Re: Looking for a mobility/adaptability forum

[Guest guest]

I have a Action Wheelchair that the Dr. said I would be in 1988, it sits in

my living room, and every day i fight to stay out of wheel chair.

I know the fun of trying to shop with a wheel chair.

Every want to talk, feel free to ask.

Hoolihanma

[Guest guest]

--- Spamalicious wrote:

> I was wondering if y'all might know of any

> forums for people

> with mobility issues or adaptation/modification

> hints. Thanks!

>

> This message was dictated using speech recognition

> software. It may

> contain speak-o's or type-o's.

Can you be a bit more specific? BTW your speech

recognition software works just fine.

Kaylene

Moderator

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hey Spama. [i'm squinting my eyes trying to see you out there] LOL!

Yes...need more info! What is your mobility issue? I see you are

using voice mod. typing. Can you use your hands? Are you w/c-bound?

Welcome to our group.

>

> I was wondering if y'all might know of any forums for people

> with mobility issues or adaptation/modification hints. Thanks!

>

> This message was dictated using speech recognition software. It may

> contain speak-o's or type-o's.

>

[Guest guest]

Upper extremity disability. Have to use special tools to open things

or get dressed. That sort of thing. Just looking for places where

people talk so I can get ideas.

Oh, and it took a long time to train " y'all " , and it still comes up as yaw, or

awl.

Spam

At 01:04 PM 2/7/2006, you wrote:

>Can you be a bit more specific? BTW your speech

>recognition software works just fine.

>Kaylene

>Moderator

[Guest guest]

Just very limited use of my upper extremities. I can punch a rocker

style light switch for example, but cannot open snaps. Not wheelchair

bound, but sometimes I think that people would stare at me less in

the supermarket if I were. No offense!

Spam

At 03:48 PM 2/7/2006, you wrote:

>Hey Spama. [i'm squinting my eyes trying to see you out there] LOL!

>Yes...need more info! What is your mobility issue?

[Guest guest]

No offense taken. As someone who does use a wheelchair let me offer

some advise. If people stare at you - do what I do. Stare back.

SusieQ

Spamalicious wrote:

> Not wheelchair

> bound, but sometimes I think that people would stare at me less in

> the supermarket if I were. No offense!

[Guest guest]

I just look at people, and tell them, " I'm rolling along with life. "

or " No thanks, I have my own seat, thank you. "

I used to make up signs and put on the back of mine, when I went to town. one

of my favorites was " tired feet? what tired feet? "

People just wonder why your in a chair, and even having spent time in one, I

also ask the same questions. Just give them a big smile, and you would be

surprised at the smile you will get in return.

I know how it feels to sit in a chair, and I fight like H!!! to stay out of it,

but I am seeing a time, and it will be soon, that I will be in one for life.

It is part of you, just like my flat, gray hair, I make the most of it, and

keep on going. I also know the fun of shopping, and everything is on the top

shelf, took me a while, but I ask for help now. I think by asking for help,

when your asked, I feel like I'm being needed for something, and " it makes me

feel good. "

By being disable, I have time to help wild animals and birds when they get into

trouble. I have raised baby birds, gray squirrels, mice, you name it. I spend

many a day, just sitting outside enjoying the days.

Some of my pain pills put me in a daze, and I can't read, don't want to watch TV

or do craft work. Don't want to sleep days, then can't nights.

So I watch the best show I know, Mother Nature. I get fresh air, sunlight and

I feel tired at the end of the day.

Your not alone, so hang in there.

Hoolihanma

[Guest guest]

--- Goodwin wrote:

> No offense taken. As someone who does use a

> wheelchair let me offer

> some advise. If people stare at you - do what I do.

> Stare back.

>

> SusieQ

Actually, what's more fun is to give them the biggest

smile you have. Truthfully, people are usually just

curious.

One of the difficult things about being in a

wheelchair, is that you are lower to the ground than

others. They have some now that rise to would be your

usual height.

Kaylene

Moderator

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Kaylene Goyette wrote:

> Actually, what's more fun is to give them the biggest

> smile you have. Truthfully, people are usually just

> curious.

I found that works well. Another good thing is to say something simple,

pleasant, and innocuous. A cheerful " Hi " or a weather comment. Even a " Will

you please grab the Red Rose Tea off the top shelf for me? " goes a long way to

breaking down barriers.

> One of the difficult things about being in a

> wheelchair, is that you are lower to the ground than

> others. They have some now that rise to would be your

> usual height.

Those " high " chairs are still really expensive. Hopefully the price will start

coming down, as usually happens when relatively new things are no longer new.

There are a couple of wheelchair terms that I really don't like -- " Stuck in a

wheelchair " and " wheelchair bound. " Near as I could ever figure, a wheelchair

gave me mobility, it didn't take it away. When I couldn't walk, the wheelchair

became my legs. I wasn't' " stuck " in it or " bound " by it. I was freed by it.

It gave me the freedom to get around instead of having to be in the same spot

day after day.

--

Lyndi

[Guest guest]

Good 4 U . Yah...people often want to gauk and rubberneck at

others who are not of the vertical variety. Human nature I guess?

Poor education/manners? I don't know how to catagorize it.

Yep..I stare right back too when I go out wearing a brace. Sometimes people

ask, " why do you have to wear that? " Sometimes I have to resist the urge to

tell them " WELL, IF I DON'T WEAR IT, MY SPINE WILL INSTANTLY DISINTEGRATE AND I

BE WILL BE WEARING MY CHIN IN MY UNDERWEAR!! " I'm sure that would shock some

folks!

>

> No offense taken. As someone who does use a wheelchair let me offer

> some advise. If people stare at you - do what I do. Stare back.

>

> SusieQ

[Guest guest]

I used to smile and gone about my business, but I think I'm just too

worn down right now!

But I bet a lot of us get stares for various reasons. Karma man, karma.

Spam