Guest guest Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Could you keep a " welcome mat " made out of plastic grass with you? It might help clear your wheels out, or give you a bit of traction. 'Course they sell wheelchair ponchos too You might even be able to attach something to your ramp, depending upon what type you have. Do they require chains where you live, it would be cool if they sell chains for wheelchair wheels! Take care, RH > > Hi > > I was wondering if any of you had secrets to share on improving > traction with a power wheelchair. I can slip and slide in the > driveway, but getting up the ramp into my minivan can be a real > challenge when the tires are snowy. I went out to get the mail this > noon and after getting it, the snow plow came around the curve. I made > a hasty retreat as he was plowing the sholders and I live on a > highway. He did slow down some or I might have had a lap full of snow > and salt. I'm sure some of you can picture this. > > laurie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2005 Report Share Posted December 12, 2005 Living in Canada (southern Ontario, actually quite near Buffalo NY) I feel often trapped in the winter. Laurie's tale of the snow plow really resonates!! I avoid taking my motor chair out in winter unless i have to, which essentially traps me indoors a lot. NOT good choice, i admit, but one that doesn't leave me stranded waiting upon the kindness of a passer by I am " able " still to manhandle the thing into the van, but what worries me now is I am losing my arm strength quickly. I had gotten fairly used to decline in my legs (don't have distance left much at all) -- i do gentle on-going walking exercise on a gentle treadmill beside my workstation, keeps me moving but doesn't exhaust my muscles) -- HOWEVER I am afraid of losing my arm strength perhaps even more, that is what moves me around using crutches / canes / gets wheelchair and motor wheelchair (all depending upon the day's need) and I have no idea how i would manoever if I end up unable to do that stuff My worst problem is the entrances of my house are not ramped or access friendly. They would cost a fortune to fix ... I am as yet not fully diagnosed " suspected " still in all the tentative diagnoses) so I'm pretty sure I cannot get even access to advice, not to mention actual help. So I guess I just coast day by day, getting advice from all of you and hoping I don't decline to the point of being unable to even function as I do. I wish all of you didn't face your struggles (so many are fighting much worse things than the above, or this stuff and much more) however it is a comfort of course not to be alone Merry Christmas, and happy Holidays, whichever term you like best (at the vineyard) -- *********************************************************** Kelta Vineyard --------------------------------- Find your next car at Yahoo! Canada Autos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 12, 2005 Report Share Posted December 12, 2005 Hi Laurie, For me, during the many years I spent using a motorized wheelchair, my mobility in winter usually depended on how well things were shovelled. I made sure that whoever was shovelling the sidewalk and the ramp from my apartment to the sidewalk to my van did as thorough a job as possible. That way, the snow left on the ground wasn't usually enough to get into the ridges of my tires. (Most power chairs have ridged tires; if yours are smooth, changing to tires with deeper ridges will help). Still, I obviously had no control over how well anyone else shovelled their sidewalks or curb cuts so I was limited to the areas that I had some control over or was sure that others were shovelling well. I think you said in a subsequent post that you would ask your wheelchair repair people for some ideas. I hope that helps. Also, I wonder if you are in touch with your local Independent Living Center? (Or if they even have one wherever you live). We have a great one in Boston and they are staffed by so many people who use wheelchairs and who know the particular resources in our area. They were usually the first people I called with questions like this one. Good Luck, Shayna > > Hi > > I was wondering if any of you had secrets to share on improving > traction with a power wheelchair. I can slip and slide in the > driveway, but getting up the ramp into my minivan can be a real > challenge when the tires are snowy. I went out to get the mail this > noon and after getting it, the snow plow came around the curve. I made > a hasty retreat as he was plowing the sholders and I live on a > highway. He did slow down some or I might have had a lap full of snow > and salt. I'm sure some of you can picture this. > > laurie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 13, 2005 Report Share Posted December 13, 2005 Laurie, I hope the sand and paint work. > > > > > > Hi > > > > > > I was wondering if any of you had secrets to share on improving > > > traction with a power wheelchair. I can slip and slide in the > > > driveway, but getting up the ramp into my minivan can be a real > > > challenge when the tires are snowy. I went out to get the mail this > > > noon and after getting it, the snow plow came around the curve. I > > made > > > a hasty retreat as he was plowing the sholders and I live on a > > > highway. He did slow down some or I might have had a lap full of snow > > > and salt. I'm sure some of you can picture this. > > > > > > 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...
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