Manual Wheelchairs 101: Choosing the Right Fit for Your Life
Whether you’re new to wheelchairs or ready for an upgrade, this guide walks you through key decisions — from frame types to footrests — so you can roll with confidence and control.
Disability
Maximize Your Power Wheelchair Experience with an Adjustable Tray
The Permobil Angle Adjustable Tray Table easily attaches to power wheelchairs with a track system, providing adjustable height and angle. It supports a laptop or notebook, aiding productivity while standing. Although it does not advertise a swing-away feature, it can be temporarily removed for transfers. Important ordering notes include attachment points and size compatibility.
Advocacy – Calling In vs. Calling Out
Knowing when and how to advocate within medical education. Calling people into the conversation can generate lasting change while calling out can prevent immediate harm. Advocacy take time and energy, its ok to triage your work, take breaks, know that your efforts can make lasting impacts.
Top 3 Questions To Ask When Ordering 1st Wheelchair
Acquiring a first wheelchair often elicits mixed emotions. Customizing the chair to the user’s needs and lifestyle is crucial. Trials are encouraged to understand what features are necessary or preferred. Physical considerations specific to the user’s medical condition should be taken into account in the design, while determining full-time or part-time usage can help tailor the ideal chair type. Prior experience leads to practical insights that can improve future chair use.
Smart Drive Power Assist Review
The Smart Drive device from Permobil has been the best addition to my wheelchair so far. This device attaches directly to the bar underneath my chair, with the ability to come on and off as needed. It is an expensive device ranging from $5000-$8000 CAD depending on where you get it from.
Taking the Accessible Path
Being in a wheelchair has changed certain parts of my life but with day-to-day activities I am pretty similar to everyone else. It’s what happens in-between the activities where I can often feel left out or on my own…..So, take the accessible path with your friend just like you would take the same set of stairs to class. It means more than you know.
Nothing prepared me for getting a wetsuit on – Adaptive Surfing
WaveSki, an adaptive form of surfing where the surfer is seated and uses a paddle to maneuver through the water. This is a sport done by able-bodied surfers and is a great adaptation for surfers with lower limb impairments. I’ve been catching waves on the weekends in-between medical school as a great way to destress. Here are some skills I have learned since starting…
Unintentional Actions of Non-Disabled People
People can be annoying when you are in a wheelchair. Most people don’t understand what it’s like and what the day to day looks like. I live a very full life in a wheelchair and everyday there are actions of others that make it easier and harder.
It’s just noise…
The post discusses the challenges experienced by a wheelchair user with an unclear diagnosis. They face skepticism and misunderstanding from both strangers and the medical system. They are learning to tune out the “noise” of unhelpful comments and handle the feelings of being a burden on the healthcare system.