Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 Hi all I think the crossed fingers helped. I used my new wheelchair at 2 schools today. I was able to open a door from both sides and get my through on the first try. The automatic doors closed before I was through and I lost a bit of skin on my baby finger, but nothing serious. I didn't take down any doors or walls, but I did try a couple of times. I'm still not real sure where the back casters are. The chair is very comfortable and I sure am glad to have it. I still can't get it up the ramp backwards nor get it into the lock down port. My long legs make it very difficult to turn the seat to transfer. I will probably work at it some more and then go back to the conversion place for some fine tuning. The adults didn't realize I wasn't using my scooter, but most of the kids did right away. I had several people ask if I was going to get a basket to hang on the front like on my scooter. I don't know if they thought I would hang it on my knees or what. Something I found that worked well was a wastebasket. I am able to put my stuff in it and then set it on the footrests between my legs. I had several interesting reactions to that, such as " are you going to get sick " and a couple of the little kids thought I was cleaning up trash around the school. Please keep those fingers crossed again tomorrow when I once again try to get the chair up the ramp and docked. laurie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 Laurie, I'm glad that today went well for the most part. Sorry to hear about your finger. Have you thought about looking up the chair on the web and seeing where the wheels are? Just a thought. How many days do you guys have left of school? My kiddos are out tomorrow. Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 Cindy Lucky kids. My last day is the 11th, so several weeks to go. I sure hope the remaining days aren't like the last two. All I have done is put out fires. I'd really like to start tying up some loose ends. I have 18 IEPs next Mon, did three today. I can see the wheels on the chair, but haven't learned to judge where they are. The no tips in the front can also catch on things. I am going to try to come up with something to cover the joystick and buttons when the chair is not in active use. If I lean over to look at something, my body pushes the control. Ruth told me to be careful and turn the chair off when reaching or someone is reaching to give a hug. I certainly found out why. I pushed a table a few feet and created a few more bruises by doing this. knows all about way-word chairs. Laurie > > Reply-To: > Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 15:33:39 -0600 > To: > > Subject: Re: new wheelchair > > Laurie, > > I'm glad that today went well for the most part. Sorry to hear about your > finger. Have you thought about looking up the chair on the web and seeing > where the wheels are? Just a thought. > > How many days do you guys have left of school? My kiddos are out tomorrow. > > Cindy > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 Oh boy..The trials and tribulations of a power chair. Boy do I know what you mean, Laurie. They look much easier than they are. Have fun !! .. stay out of her way! I'm so excited. I've been pushing the state to get CAPTEL Relay phone system in and I got the word about 3 minutes ago that it has been approved and they will let me know when it will go into effect. Here is a link to this great phone for the hard of hearing for those of you who are interested. It is being used in several states now. http://www.captionedtelephone.com/index.phtml Alice I can see the wheels on the chair, but haven't learned to judge where they are. The no tips in the front can also catch on things. I am going to try to come up with something to cover the joystick and buttons when the chair is not in active use. If I lean over to look at something, my body pushes the control. Ruth told me to be careful and turn the chair off when reaching or someone is reaching to give a hug. I certainly found out why. I pushed a table a few feet and created a few more bruises by doing this. knows all about way-word chairs. Laurie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 20, 2004 Report Share Posted May 20, 2004 Alice Congratulations on the phone approval. You do so very much to advocate for people and the things they need. Your motto should be " I did it " . laurie > > Reply-To: > Date: Thu, 20 May 2004 16:45:39 -0600 > To: > > Subject: Re: new wheelchair > > Oh boy..The trials and tribulations of a power chair. Boy do I know what you > mean, Laurie. They look much easier than they are. Have fun !! .. > stay out of her way! > > I'm so excited. I've been pushing the state to get CAPTEL Relay phone system > in and I got the word about 3 minutes ago that it has been approved and they > will let me know when it will go into effect. Here is a link to this great > phone for the hard of hearing for those of you who are interested. It is > being used in several states now. > > http://www.captionedtelephone.com/index.phtml > > Alice > > > I can see the wheels on the chair, but haven't learned to judge where they > are. The no tips in the front can also catch on things. I am going to try to > come up with something to cover the joystick and buttons when the chair is not > in active use. If I lean over to look at something, my body pushes the > control. Ruth told me to be careful and turn the chair off when reaching or > someone is reaching to give a hug. I certainly found out why. I pushed a table > a few feet and created a few more bruises by doing this. knows all > about way-word chairs. > > Laurie > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2004 Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 Laurie, 18 IEP's??? Ouch!!! I just finished my last IEP of the year for Branden on Monday. I have often had to tell Branden to turn his chair off before he hugs someone too. My kids like to have him drag them around on the back. They get on a towel or something in the house and sit down and hold the bar on the bottom- he has a bar that's on this chair for a vent if he had one. Anyway, I'm always having to tell them that they're going to put too much stress on the chair and it's going to wear out quicker than we need it to. He needs to have it last two more years, but I have noticed lately that the motors have gotten VERY loud. My husband's car is in the trash basically right now. I took it to have brakes put on and came out without them and found out it needs $1200 of work that's just safety stuff. We only paid $900 for it 4 years ago and it's probably only worth $200 or so now so needless to say I told the guy we weren't fixing it. In the meantime I found a 1998 Dodge full size van with a lift in it that's absolutely gorgeous. It's in impeccable shape with only 53,000 miles and I'm hoping we can get it. If we do we'll most likely be getting rid of " black beauty " which is Trish's van and use the money to buy a car. Have a great day!! Hugs!! Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2004 Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 Hi Laurie- that waste basket idea is great! Thanks for the hint! Cheers, Ruth _____ From: Laureta Fitzgerald Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2004 3:28 PM To: Subject: new wheelchair Hi all I think the crossed fingers helped. I used my new wheelchair at 2 schools today. I was able to open a door from both sides and get my through on the first try. The automatic doors closed before I was through and I lost a bit of skin on my baby finger, but nothing serious. I didn't take down any doors or walls, but I did try a couple of times. I'm still not real sure where the back casters are. The chair is very comfortable and I sure am glad to have it. I still can't get it up the ramp backwards nor get it into the lock down port. My long legs make it very difficult to turn the seat to transfer. I will probably work at it some more and then go back to the conversion place for some fine tuning. The adults didn't realize I wasn't using my scooter, but most of the kids did right away. I had several people ask if I was going to get a basket to hang on the front like on my scooter. I don't know if they thought I would hang it on my knees or what. Something I found that worked well was a wastebasket. I am able to put my stuff in it and then set it on the footrests between my legs. I had several interesting reactions to that, such as " are you going to get sick " and a couple of the little kids thought I was cleaning up trash around the school. Please keep those fingers crossed again tomorrow when I once again try to get the chair up the ramp and docked. laurie Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of this e mail is entirely responsible for its content. List members are reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the content of the postings and consult with their physicians regarding changes in their own treatment. Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of the attack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2004 Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 Hi Cindy, That van sounds heavenly! Hope you can get it. Cheers, Ruth _____ From: Cindy Hussey Sent: Friday, May 21, 2004 9:53 AM To: Subject: Re: new wheelchair Laurie, 18 IEP's??? Ouch!!! I just finished my last IEP of the year for Branden on Monday. I have often had to tell Branden to turn his chair off before he hugs someone too. My kids like to have him drag them around on the back. They get on a towel or something in the house and sit down and hold the bar on the bottom- he has a bar that's on this chair for a vent if he had one. Anyway, I'm always having to tell them that they're going to put too much stress on the chair and it's going to wear out quicker than we need it to. He needs to have it last two more years, but I have noticed lately that the motors have gotten VERY loud. My husband's car is in the trash basically right now. I took it to have brakes put on and came out without them and found out it needs $1200 of work that's just safety stuff. We only paid $900 for it 4 years ago and it's probably only worth $200 or so now so needless to say I told the guy we weren't fixing it. In the meantime I found a 1998 Dodge full size van with a lift in it that's absolutely gorgeous. It's in impeccable shape with only 53,000 miles and I'm hoping we can get it. If we do we'll most likely be getting rid of " black beauty " which is Trish's van and use the money to buy a car. Have a great day!! Hugs!! Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.