[Blind-rollers] Mobility for wheelchair users

Mon Aug 29 17:13:39 UTC 2011

Erica, a Hemi chair and I are not sure I am spelling that right is a low
wheelchair.  I am four foot ten. So trying to propel myself in a regular
sized chair had me way forward in the seat with just the tip of my foot
hitting the floor.  This way with the lower chair I can sit back further, my
foot nearly rests flat on the floor. 

Let me amend a bit of what I said.  Yes the forty eight inch long cane
worked better then the sixty inch.  But really I needed a longer cane as I
came up to fast on objects to fully stop my momentum.  So please don't rule
out the longer cane as you really might not be safe.  I could have used a
fifty three or fifty five length.  The problem I also had was my husband's
cane was very light and bouncy.  I needed weight on the tip but lighter in
the handle as it was hard on my wrist.  So try out different canes.  In fact
insist on trying different canes and different tips.  My wrist hurt after a
couple blocks.  I am a knitter by training.  That wrist fatigue interfered
with my knitting business.     

A roller marshmallow tip was a better choice also, instead of his NFB tip.
The marshmallow tip rolled where my husband's didn't.  Walk down a clear
sidewalk with a few canes.  Try and retry them.  Pick the best few that your
wrist likes, then do obstacle work.  You will then get a better idea of
length and tip you will need.  And sometimes the outside one is different
than the inside one. Also propelling yourself with the foot is hard on the
tendon in the back.  Make sure you are doing exercises and protecting that
tendon. I have partially torn ACLs.  I was worried about hurting them more
so excepted people pushing me.  I learned to tuck my sore foot under the
chair as people are such crappy drivers.  

I saw a fellow at a conference a long time ago with a seven foot cane in
front of his power chair.  That just might be perfect to stop him at the top
of the steps.  I got to close to those steps with the forty eight inch cane.
Be open please.  None of us are know it alls. I was perfectly happy with my
outside cushion to my lawn furniture as a pad for my wheelchair.  The
physical therapist insisted on another pad.  I don't know when my but hurt
so much.  She insisted we would try another kind.  I went back to my outdoor
furniture pad and was fine.  Then she brought this heavenly pad.  I had no
idea my but was uncomfortable with the pad I liked.  So if I would have been
a stubborn   no it all, I would not have received the new pad. 

I wish the NFB philosophy would emphasize with those rights come
responsibilities. Yes I have the right to insist I use my forty eight inch
cane, but am I being responsible to others to keep them and myself safe. I
have the right to not put a flag on my chair, but am I being responsible to
keep myself as visible as possible to a truck turning a corner. Yes I have
the right to not wear flashers when I walk down the road at night, but am I
being responsible to alert others I am coming.  Those headlights are not
just for the driver to see where they are going.  They also tell other
drivers and me they are nearby.

Sorry just wanted to correct myself, smile.  This little gal can get
opinionated, giggle.

Becky and guide dog Jake who says, I can out opinionate the goily, sly
smile.     

-----Original Message-----
From: blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Erica J Cole
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2011 9:14 AM
To: 'Blind wheelchair users list'
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Mobility for wheelchair users

Hi  All
Becky
I work better with a shorter cane too! 
My instructor keeps talking about a longer cane but I'm resisting. 
I also use one  hand and one foot to propel. What's a hemi-chair?
Thanks
Erica.

-----Original Message-----
From: blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Becky Frankeberger
Sent: 26 August 2011 19:44
To: 'Tammy Cantrell'; 'Blind wheelchair users list'
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Mobility for wheelchair users

Hi Tammy, welcome over here.  I was in a manual wheelchair for five or so
months from a fall I had.  Not much keeps me down, smile.  I went from the
hospital to rehab.  I wanted to learn how to be safe in my own home, then
got out of there as my home is pretty wheelchair accessible by design.
Physical Therapy at the nursing home put me in a manual wheelchair.  My
husband brought my white cane and off I went to figure out this puzzle of
how to move safely in the wheelchair.  The further out I held my cane the
safer I was to the rebound of hitting something with the cane and it coming
up and hitting me.  Fortunately, I thought about this obvious problem, so
did not hurt myself with the rebound, giggle. I know the books tell you to
make the cane super long, but practically it does not work well as I first
tried with my husband's cane.  It would get mixed up into so many things, I
began to hate moving anywhere.  So my shorter cane came out and suddenly I
could move.  The cane did not get trapped under wheelchairs of other
patience hide under tables never to be seen again.  My reactions were faster
with the shorter cane is what I am trying to say so badly.   . 

Now I did not try a power chair, but most certainly wanted to. So maybe
reactions are different, I don't know.  All I know is my arm doing the left
wheel, my right foot propelling me and my right hand holding the cane just
did not work for me with a sixty inch white cane.  My forty eight inch cane
was fine as I pushed my shorter (Hemi) chair in that nursing home, in my
driveway, and on the streets of Seattle Washington, Disney World, my home
town, you get the picture, smile. I thought my arms were going to fall off
at Disney World and my husband's arms.  Not one person told us there were
power chairs to rent and we went to the business office three times, growl. 

What an eye opener sitting in a wheelchair is.I would strongly recommend you
and your colleagues do this.    How rude people can be.  How afraid people
are of you.  I keep a smile on my face so I seem more approachable.  I had
people grabbing my handles to push me out of the way.  Fortunately for me I
thought about this ahead of time and locked my breaks, snort.  So I could
talk to the person trying to move me, and in both circumstances I was fine.
A gard at one of the stores took the lady aside. I am not sure what he said
as I have a hearing loss, but giggle.  I did thank the gard as she was over
the top rude. I kept my peace and would not yell back at her.  I make sure I
pulled close to a wall or display so people could get around me.  One lady
was standing next to me.  I asked her if she wanted to look at something.
She got all flustered.  I just moved and she did indeed want to look at
something where I had been sitting waiting for my husband.

My husband has helped me in the bathrooms.  Men are far nicer then women
about the other sex coming in.  So I saw lots of men's rooms, lol.  One gard
kicked us both out of the bathroom and opened up one family friendly she
said anyway.  It was at a closed section of the Convention Center in
Seattle.  Now you all thought we were progressive out here, giggle. Every
time we passed that gard we would tell her no bathrooms today.  We got a
kick out of making fun of her.  Well hey you have to laugh about the trouble
you get into in a wheelchair. 

Make sure she puts a flag on her chair.  When she is on the streets that
flag should be up alerting truck drivers she is there.  The flag should be
able to lower so she can get into transit vans easier.

Anyway, I know there are several out here with far more experience then I do
traveling around, being trapped on lifts, getting stuck all those fun
things, smile.

I am totally serious when I tell you take several days and just go places in
a power or manual wheelchair.  If you blindfold yourself make sure you have
a back up person as it will be new to you to do both skills.  I know they
blindfold you all where you get your O and M training, but both blindfolded
and in a wheelchair, I doubt it.  Safety first for you also.  Make sure the
person with you only interferrrs if you are going to get hurt.  Otherwise
you figure it out. 

Becky and guide dog Jake fluffing his tail at you      
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:blind-rollers-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tammy Cantrell
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2011 7:35 PM
To: blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blind-rollers] Mobility for wheelchair users

Hello!
My name is Tammy.  I am not a wheelchair user but wanted to learn from those
with more experience and knowledge than me.  I work in Travel and have a
student in an electric wheelchair.   I am interested in learning about any
techniques, considerations, tips, etc that will benefit my student.  I want
to teach what this student needs and make sure she doesn't get hurt during
the process.  If you know of any resources for reading materials, this would
be appreciated too.  I look forward to learning from you.
Thanks! 
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