#powerchair user

[gayaest]

🌱🍎 UPDATE: Yesterday, I was assessed for a Powerchair. Because of the extremely fast progression of my disability with no treatment from specialist doctors; I haven’t been able to use my manual wheelchair more than a transport chair where someone else is pushing me, so I had no independence at all.

I have been housebound for 6 almost 7 years — and I’ve been bed bound the same. I am excited to start this new section of my journey of autonomy.

The Type of Powerchair is called a Quantum J4E, I am hoping that my insurance will cover all 3 add-ons including a lift-kit, positional controls, and leg lifting. I cannot due anything myself, including cooking, cleaning, bathing, bathroom, dressing, etc. I am also hoping to get an Accessible Vehicle with my partner to be able to leave the neighborhood with the powerchair.

Despite those in my family that refuse to acknowledge my Disability and severity, I am going to live life as best as I can… Being Severely Disabled.

Anyway! After that long caption, here’s a mock-up / rough draft of my Vtuber’s updated chair, since the original was a manual! SPROUT gets a fruit mobile!

[flowercrowncrip]

I got asked by a stranger again tonight if they could have a go on my wheelchair, and I just really want to know what is going through peoples minds when they ask this? Like, do they want to sit in my lap? Do they expect me to like, lie on the floor while they make off with my very expensive very difficult to replace power chair? …What's the plan?

[milkweedman]

All my current worries about how much this bag will shrink would have been allayed had I felted a swatch.

Yet, did I felt a swatch ? No. Will I felt a swatch next time ? Probably not.

Working on a wheelchair bag again. My first two were always intended to be replaced, as they were just prototypes. Hopefully this one will be more permanent.

Idk if my notes and vague diagrams are readable at all, but I've been really thinking this one thru. Or trying to, anyway. My other two wheelchair bags have not included a way to cover the contents, which was a poor choice that I am now reaping the consequences of (everything gets wet when it rains). So the flaps are a new element that I'm not sure of, but I think will be necessary. Also will be lining it in black felt from a thrifted and then felted merino sweater. Actually, it was already a little felted when I got it. Probably why it was donated in the first place. I just felted it way way more.

Kinda worried about running out of yarn actually. And about the bag turning out small.

[giantkillerjack]

Hey, y'all! Can someone please please tell me about the process for finding the right motorized wheelchair??

I've needed an electric wheelchair for years, and I've finally gotten the right prescription and the wheelchair-accessible housing I need.

But now I need to pick a wheelchair, and I STILL don't even know where to start.

The main issue is that I have no way of trying out different models of chair, and so I have no way of knowing what will and won't hurt my back - and so I ALSO have no way of knowing if I need a custom wheelchair or not.

I live in the United States in a major metropolitan area, and my insurance will ONLY pay for one chair, so as far as I know, it needs to be the right one on the first try. (Unless there's a trial-and-return policy? I have no idea. I have Medicare and Medicaid.)

I feel like there must be some kind of specialist who can help me find the right chair, but no healthcare provider I've seen has had that kind of expertise.

Where do I find these people? What do I do?? How can I find a place that allows me to try out different chairs?? Literally any advice is appreciated. Thank you in advance. <3

[crippleremus]

URGENT HELP NEEDED!

I have until December 31st 2024 to pay my remaining rent balance or my (also disabled) fiancé, cat, and I will be evicted.

please, if you’re feeling any kind of holiday spirit or kindness, consider adding to this fund. every single dollar counts.

once i get this remaining balance out of the way, i’m on track to pay my rent in full every month with help from a raise at my job as well as student aid, I just have to get over this last hurdle.

help a cripple out?

(ignore the deadname pls)

[normal-with-adhd-is-a-joke]

I think perhaps I'm not taking my powerchair to my doctor's appointment tomorrow unless my mom shovels the ramp

[briarpatch-kids]

I don't know who needs to hear this, but two layers of minwax polycrylic topcoat seems to keeping my chair from scratching up doorways. Makes them look glossy and nice too. Put it on the doorway, not the chair.

[dionysus429]

POV: you have to charge your legs /j

(It's my powerchair battery)

[almostfini]

One of the best things about my new powerchair is that I can wander aimlessly around the house again! I don't have to plan out if I have the stamina to hobble over with my cane and grab something on my way back from the bathroom. I can just *zip* over there and back!

[gayaest]

[OC] Farrokh, Iranian, He/They, Trans masculine/man, Gay, c8 quadriplegic uses a powerchair 🍏🧸🪴

Cervical Instability, Tethered-Cord Syndrome ⭐️ Description in Alt-Text.

[flowercrowncrip]

Ableist things non wheelchair using disabled people/ occasional wheelchair users have said to or about me as a full time powerchair user:

Not being able to walk makes you privileged over other disabled people

I’d kill myself if I couldn’t wipe my own arse

Yeah but you’re not like regular disabled so you shouldn’t expect to be accommodated

You’re so lucky to have carers with you all the time

At least I’m not like him

Why don’t you use a folding powerchair instead? Then you wouldn’t look so… disabled (answer: because I can’t sit up or breathe properly in chairs that aren’t supportive enough).

Of course they talk to you like you’re five years old… you look well… y’know

You shouldn’t be taking over people work chronic pain just because you can’t walk (said to me while I was talking about my own chronic pain)

*talks to my carer about me*

*refuses to acknowledge my presence in a group*

I just want you to know that I’d support assisted suicide for people like you.

Again, because it’s important, absolutely all of these are from disabled people.

[milkweedman]

Major issue with my chair is i somehow get my projects caught in the castors ALL THE TIME. Just dragged a hat brim for who knows how long. I hope it's still usable, but I'm so annoyed

[systems-overloaded]

i dont normally talk about disability stuff here i dont think, but i actually want to right now, and its relevant to me as a whole, so whatever.

(im not being specific about dx though, parts are scared somehow that could identify us, because not all conditions are common.)

~~~~

had an apptmnt the other day, i think yesterday? it was within this week for sure.

i thought i was there for a new wheelchair evaluation, but apparently these are the people who had to refer me to the people who do the evaluations and order you the wheelchairs.

a bit discouraged, because i was anticipating this being particularly a wheelchair evaluation, not just a dr whos going to document the need for a wheelchair evaluation (which. ive needed my powerchair inside my own home for 6+ years now, and my conditions only gotten worse. im absolutely overdue for another chair. there shouldnt be even more steps then there already are.)

at the apptmnt though, i honestly thought i did a good job masking. i was able to talk enough to answer questions, but thankfully my mom was there and said upfront that i have trouble sometimes with speech, that its very tiring for me. so i was able to just kinda point to her and say "too many words" and shed said some of my medical histories for me. but i answered all the questions about my relevant symptoms and pain types/levels, etc. i definitely stumbled and fumbled some words, but i thought it was "within normal speech", just maybe "tired person speech".

but when i looked at the drs notes today, under "psych" they put "flat effect". i mean... i know i have a flat effect, some alters are definitely more expressive naturally, but there are many who are just hardcore masking all the time. i struggle with even trying to mask and make those expressions (the ones others within do). but like... i thought i did a good enough job? i thought i smiled some or made some expressions? i dont think drs have ever added that before in our charts.

idk, maybe this is just from unmasking, or because im different from the parts that used to be fronting at those appointments? im not sure.

~~~~~

and im... a bit scared to be honest. for some reason every couple years, especially around autumn, the subsystems that are the main fronters, change. and although ive been fronting for most our lives, i dont think ive ever been out this much, in such a sort amount of time.

am i (and the others i have better communication with) just the new fronters? does that mean, since we all struggle to talk alot in varying degrees, and struggle to mask or create expressions, that were now going to be even more visibly autistic? visibly /vulnerable/? (like, yeah i use a power chair all the time, but i dont view that as vulnerable. i dont think it makes ppl see me as a potential target.) being visibly autistic, being visibly someone who'll rely on AAC (even when just part time, or when i can technically get some words out), and also being visibly queer at certain times, ooph... ooph. ahhhh thats ummmmm a bit scary.

~~~~~~~~

back to the appointment though. ultimately, they documented what was shared well in the notes. there was absolutely a miscommunication, they said i used my rollator in the house occasionally (id shared that i own a rollator, and had used it in the past. prior to needing my powerchair, so there mustve been a miscommunication with how i worded my response, or their interpretations). and i think some confusion initially about my conditions (since theyre used to seeing like spinal cord injuries, or people with strokes pretty much exclusively), but in the end they said i need my powerchair to complete my ADLs and that ill need the features of tilt, relcine, leg elevation, and custom positioning seating, and they specified well for which conditions i need them for. they covered all the info needed for insurance to approve those features. so i dont think imma go through the hassle of asking them to correct it.

~~~~~

im sending hopes and wishes towards the universe, for all things to go smoothly. for everything to get covered easily and for all the things that will improve my quality of life, improve my capacity for independence, to lessen my pain, and all me to be more functional even just within my home.

any well thoughts towards this is appreciated. (well thoughts and wishes, not prayers)

[crippleremus]

nothing more frustrating and embarrassing than almost soiling yourself in public because you’re have a restroom emergency and someone (seemingly able-bodied) is taking their sweet time in the “big stall” talking on the phone

PSA AS IF IT WASN’T OBVIOUS:

THE “BIG STALL” IS THE ONLY PLACE I CAN RELIEVE MYSELF IN PUBLIC

IF YOU USE THE ACCESSIBLE STALL WHEN YOU DON’T ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO, YOU ARE TAKING AWAY ACCESS FROM SOMEONE ELSE

I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR COMFORT, YOU CAN USE ANY OTHER STALL, THERE IS ONLY ONE I CAN USE

i’m feeling so dehumanized right now

[normal-with-adhd-is-a-joke]

I always think I'm going to have an amazing answer when a kid asks what happened to me when I'm out in my wheelchair and then a kid actually asks and I'm completely caught off guard and I just go "I got covid and now I have long covid 😐" and speed away.

[veggiesforpresident]

i feel like motorized wheelchairs should be more the standard than manual ones. i know theyre more expensive etc but i feel like a lot of people who cant walk probably also cant propel themself in a standard wheelchair either. and like. sure getting someone to push you is ffffine but the lack of autonomy and dignity is. frustrating. at best.

anyway. more power chairs 2k24!