WHEELCHAIRS

Wheelchair

LIFE

There are many options, when choosing a chair – manual, power; recliner, tilt; cambered-wheel, straight-wheel; pneumatic tire, solid tire; collapsible, rigid; sports, daily; low-back, high-back; work tray, open lap, hand-control, sip-and-puff; solid back, sling back; standard, custom; spokes, mags; aluminum, titanium; Quickie,® Invacare®; headrest, black, yellow, green, pink ... the list goes on and on.

The type and style of wheelchairs people choose can be almost as unique and individualized as their personalities. Obviously, one's wheelchair should correspond with his or her physical abilities and circumstances. Professionals in the industry can help identify various needs, and wheelchairs or accessories and components to meet those needs. I learned a great deal about wheelchairs and seating systems from my dealer, and now friend, Jerry Stevens who had a good little business as a DME provider (that's Durable Medical Equipment) I understand he also knows how to smoke a mean slab of ribs (or so he says).

Here's a good source of information I found on the Internet: Wheelchair-Information.com.

Therapists can also assist in choosing the right chairs. Be careful though. My one complaint about my rehab hospital was the wheelchair provider next to the hospital catered to the therapists and were in so tight with them that there was never really any option of utilizing a different DME vendor, nor consideration of different customizations. As a new SCI patient, I did not have any understanding of the vast array of options. So I ended up basically just taking what they gave me. It wasn't until I got home after rehab, and started getting out into the world, that I learned there were better options.

They first had me in a big, gnarly, sip-and-puff, recliner power chair, with a headrest. It was obtrusive and obnoxious. It intimidated adults and scared kids. The armrests were wide, and the footrests were plates that would take a pretty good "bite" out of walls. Any time I was going out and potentially needed to negotiate a curb or some stairs, I had to get transferred from the big, heavy behemoth into my manual chair (it too was not well-suited). I go lots of places, and eventually I stopped getting into the power chair. I had to sacrifice a little "independence" because I couldn't tool around by myself when I wanted, but I gained the ability to go more places (pretty easy call for me).

I also started to notice a big difference in how people interacted with me when I was in the big power chair, as compared to when I was in the manual chair. When I was in the big chair I looked more "handicapped." I looked more dependant on medical equipment, as opposed to looking like someone who may have broken his leg, or may be recovering from bunion surgery, for instance. The big chair was more intimidating, and people around me would visibly retreat when I moved around, probably out of wise concern for their toes. In the little chair I noticed I was more approachable, and looked less "debilitated."

Normally, during the day, I spend most of my time at my desk, anyway. I don't have the need to move around my home or office very often. I don't drive, so when I go somewhere there's always someone around to get me there ... and push my chair. Sure, there are times I'd like to just get outside when no one else is around. But the loss of that bit of independence is substantially outweighed by the freedom to go more places (over curbs, up a few stairs into people’s homes, up a level in a restaurant, etc. I also fit under more tables), and by the fact that I'm more approachable and less 'disabled-looking.' See the homepage photo with the girl on my lap? I had just met her that night. If I had been in a big power chair, no way that would happen.

I use a Quickie brand manual recliner with a slightly lowered back so my scapula are above the back of the chair. Its design is a folding chair, but it's customized to stay rigid. The hand rims are modified and reattached directly to the mags (see left) to help keep maintain wheel strength integrity. We further customized it to include a slotted cross-bar in back, for the insertion of a custom headrest/backrest when desired. My chair is black, and as sleek (or at least as unobtrusive as I can get it). Remember, I like to be "approachable." I'm certainly not bothered when a pretty girl wants to sit on my lap, or twirl me in my chair around on the dance floor. Choosing a wheelchair is about weighing the pros and cons. Hopefully, this brief section can give you some options to consider. I can also answer questions submitted through Feedback.

Though I've never used one, there are also wheelchairs that can stand you up, and even chairs that climb stairs. Ask the professionals, if you're interested. Here's a website that states they are an independent, unbiased resource dedicated to helping people choose wheelchairs.

There are also various add-on options to make your chairs more 'user-friendly' (yes, "chairs", as in plural ... it's nice to have at least one backup). All sorts of cup holders, bags, packs (like the one pictured), umbrellas, canopies, trays, etc. can be found in several places on the Internet. Personally, I prefer not to 'pimp my ride' with this kind of stuff, but I'm probably in the minority (my sister teases me that she's going to put a bumper-sticker on the back of my chair). It all depends on your lifestyle. I do have a black zipper-bag hidden under my chair. It works well.

Finally, check out the short Wheelchair LIFE section on heel hooks in Clothing & Shoes for integration with your wheelchair, and see Skin for some thoughts about wheelchair cushions.

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