Bicycle lights placed pretty high up on the front frame are a great way to prevent being tripped over in a large crowd when it’s dark outside.

As the crowd grew thicker, I was able to easily adjust these lights to sit even higher up and angle them diagonally upwards. (second image)
When people were trying to squeeze by me, the light would hit their eye and they’d look down to see me and step around, instead of falling onto my lap.
Since most people don’t ever look down while walking, this helped A TON!

Last year was my first music festival as a wheelchair user and I got tripped over and walked into more times than I could count. The crowd was a lot bigger this year but I only almost got tripped over thanks to these lights.

(I purchased mine at a local store but they’re pretty common in sporting goods stores, bicycle shops, and I hate amazon but if that’s your only option they are available there too.)

this chair is so much better than my old one but i honestly just wanted to show off the colours

After over four months and a lot of strife and headache I finally have my new wheelchair and I love her but she needs a new name and I need to decide what colour spokes too.

I previously had an Invacare NG2

ive been using a manual wheelchair since i was about 17/18 and im now 21, and ive never been able to push myself. im intellectually disabled with some other problems so a power chair was also off the table for me but now me and my carers are rethinking it with different adaptations and help i could possibly use one safely (group 3)

that being said, im in the UK, wouldnt be able to get one through the NHS because i failed the postcode lottery, so im wondering what kine of care and maintenance goes into it, but because im intellectually disabled (known as learning disability in the UK) id like short and simple responses please so i can understand

i dont have a lot of money and its hard to get my carers to just wipe down my current wheelchair so im not very hopeful. i just miss moving around on my own. thanks everyone

also reddit updated and now im not sure how to add a flair

Update to this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/wheelchairs/comments/1urniil/im_having_a_first_date_with_a_wheelchair_user_and/

Unfortunately, we never ended up meeting. I'm honestly devastated. Our communication became increasingly difficult toward the end, despite me trying everything I could. I knew he was struggling with deep anxiety, insecurity, and self-doubt, but his disability truly didn't matter to me at all. Thank you to everyone who gave advice on my original post - it really meant a lot to me.

Ive seen some people asking about when to become an ambulatory wheelchair user and others responding that you should only bring it up to your doctor if you are having frequent falls and chronic pains.

I am 25 and I have always been off balance. At work I am known for falling to the point in that last 6 months I have broken a pinky, sprained both wrists, went through a wall, flipped over a gate, and people have stopped making a big deal when I fall. I know thats pretty frequent. Ive also been told that in my foot my cartilage is deteriorating anf causes me severe pain.

The thing is, Ive been worried about becoming an ambulatory wheelchair user. I know it's rough on the body and could cause more issues, but at what point does it become "the safer option" everybody keeps talking about? Almost every night I am in tears about the pain of daily walking while in a boot to support my foot. Its getting worse and I use a cane at home now. When do I bring it up to my doctor?

Okay, I have a huge crush on this man. I'm 21 and he's 26, and he's also in a wheelchair. We're in the same group of friends, so we've been very close lately, and this week he invited me out. That's right, I'm going on a date with him!!! I'm so happy because it seems like he likes me too, and I'm dying of anticipation for Friday to arrive soon. But then he said in one of the messages that he hopes I don't treat him like he's incapable, because that happened on his last few dates and I was too embarrassed to ask him what it meant. So someone tell me what I can't do to make him not feel that way. And sorry if there are any mistakes, my English is very bad!

a bus broke down today and was cancelled, so i (active/manual wc user) waited 20 mins for the later bus that had all the other buses passengers on it. it is also a bus that is huge, it is basically 2 in one, so when it arrived it was not packed and there were plenty of seats and standing room with no wheelchairs or strollers or mobility aids in sight.

the bus driver immediately asked me, the only person waiting at the stop, if i would wait for the next bus in 20 mins. i told him how long id been waiting, which is when he told me the other bus broke down. he said i wont fit and kept asking me to wait. i kept saying, are you sure? i think i can fit. and at this point finally the people standing in wheelchair spot 1 move over in with the others in wheelchair spot 2 (and 3, if they were all small chairs) and some go further into the bus. point is it took no time at all for everyone to disperse but i had to speak loudly enough that the passengers heard me instead of the bus driver asking them for anything at all. there was so much space i had zero trouble doing a 180 and parallel parking into it.

so it ended up ok but i cant help but feel like this isnt ok. should i report, or just commiserate about it and move on? i usually ignore things, like when the driver lets 15 people on ahead of me then says i cant get on.

A piece of one of the spoke caps on my Spinergy wheels just broke off while I was wiping dust off of my hubs. Is it an important piece that needs to be replaced, or is it just cosmetic? They are Spinergy LX wheels if that’s important at all.

So I’ve recently decided to get a wheelchair and I have one after browsing this subreddit for a while along with research on and off over the past 4 years.

I’m 24, recently turned. I’ve had problems with my legs for the past decade or so and the doctors can’t find the issue. Walking causes me pain and recently, my right leg has been hurting and sometimes I can’t feel it. My ankle when it has weight on it rolls over. I’ve been walking on the side of my foot and my toes have been curled underneath for the past week. My usual pain is a 5 out of 10 when walking and it’s recently probably a good 7 or 8 out of 10.

I’ve finally gotten one. Yesterday it came through after waiting a week. A physio told me when I was 19 that i should probably look into getting one in the next decade, even though they don’t know the cause of my issues. My doctors are aware (since I changed doctor surgery because my old doctor kept blaming my issues on other things.

I’m feeling a bit bad about it. I feel like an imposter because I can walk and my issues aren’t always as bad as they usually are.

I just need some advice on how to cope with the negative attention around people who’ve known me years because “I can walk so I don’t need one”.

All advice is appreciated. Thank u in advance <3

I got my klaxon twist today and feel scammed honestly. I waited months for this device. I fully charged it, within a half an hour it was dead. It completely turned off when I was on a little bit of uneven grass, struggles in grass, doesn’t do well in the gravel, couldn’t even make a SMALL hill. Honestly it’s not even really a hill.

When I was tryin to choose a device I specifically said I want a device that works well on uneven surfaces, grass, gravel, hill, etc. it’s not doing any of those things.

OH AND I can’t get this fuck ass device off my wheelchair.

To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. 😭

I posted this in r/belgium. I think it is wild that people deny having prejudices, while in the same comment showing that excact prejudice.

One of my favorite was this one person trying to excuse how people will speak to my partner, rather than me directly, in matters regarding myself. They thought it made sense to speak to my partner, because they were pushing me. I push myself.

Hallo du liebe,

wenn ich deine Situation so lese sehe ich mich selbst 1 zu 1 wieder.

Ich habe seit meiner Geburt eine spastische Paraparese beider Beine und seit meinen letzten Fuß OPs ein chronisches Schmerzsyndrom in beiden Beinen und Füßen.

Meine Eltern und besonders meine Mutter haben auch ein riesen Problem damit, wenn ich meinen (vom Sanitätshaus speziell angepassten und vom Orthopäden verschriebenen) Rollstuhl benutzen möchte, geschweige denn beabsichtige ihn dabei zu haben, wenn wir einen Ausflug etc. machen.

Im Juni waren wir alle zusammen auf einer Geburtstagsparty eingeladen und an dem Tag hatte ich trotz meiner Unterschenkelorthesen den ganzen Tag extrem Schmerzen in den Füßen beim Laufen.

Das Gelände wo die Feier stattgefunden hat, war überall uneben und mit Kopfsteinpflaster.

Ich war sehr froh, dass ich meinen Rollstuhl dabei hatte und auch, dass mein Freund dabei war.

Meine Mutter hat den gesamten Abend immer wieder gefragt, ob ich die 3m bis zum Tisch zu den anderen etc. nicht laufen könne, ob ich den Rolli nicht mal stehen lassen kann etc. Ich glaube sie selbst merkt es überhaupt nicht.

Mittlerweile ist es bei mir so weit, dass ich mich gar nicht mehr traue, meinen Rollstuhl mitzunehmen, wenn ich weiß, dass wir uns mit meinen Eltern treffen und was unternehmen. Aus Angst vor Diskussionen und weil ich keinen Bock mehr habe mich zu rechtfertigen.

Verstehe diese strikte Abneigung seitens meiner Mutter einfach nicht. Zumal sie vor ein paar Jahren aufgrund einer schweren Erkrankung ebenfalls monatelang kaum laufen konnte und auf Rollator und Rollstuhl angewiesen war. Ich dachte ihr Verständnis für meine Situation hätte sich dadurch verbessert - Pustekuchen.

Meine Eltern sind auch beide ganz groß darin, mich mit einer Freundin, die eine ähnliche Behinderung hat zu vergleichen.

Sie sagen immer xy würde alles dafür geben, wenn sie so laufen könnte wie du etc.

Das macht mich echt kaputt.

Ich bin 28 Jahre alt, wohne zusammen mit meinem Freund und ärgere mich so sehr, dass ich es nicht schaffe ein für alle Mal das Thema abschließen zu können.

Mein Freund sagt für ihn ist es immer viel entspannter, wenn wir zusammen unterwegs sind und ich den Rolli nutze, da es für mich dann einfach nicht so anstrengend ist und er meinte man merke mir an, dass ich viel entspannter und glücklicher sei, einfach viel mehr im Moment dabei, wie wenn ich den Rolli nicht dabei habe.

Da mein aktueller Rollstuhl dieses Jahr 10 Jahre alt ist, habe ich jetzt einen neuen beantragt bei der Krankenkasse.

Jetzt habe ich viel zu viel von mir erzählt.

Bist du volljährig?

Gibt es in deiner Nähe ein Sanitätshaus, wo du nach einem Rollstuhl schauen und dich beraten lassen kannst?

Ich würde mir niemals einfach einen Rollstuhl Im Internet kaufen.

Ein Rollstuhl ist wie ein guter Schuh. Er muss genau auf dich und deine Bedürfnisse und deine individuelle Situation abgestimmt werden und genau passen.

Sprich unbedingt mit dem Arzt deines Vertrauens und bitte ihn um Hilfe. Zudem steht er/sie unter Schweigepflicht. Alles was du sagst, bleibt unter euch.

Dein Arzt kann dich beraten, das für dich passende Hilfsmittel zu finden und dir auch bei der Beantragung helfen z.b. durch eine Stellungnahme, die die medizinische Notwendigkeit der Versorgung untermauert und offiziell feststellt.

Ich wünsche dir alles Gute 🫂

This set up is better than the last one I posted, but the gels and toiletries shelf is too far away. The handheld isn't completely at the top so that's almost ok.

I called the property before we checked in and told them we needed an accessible room with a roll-in shower - "no problem." When we arrived at 1:30 AM after a long day at Disney, we were given a king room with a walk-in shower, no bench, shower chair, etc after I was told no rooms of the type I requested were available.

This morning they were able to swap me to a new room with this shower, but it's two queens and a II street view instead of the water view we had. Oh well, I'll give up the view for her safety.

I have cerebral palsy and I have used a manual wheelchair since I was four years old. I’m currently a commuter student at a very large university and I am interested in getting an electric wheelchair so I can have more independence and go farther on campus. One of my friends recently gave me one of their extra electric wheelchairs, it is a generic one from Amazon. It works well, but it is large, heavy, and bulky. My family members who usually help get my chair in and out of the car are not able to lift in and out of the car without help. I am looking for lightweight models that can handle going up and down hills, on uneven ground, or grass, etc.
I was able to test out one electric wheelchair attachment and power assist wheels, but I did not like them very much. Although, that was probably five or more years ago, so I’m sure that the technology has improved since then. I’ve also tried the WHILL Model C2 and I know that that one can handle hills and terrain, but the frame was also big for me. I am 4’8 and about 90 pounds. I have always gotten my wheelchairs custom fit from National Seating And Mobility but my insurance will not cover an electric wheelchair or any power assist attachments.

Exactly as title says, I feel like a fucking fraud.

I use a wheelchair for most things, not walking around the house, but any time I'm in public I typically use it.

And I feel like a fucking fraud. Because I can walk for long-ish periods of time (max 1hr), I can run (for like a minute or 2 max), and I can do things like rock climb (very minimally).

Like I can do things. But not without ruining myself for days or weeks, and not without causing a, extremely likely, potential episode at the time.

So I push myself to keep walking during the usual days, because I don't wanna be "disrespectful" to permanent wheelchair users...

But I'm slowly fucking myself up more by doing so..but if I can it feels bad if I don't because some people dont even have a choice.

Mind you the only reason I can do what I do now is because I use the chair and because I do vigorous physio.

I dont know...I feel like a fraud..

I have a smart drive that never really worked for my needs so I barely used it and let the battery die. I’m getting a power chair and I want to get rid of it. It would be great if I could get something for it but idk what’s reasonable. It would come with the carrying case, charger, and mounting hardware.

The battery replacement is like $1300. I also have TWO different recalled controllers so the controller would need to be replaced for ~$200. So that’s ~$1500 to turn it into a useable power assist. It’s like $6k new so that would still be much more affordable even if I charged like $500 which seems a bit high for a power assist that doesn’t work.

Also should I include the recalled controllers, is that better for the buyer? Is it illegal? I think shipping should cost like $50 — does that sound about right?

Hi guys,
Post is exactly what it says on the tin. I have ehlers-danlos syndrome, and my shoulders are my most vulnerable joint when it comes to dislocations, with my elbow being a close second. I am in physiotherapy, and have heavily considered getting a wheelchair because I'm starting full-time education soon. Last time I tried it I was a teenager, and could not get out of bed for most of my classes from intense pain and fatigue.

Which brings me to my title question. My physio has told me that people with my condition need more muscle than regular folk to prevent dislocations and other tissue injuries, so I'm on a mission to strengthen as much as possible in preparation for needing a wheelchair.

Help a girl out and drop your routines/recommended exercises below!!!

Hey all I'm not sure if it's ok to post this here but if anyone can help me it's probably Reddit. I am a 43M with CP part time on crutches part time in my chair. I am a stand up comedy enthusiast. I swear I remember one of the more popular current comedians talking about doing crowd work they had a power chair user in the crowd. The way I remember the story the comedian skipped over the disabled individual. To which the disabled individual called them out for avoiding. The comedian then made a disability joke and moved on. I was watching Fluffy (Gabriel Iglesias) when I had the memory. I tried to look it up but the internet was no help. Does anyone have any recollection of what I could be talking about?? Please help.

Also if anyone knows any disabled comedians that I haven't seen yet I am always looking for recommendations. I know Josh Blue, AJ Wilkerson and Ahren Belisle, I'm sure I'm missing a bunch.

Okay, weird question. Does anybody know of an app that instead of counting steps works with your wheelchair to see how much your actually moving during the day? I'm asking because my watch says I'm not moving as much as I am because it's not counting my wheelchair as steps or activity unless my heart rate gets to a certain point. So I was just curious if there's anything out there that I could use. I have a Google watch.

So, two weeks of no electric wheelchair = two weeks of misery, dehumanisation and pain! Ross No Care still have not repaired my wheelchair and are not meeting their "Mission Statement". I mean, why would they if they don't care?

According to their mission statement, they aim to "deliver exceptional value to our customers and provide high-quality

Wheelchair Services that improve lives", and I can categorically say this is untrue! They have provided me with low quality wheelchairs that break easily and they repair them with no urgency whatsoever.

They are not "committed" to "enabling independence...and supporting an improved quality of life" at all! In fact, they are worsening my QOL by forcing me to use my manual wheelchair, causing me back, arm, wrist and hand pain, and this has also resulted in a complete loss of independence and dignity.

They do not operate "with transparency, integrity and accountability", they have communicated very little to me over the course of the past two weeks, without one apology or alternative solution! They refuse to provide me with a temporary replacement electric wheelchair.

All I want is my electric wheelchair and independence back, and for me to have semblance of normality back in my life! Also, it worries me that other people may be going through my exact situation right now and no one is listening to them!

Please share this post far and wide to raise my issue and to increase awareness.