post crafting tutorials, haul videos and the occasional lifestyle “vlog” (video-blog). It’s hard to believe that I’ve since uploaded 800 videos with over 1.2 million views and 6,100 subscribers to my channel. While it may seem daunting at first, filming and posting on YouTube is easy to learn and fun.

How to YouTube

YouTube offers something for everyone, touting 7 billion hours of video posted each month. I’ve made many purchase decisions — including my latest power chair — by viewing reviews and actual user tests. I’ve learned how to install a microwave door, figured out what caused a grinding noise in our Jeep, and learned how to make homemade soap.

A free alternative to cable, YouTube offers popular television show series, full-length movies and music concerts that even Netflix and other video services can’t offer. As a free subscriber, you can make playlists of favorite subjects or channels, or as a creator, become one of its many rising stars (comedian Zach Anner gained worldwide attention in just a few years). You can use it as a catapult for your own show, or as a means to launch a business.

With the exposure that my channel garnered, I parlayed it into an online, worldwide craft network and a Facebook group for card-makers. As a YouTube Partner, I can monetize my videos to make a monthly income, enough to keep my paint and paper supplies stocked. Most importantly, I have made friends from all over the world, many of whom I have had the chance to meet in person, and several I expect to know for a long time.

As interesting and fun as YouTube can be, if you decide to become a creator and start vlogging, just know that you may need a tough skin to handle the ubiquitous negative comments, trolls (people who post comments just to provoke your viewers), and stalkers that every YouTube creator gets; plus disability devotees, and other nuts that may surface. Though you certainly can disable comments and block unwanted users — leaving, receiving and replying to comments is the interactive part of YouTube that shouldn’t be missed.

As vlogger or viewer, you will learn that YouTube reflects the world we live in where people of all religions and races, from all walks of life, make up millions of small communities to offer something to fit everybody’s needs and desires.

To become a viewer, you can head right over to YouTube and start searching and watching videos without setting up an account. But to save favorites, leave comments or upload videos, you must have a Google account to start your own channel.

We talked to several vlogger-wheelers to find out why they started vlogging, and asked them to share their experiences and tips to make this a positive, fun and inspiring part of your life.

Why Vlog?

Jerry Diaz, Priscilla Hedlin and Nathan Sanders started their channels as an outlet. For John Buhler, Ashleigh Marie Looman and Brian Kinney, their vlogging grew more directly out of their disability experience.

Diaz, 28, expected his channel to be a way to share short videos having fun — some wild rides, like racing in his chair with his pit bull, maneuvering down 50-plus steps to the beach, and teeth-clenching chair skating.

Hedlin, 34, from Texas, uses her channel to add more personality to her blog. Sanders, 29, a bilateral amputee, at first used his channel to vent about being fired from his job due to disability.

For all but Hedlin, their channels morphed into more than what they expected as they changed and grew with new ideas and viewership. Their channels eventually became a platform to help others — and themselves — by sharing their experiences of being a wheelchair user.

“The first video I posted that really committed me to making videos was of me climbing into a buddy’s lifted truck,” Diaz says. “I got a lot of views with a lot of positive feedback and it turned a switch on in my head that people might enjoy watching the things I do.”

Then it became personal.

“To connect with the viewers, I started asking people what they wanted to see and thought about things to do that people may have a challenge with, to show them an easier way to do them,” Diaz adds.

Sanders, a North Carolinian with 29 years of being a double amputee, says he gets some of his vlogging ideas from visiting online forums for amputees. “For instance, if I see new amputees who are having difficulties getting into or out of a car,” Sanders says, “I will go make a video showing them how I do it. Or, I watch other wheelers and see how I can adapt what they are doing for amps.”

Buhler, who sustained an SCI and brain injury after falling three stories, not only wants to help others by sharing his experiences, he also says vlogging helps his memory by creating a visual record of what he does. The 43-year-old from Arizona came about vlogging in a “small world” kind of way. “While in rehab after my accident, my physical therapist filmed me while I worked on balance,” he says. “Later, when a buddy went to college for physical rehab in Arizona, he was blown away when his instructor showed one of my videos to his class. After he told me about it, I thought about how my video helped his classroom, and how I could share my experiences with other people.”

Not All Roses and Rainbows

Unfortunately, there are people who think everything and anything goes, that manners and decorum are unnecessary on social media. Every YouTube creator or vlogger is exposed to rude or negative comments. Some have even dealt with stalkers, scammers and devotees. All agree that the best way to deal with these types is to ignore or block them.

“When I started my channel and website, I got a lot of devotees,” Sanders says. “They were mostly creepy males who would engage in innocent conversation and then suddenly switch to asking for pictures of my body. At first I shut down for a couple weeks, then decided not to let them ruin what I enjoy. Now I just ignore them.”

“I handle troll comments by simply deleting them, and if the person continues, I block them,” says Looman, 26, of Michigan. “I have a lot of amazing subscribers who have become like a virtual family to me, and I am very protective of my family.”

Kinney, 31, from Ohio, says his “Paraplegic Getting Dressed” video attracted several weirdo followers commenting on his “sexy feet.” Many times he deletes off-color comments or blocks users. “I realize that some comments are ignorance-based,” he says.

Something viewers should know is that most vloggers spend hours planning, filming and editing that uploaded video that took just eight minutes to watch. Then they spend more time replying to viewer comments or questions.

Buhler uploads exercise videos every other day, as well as some lifestyle videos. Most of Hedlin’s videos are spontaneous or by request and require little to no editing. Looman keeps meticulous records and plans of her vlogs and everyday life.

“I have to plan around times when I am feeling well enough to vlog,” Looman says. “Especially around my toddler’s needs. We are a planning type of family!”

Check out some of the vlogs listed in the vlogger bios, including favorite channels from our vloggers. If you are not hooked already, you will be before you know it. And if you are so inclined, for about $100, or with a good camera on your phone, you could be vlogging within minutes and on your way to changing your life and those of viewers around the world.

“YouTube is about sharing knowledge and helping people,” Kinney says. “This is a huge reason why YouTube is successful.”

“On YouTube, we all are a big community, we all share somewhat of the same ideas and feelings and care about other people,” Buhler adds. “That’s a beautiful thing and one reason why I like to watch other people and their videos. We’re all trying to live together in harmony, and that’s what makes this world a beautiful place to be.”

YouTube is a great platform for stimulating change.

“I want my viewers to realize that nothing is impossible,” Diaz says. “And I hope I can help someone do something that they thought they couldn’t do. I want to show that independence is possible, you just have to put your heart and mind into it, and it will be possible.”

Vlogger Bios:

Name/Disability: Jerry Diaz — SCI Channel: Jerry Diaz Started Vlogging: June 2010 Subscribers: 2,280 Total Views: 771,300 Best Video: Out for a Run Why I Vlog: “I enjoy helping people and love that I can live my everyday life, film something I did and know that it might benefit someone. That’s my true reward.” Content: Diaz offers numerous wheeler instructionals, wheelchair skating and views of his pit bull, gator, scorpion and tarantula. Favorite Channels: FailArmy; Ownage Pranks; Aaron Fotheringham; Blox Starz TV; Nitro Circus.

Name/Disability: Nathan Sanders — Bilateral Amputee Channel: LookMom NoLegs Vlogging Since: April 2014 Subscribers: 125 Total Views: 8,300 Video With Highest View: Amputee Workout Video Why I Vlog: “Not only do I want to help someone out of the depressed ‘I can’t do anything’ phase of amputation, I want to show nondisableds to not count us out. Don’t avoid inviting us out because you think we can’t do something. Ask us if we can!” Content: Married with one daughter, Nathan began vlogging to find help to buy a new wheelchair to replace his dilapidated one after being fired. He is on his way to getting a new chair, thanks to generous viewers and T-shirt sales. Subsequent videos show him working out, bowling and doing other activities. Favorite Channels: AnimalBytes TV; Indian Trace; Josh Sundquist; Sports N’ Spokes; Steven Jacobo.

Name/Disability: Ashleigh Marie — Multiple Sclerosis Channel: Ashleigh Marie Vlogging Since: July 2013 Total Views: 29,600 Video With Highest View: Slideboard Demo Why I Vlog: “Vlogging and watching videos gives you a sense of instant community. It became very difficult to deal with some of my MS symptoms. But to watch someone else’s story, going through the same thing, it gave me strength to keep vlogging.” Content: Young Christian wife and mother of one daughter vlogs about MS awareness and symptoms and includes a variety of fashion and makeup hauls and mommy moments. Favorite Channels: HillSongUnitedTV; SunshineRAE811; WhatsUpMoms; Our Family of Four; GabeBabe TV

Name/Disability: Brian Kinney — SCI Channel: Paralyzed Living Vlogging Since: June 2011 Subscribers: 5,400 Total Views: 1,300,000 Video With Highest View: Paraplegic Getting Dressed Why I Vlog: “My initial vlogs were showing how I did things that “normal” people do: driving, riding my motorcycle. Soon I realized there were many daily activities that I was never taught in rehab — dressing, swimming, transfers — where I had figured out my own ways and thought it would help newly injured people.” Content: Married 34-year-old shows daily living skills as a para, including modifying a motorcycle and home. Favorite Channels: Jerry Diaz; MotorTrend Channel

Name: Priscilla Hedlin — SCI Channel: Priscillah81 Vlogging Since: July 2009 Subscribers: 524 Total Views: 151,150 What I Get Out of Vlogging: “I enjoy letting my blog readers see the real me, it’s not easy getting to know someone off screen.” Content: The Wheelchair Mommy is homeschool mom of three young boys, makes cocktails with a friend and talks about her day.

Name/Disability: John Buhler — SCI, TBI Channel: d72466fly Vlogging Since: June 2011 Subscribers: 2,075; Total Views: 864,012 Vlogger Tip: “Stay true to who you are and don’t sacrifice your morals, your body or your self just to get more views.” Content: Buhler’s videos are of exercising, transferring in public and everyday life. Favorite Channels: ATHLEAN, Scooby1961, The Youngturks, Strength Camp, thegreat80s

Name/Disability: Roxanne Furlong — Muscular Dystrophy Channel: RoxyFur Vlogging Since: June 2006 Subscribers: 6,100; Total Views: 1,300,000 Vlogger Tip: “What you might consider a mundane daily activity could actually inspire something in others. Don’t knock haul videos, reminiscent of ‘Show and Tell’ from grade school, they can be a fun way to engage viewers.” Content: Mixed media artist, card-maker, art tutorials, product hauls and lifestyle jaunts. Favorite Channels: CrazyRussianHacker, Maangchi, SacconeJolys, Vicky Papaioannou, K Werner Designs

---

Support New Mobility Wait! Before you wander off to other parts of the internet, please consider supporting New Mobility. For more than three decades, New Mobility has published groundbreaking content for active wheelchair users. We share practical advice from wheelchair users across the country, review life-changing technology and demand equity in healthcare, travel and all facets of life. But none of this is cheap, easy or profitable. Your support helps us give wheelchair users the resources to build a fulfilling life. donate today