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Wheelchair User - Blog Posts
How to approach a wheelchair user in your way
-> A visual guide
[ID: a graphic with simple figures. on the left is a column of 3 identical images of a wheelchair user sitting in front of a pedestrian. on the right are examples of do's and don'ts. the first don't is a person attempting to step over the wheelchair user. the second don't shows a person attempting to push the wheelchair user. the final image is a do with a person saying "excuse me" to the wheelchair user]
❌ stepping over wheelchair users
❌ pushing wheelchair users
✅ asking politely for the wheelchair user to move
ayo this pretty cool
[id: active style manual wheelchair with frame made of rectangle wood planks screwed together. end id]
as we know active type wheelchair very expensive, & repair need buy from specific medical manufacturer n take very long time. someone (who wheelchair user themself of near 40 years) made open source active manual wheelchair where most (if not all?) material from commercial easy get materials! wood, plastic, pvc pipe, & those commercial aluminum square pipe things. n they put guide made them yourself in link for anyone want try make
this video from their instagram show their wood frame wheelchair actually pretty durable, include clip from everyday use & even drop wheelchair all over place (basically imagine what airline do to them…) - n wheelchair stay in tact! n even if some part break - it easy change because wood planks all screwed together so you just buy wood plank & unscrew & rescrew.
not great for people w advanced seating positioning needs probably (think if only problem is easy butt pressure sore, maybe can still use this + supportive cushion but think beyond that it get hard). but if like you don’t need those things then maybe fun project?
have not use for self so can’t actually talk about experience but it look pretty cool
I don't have a scooter attachment or any motor attachment for my wheelchair, but I sometimes drive fast bc I am able to and I love it. I'm genuinely considering getting a "ringing bell" (idk I forgot the English word for it) and/or a "honking thing". Bc people walk sooo slow and I'm zooming ahead and most people are completely unaware of their surroundings
For the Danes or Danish speaking individuals, the words I'm thinking of are "ringeklokke og båthorn" :D
I've used a wheelchair for about a week now and I was soo nervous about it. But it's honestly been great, despite the minor accidents. I've gotten both thumbs stuck between the tire and the fender sideguard.. and I've tipped backwards onto the ground. But the worst part about that was that my open drink spilled everywhere:(
It feels easy, natural, amazing to just be able to move so freely with a lot less pain than before. I'm gonna be really sad, when I have to give it back.
Seeking advice: new wheelchair user
I will be using a wheelchair semi-regularly the next month to see if it will help reduce pain flare-ups / baseline pain and to figure out if it's helpful for me.
Tomorrow is the first day and I am going to uni and therapy. I have only used a wheelchair a couple of times but I'm comfortable with folding it and such as my dad's disabled and it's his wheelchair I'm borrowing. In theory I know how to maneuver around but I'm nervous about it.
Do any wheelchair-users have tips/advice for new wheelchair-users?
Extra info: it's a foldable wheelchair, brand is Quickie. I'm nervous about tipping backwards (no anti-tip), going up and down curbs, taking the metro, painful hands/arms/shoulders.
FYI to my disabled homies, that public establishment is legally required to be accessible to you and your mobility aids if you use them!
I wrote this in response to someone asking for advice, but I think it might be useful as it's own post.
Choosing a budget manual wheelchair
I've been using a wheelchair most of my adult life, and I know a lot of you do get an off-the-shelf manual wheelchair and wanted to lend my experience to help get the most out of it.
Important to know is most off-the-shelf chairs aren't actually made for self propulsion (even though they're labelled self-propelled) so here are good features to look for.
You want one with the axle directly beneath the back end of the seat, this will bring the wheel several inches forward of most off-the-shelf chairs, make self propulsion much much easier and allow you to tip more easily for a wheely (fun, and takes pressure off your spine which is more important than you might think).
If possible you want a low or folding back rest, not an absolute must but this allows you more back flex for more powerful propulsion, this is more desirable as your back and core muscles are strong for extended work and only using your arms can lead to long term shoulder injury.
You want to make sure nothing is in the way of your arms for the most natural movement (we don't want rotation injuries), so if needed ask if the arm rest is removable and how.
I would hope any chair has adjustable length foot rests, but that is really important.
You want at minimum a foam, ideally a gel cushion for pressure care... No cushion means no good, it's worth the extra money to avoid sores and pain from something you're spending all day in. I fully endorse e-begging to help afford a chair that isn't damaging your health.
This is just self care, if you can walk get up every couple of hours and take a few steps, it's good for you.
This is an example of what to look for. Anti-tip wheels will help while learning, arm rests fold away, back rest folds down for more powerful propulsion, looks like a decent cushion, adjustable foot rests. This one is the "Drive Spirit lightweight aluminium wheelchair" but I've seen it advertised under other names too and I'd say it's in the budget wheelchair range ($300-$500) but punching well above its price point in features.
‼️please help me get a wheelchair‼️
hello, my name is leo, or more commonly known as ‘lav’ on here.
i’ve been dealing with debilitating chronic pain for over 10 years and i really need a wheelchair. i haven’t gotten much help from my healthcare system, being fat and afab has really fucked me over while trying to seek medical attention..
i am still fighting to completely figure out what’s wrong with me, but for now i know that i have several bulging discs in my lower back, as well as scoliosis. (as well as medically recognised POTS).
my pain is getting worse and worse, and i barely leave my home since walking and being upright in general hurts so much. a wheelchair would improve my life immensely, both physically and mentally.
i am currently on disability benefits, which pretty much is the lowest income group in sweden, and saving up for a wheelchair myself would take a very long time.. i will of course also be saving up as much as i can and putting into an account meant for wheelchair funds.
so i’m asking you to donate if you want to and if you are financially able to, and if not, please reblog this.
i have found a good chair that is also accessible to a fat person, and i need 7111 SEK (around 650$) to cover the cost of the chair & the shipping. i have started a gofundme that i’ll be sharing in this post, and i welcome all help, donating just a little helps, and reblogging and sharing the gofundme in general helps immensely too.
thank you so much for reading💜
