Let's talk wheelchairs and mobility scooters

I have wondered in the past if there was room for a lot of innovation around wheelchairs. Both in terms of the physical construction to help get over different surfaces etc as well with electric wheelchairs I wondered if they are utilizing battery improvements developed for electric cars and could we have things like self-driving wheelchairs.
 
jeckylberry said:
Thanks for the welcome, I did get around to writing an intro. My bird is called Boswell and he is his own bird, not usually all sweetness like that but he caught the snooze bug and joined me. Woke me up enough so I got the rare photo.
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@jeckylberry, did you know there's a bird lovers' thread at S4ME? Its under "Off topic Chit-Chat" in the community lounge section.

I've never ventured on there, you bird lovers can be a fruity lot.
 
Woolie said:
@jeckylberry, did you know there's a bird lovers' thread at S4ME? Its under "Off topic Chit-Chat" in the community lounge section.

I've never ventured on there, you bird lovers can be a fruity lot.
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Fruity?? Some of us are nutty. Others are a little seedy. Even grubby, I’m afraid. Some are mousy and others are just dead meat. All sorts, really. Thanks for the tip!
 
Reading all these responses are confusing for me. I just gave in and put an order in for a wheelchair.

I came in this blog right when I saw it.
I have OI which seems to be getting worse as years go by. So I realize to have any kind of life I need a chair.

I just don't know what type to get. The scooter sounds good. @Milo did insurance cover to get your scooter? If you don't mind me asking.

Right now I just asked my Dr what he thinks I should get. I'm worried I'll get a regular wheelchair and it will be too hard to maneuver.

@Allele did you start with a regular chair or will this be your first altogether? Are you using insurance? Do expensive to buy anything electric!

Glad I saw your blog @Allele !
Pen2
 
Pen2 said:
I just don't know what type to get. The scooter sounds good. @Milo did insurance cover to get your scooter? If you don't mind me asking
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Hi @Pen2 my extended health insurance covered my scooter at 100% (I am in Canada)- so I could pick the one that suited me best. i am allowed a new one every 5 years. It allows me outside without spending much energy, so I am thankful.
 
Hi @Pen2 , I am confused and can't chose either. I don't have insurance for such a thing, so it's all on me, and other sudden unexpected expenses have made a mobility chair/scooter less of a priority right now. I know I need electric as I haven't the strength to push myself, nor someone to push me. Plus, I insist on retaining some degree of self-reliance :p

I hope to take advantage of the suggestions in this thread at some point and go to a local place and try a loaner or even a rental to get a better sense of what is best for me.
 
This thread is so interesting. But sad to read of all your difficulties @Wonko, that stinks.

I cant go out alone ever because it's so unsafe for me, even with good pacing i still regularly crash unexpectedly & suddenly, & then I cant hold myself upright in a chair, & get very confused & disorientated to the point of not knowing where i am or how to get home, often unexpectedly. So after being stepped over in the street, robbed & people thinking I'm having a stroke or going into diabetic coma & wanting to call ambulance, i had to accept that i simply not safe to go out without a chaperone even on a good day :cry:
So if i did get a scooter i couldn't go out alone as i'd be unable to either steer myself or remember the route home, or indeed be able to communicate coherently enough to ask for help. So no independence here sadly. But I did buy a standard looking large wheeled chair that's made of lightweight metal & had detachable wheels so its dead easy for my carer to lift into the car.

For anyone reading i endorse someone elses comment (sorry i cant find it now to quote) to get suspension... hard wheeled chairs are hell. get the sort with pump up tyres otherwise the bumps vibration are torture.

But this...
Allele said:
Wow, I just saw this nifty thing on the front page of Reddit:

a scooter attachment for a wheelchair, kind of the best of both worlds!

Warning: it's a gif
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That would be so wonderful... i could go out with my carer, friend & actually steer myself, have control over where i wanted to go, but still be able to have whoever with me intervene & take over at the point i needed it. Was there any info with it? I wept with joy at the thought of being able to have some independence while out.
 
Skycloud said:
They look good @MErmaid - fairly compact. I'd love an off-road wheelchair but they are so expensive. I just look at them wistfully :laugh::(
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If you feel like starting a gofundme page, then I will chip in. That exactly how Jennifer Brea paid for her wheelchair :emoji_grinning: :emoji_wheelchair:

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We may need to consider inquiring about the possibility of starting a new thread “could you please help me fund this”, where members could work with the S4ME moderators, gain approval, and have the moderators post a link to their campaign. That way it would be anonymous, because we wouldn’t know whose real name was associated with an avatar name.
 
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Google adds wheelchair-accessible routes to Google Maps :emoji_wheelchair:

To make transit more accessible to nearly everyone, Google has officially introduced wheelchair-accessible routes in Google Maps. The new feature will give those with wheelchairs or other mobility needs an easier way to navigate using public transit.

To find the wheelchair accessible routes, type your destination into Google Maps, tap "Directions," and then choose the public transportation icon. Once you tap on "Options," you'll find wheelchair accessible under the Routes section. It will show you a list of all that possible routes that accommodate wheelchairs.
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To read more:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-maps-adds-wheelchair-accessible-routes/
 
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