#mobility support

[reasonsforhope]

"For [Tanner] Green, the chief engineer at Not a Wheelchair, this is one of the thousand complications standing between his team and a rather lofty goal: upending the manual wheelchair marketplace.

If you’ve heard of Not a Wheelchair, it’s likely because of its owners, Zack Nelson, the star of the 8.8-million-subscriber YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, and his wife Cambry, a para and manual wheelchair user. The Nelsons got into the mobility equipment business a few years ago when they released The Rig, an electric, adaptive off-road device with a simple yet robust and functional design priced significantly lower than anything else on the market. Now, they’re bringing that same ethos to manual wheelchairs.

Not a Wheelchair aims to offer a base-model, custom manual wheelchair at a similar or better quality than most of the insurance-approved wheelchairs in the U.S. for $999.

Yes, that’s just under $1,000 for everything — wheels, handrims, tires, side guards and rigid, angle-adjustable backrest included. And the company plans to have a turnaround time of weeks, rather than the monthslong slog that it typically takes from order to delivery.

When I first heard about this, it sounded awesome and a bit far-fetched. It’s hard to find a pair of quality wheelchair wheels for less than $500. Same with a rigid backrest. How were they going to offer both, plus a custom wheelchair frame without compromising on quality? I drove to their headquarters in Utah to find out...

So how does Not a Wheelchair’s base model chair stack up to other options on the market? I hate to sound like a preacher, but … it’s totally reasonable! It hits the mark of being at least as good, if not better, than the majority of insurance-approved wheelchairs in the U.S.

Touring the factory, I saw other prototypes scattered all around the facility. There’s a beefier, four-wheel drive version of The Rig that the company just launched. There’s a track wheelchair that’s still in development. It’s clear that Not a Wheelchair doesn’t intend to stop at a simple, manual wheelchair. Inexpensive components, more advanced electric off-road devices, power assist, it’s all on the table. “We’re just really excited to see where this leads,” says Green."

-Article and video via New Mobility, October 1, 2024

[ieatratsforbreakfast]

I feel like most able bodied people see wheelchairs as the worst thing that could happen to a person. When I discuss my want to have a wheelchair for various reasons, most peoples first reaction is to be surprised that I could voluntarily consider that.

But what they fail to consider is that, unlike them, I very much hate walking. It causes me pain and fatigue, it is a miserable experience.

So to any able bodied person reading this, yes some wheelchair users like walking, some want to gain that ability back, but that does not invalidate the feelings of wheelchair users who absolutely hate walking.

[matchakuracat]

disabled people aren't "strong" for not using mobility aids when they need them. lots of people are/would be a lot stronger with the help of mobility aids, that is the reason they exist. using mobility aids doesn't make you weak, it's quite literally the opposite

[69constellationsinatrenchcoat]

Why do people think it's tragic when you use mobility aids? Can't you see that this is giving me freedom, that it's giving me my life back, that without it, I wouldn't be present? Let alone functional???

how can't you see this

it's giving me my life back.

Even when it's short term mobility aids like crutches for a broken bone, it's still giving freedom... it's allowing the bone to heal and for you to live as usual...

let alone people with chronic pain, paralysis, and long term injuries!

without them, I wouldn't be here!

how can't you see that is a good thing!?!? 😭😭

[tumble-tv]

Guys I'm finally getting smart crutches after scrounging enough money up. I'll finally gave crutches that won't fuck up my wrists.

[idonthaveanyonetotalkaboutthis]

i went out with a cane for the first time and i look fantastic

[redsmokesleep]

To any/all mobility aid users (ambulatory or not), BRING YOUR MOBILITY AID!! If it’s hard to bring, like a wheelchair, or maybe crutches, get someone to accompany you who can have it on hand!!

Mobility aids are there for you to USE

We could feel ourselves starting to slip out of full consciousness, so we’ve decided to just bring our cane along. It’s better to be safe than be on the floor at school / (wherever) because you didn’t bring it!

[disjournaled-scrolls]

CALLING CHRONIC PEEPS!!!!

hello! i am a teenager with HSD. I use a cane periodically, but it doesn't really help with pain that isn't entirely localized to one leg (almost unheard of). Other than that, I wear ankle/knee braces and sometimes wrist/elbow braces. I'm looking for a mobility aid that's easier on the shoulders and doesn't cause as many unnecessary dislocations/subluxations, but also relieves pain on both legs. If you guys want to share your experiences or suggestions with mobility aids, let me know !!!

[cherry-pop-elf]

Mobility Milestone

This may not be a big deal to most but it is for me. And I wanted to share it with yall

Before my fibromyalgia I would be able to walk 10k steps a day rather easily. Of course that quickly changed

Today I was able to walk over 3k steps. That is something I haven’t been able to do for over a year. That’s like a big deal for someone with mobility issues.

Last year I was trapped in a wheelchair. Now I’m working with a walker. I was able to WALK over 3k steps. I did it. I did that

Maybe one day it’ll be 10k

For now tho, I’ve beaten a goal I never thought possible

I walked over 3k and imma be proud of that

But damn my legs hurt like fuck now and tomorrow might be a wheelchair day

But I still did it. I was able to still do it anyway. Do something that was never possible before

Gonna call that a victory

[lemony-ink]

It's disability pride month! On day 1 I'm here to remind you that able-bodied people do not wish they had mobility aids

if you think about how much easier it would be to do basic tasks if you had a mobility aid or other kind of aid but aren't sure if you should, you absolutely should.

[proudmonsterfucker]

Sometimes I forget I am chronically ill and my issues aren’t just because I’m “fat and lazy”

Like at work today (daycare teacher) I went with my boss trick or treating for 2 hours with some of our kiddos, and that level of effort and walking and just being on my feet and having to hold a whole 2 1/2 yr old for an hour fucked with my leg = I barely can put pressure on my left leg

And I’m now having to remind myself it’s ok to use my mobility aid (cane) and just because I haven’t had to rely on it in a week or so doesn’t mean I can’t need it now

[disableddoll]

mobility aid advice

hello disabled community of tumblr ! i wanted to ask you all about mobility aids :)

i have POTS and HSD . alongside lightheadedness , blood pooling , muscle and joint pain , and occasional slowness , my main issue with walking is fatigue . sometimes it's while i'm walking , but mostly it's after the fact , leading to crashes that can last days where i am left bedridden .

are there any aids that can help with this ? my arms are too weak for a wheelchair , i don't have enough balance issues to warrant a cane , and i'm not really sure if a rollator would help since it's just . . . walking while pushing something ? i don't know . any suggestions or advice would be appreciated . my parents , cardiologist , neurologist , and GP all think i'm too young / healthy for an aid :(

[forwhomtheteasteeps]

Whenever I have to use a mobility aid to leave the house (which is most days now, whee degenerative conditions 🙄) I am instantly transformed into a toddler being told it is nap time.

Do I need the aid? Oh, most assuredly. O a good day I need the cane for balance and on a bad day I am using a walker.

Do I want the aid? Absolutely not. I hate using it, I hate having it, I miss everything about my body before it got this bad.

Like a toddler being told it is nap time I will fuss and fight the use of an aid. I will pull myself along on furniture, or occasionally crawl. I will push to the point of pain and beyond. Unlike the toddler fighting a nap though, I actually know that the aid will help me. And still I fight.

The spouse will sometimes hang my cane on the doorknob so I basically have to pick it up to open the door. They will remind me that there is no shame in using what I need.

I hope to one day “grow up” in my disability and accept the aid like an adult takes a Sunday nap. Peacefully and without self reproach.

[matchakuracat]

walking up or down a flight of stairs that has railings on both sides and how much it helps being able to support my legs with both arms is convincing me that i need crutches

[toxicity-2003]

Okay, after doing some research, I found that using a wheelchair or walker may be HUGELY beneficial to me [at least during flare ups]

So I'd like to use them! Not a problem, I own them both.

The problem is

How do I explain to my parent that me, someone who can walk "totally fine", needs a mobility aid

They're legally disabled. They were injured in the army and stuff. So I feel like they're "more disabled" than I am. I find it hard to explain that I, someone not as disabled as my parent, who doesn't use mobility aids, needs a mobility aid

Genuine question BTW. I'd like tips

So far they're getting me medication that works for them as well as cream but I have yet to see that work! [I've only tried it for like, a day!!!! I'm not saying it doesn't work, I will be trying it more]

Edit: This is one parent who uses they/them! Also, I haven't asked them, but the tips they've been giving me have been doing a lot <3

[sebs-out-of-spoons]

it’s been at least 10 days since this flare up has started. i’ve never had one that’s lasted this long or been this severe. i honestly can’t remember if it has been more than 10 days or not, but it feels like it’s been weeks.

anyways, we’re going to the beach tomorrow, and i’m hoping to use one of their free or rentable wheelchairs. the free ones can only be used for 2 hours, so i won’t be able to use it all the time, just for a sort of break at some point. i’m honestly kind of hoping that they’re out of them and we can go get a rentable one since i know it’ll be killing me tomorrow and i’ll be in way too much pain. i’m excited either way though cuz it’ll be so so helpful.

i really want to get forearm crutches and a cane (and also a wheelchair of my own one day), and i think i’m gonna talk to my mom about that sometime.