Posts Tagged ‘disability’

Types Of Wheelchairs

Monday, October 5th, 2009
by Allan Tan

Types of wheelchairs give wheelchair users options for selecting the best wheelchair for them. The type of wheelchair that is selected needs to match the wheelchair user’s physical abilities and lifestyle.

Many people may think that the only two types of wheelchairs are electric and manual wheelchairs. When using a manual wheelchair, the wheelchair user must be able to use their own strength to propel the wheelchair forward. Manual wheelchairs are cheaper than electric wheelchairs.

Some wheelchair users do not have the strength necessary to use a manual wheelchair. Electric wheelchairs are powered by batteries so they are much easier to operate for some wheelchair users. Part of the price of an electric wheelchair may be covered by insurance if a physician thinks that the patient requires an electric wheelchair.

Not all wheelchair users have the manual dexterity to operate the standard electric wheelchair controls. Some electric wheelchairs have a control and steering system that uses tubes placed near the wheelchair user’s mouth. The wheelchair user blows and sucks on the tubes to control the wheelchair.

Very small wheelchair users and large wheelchair users may have difficulty using standard wheelchairs. Pediatric wheelchairs are smaller wheelchairs used for children. Bariatric wheelchairs are often more comfortable for large or obese wheelchair users.

The size of the wheelchair is not the only differences among manual and electric wheelchairs. Electric wheelchairs vary on the type of battery use, the controlling device, and the number of wheels used to propel the wheelchair.

Some types of manual wheelchairs are made specifically for different activities or terrains. Lightweight sport wheelchairs are used for wheelchair sports and races. Wheelchairs with very wide wheels are made to be able to cross snow and sand.

A mobility scooter is an electric type of wheelchair that often has a steering handlebar in front of the seat. The chair of the mobility scooter may swivel to allow easier entry and exit of the wheelchair. Mobility scooters are typically not able to turn corners as sharply as a regular electric wheelchair.

Wheelchairs can be further customized to meet the needs of the wheelchair user by adding wheelchair accessories. Oxygen tank carriers, cup holders, and cane carriers are examples of wheelchair accessories.

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Information On Being A Wheelchair Paraplegic Devotee

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Wheelchair paraplegic devotees have extreme admiration for people who are paraplegic. Many wheelchair paraplegic devotees are also sexually attracted to paraplegics. The exact target of the devotee’s attraction and the behavior of a devotee varies among devotees.

The sexual attraction that some wheelchair paraplegic devotees feel towards paraplegics is considered to be similar to a fetish. The strong sexual attraction that some wheelchair paraplegic devotees feel may be rooted in sincere empathy for paraplegics.

A wheelchair paraplegic devotee may have had a fascination with disabilities since childhood. Some wheelchair paraplegic devotees may know the origin of their attraction while others may not.

Despite the absence of a true disability, some wheelchair paraplegic devotees live as though they are paraplegic. Some devotees use wheelchairs and restrict their movements as if they were truly paraplegic.

A wheelchair paraplegic devotee may have an emotional need to feel what it is like to be paraplegic. Some wheelchair paraplegic devotees will only be friends with paraplegic people. Some will attend support groups for paraplegics.

The wheelchair paraplegic devotees who live as if they are paraplegic may sincerely wish they really were paraplegic. Other wheelchair paraplegic devotees do not live as if they are paraplegic, but may strongly prefer the company of paraplegic people. Many wheelchair paraplegic devotees seek paraplegics as romantic interests.

In addition to paraplegic devotees, some devotees prefer other disabilities or amputees. Some people with disabilities cater to devotees as a means of supplementing their income. Women with disabilities that are the subject of interest to devotees sometimes market websites to devotees.

Some women with disabilities will sell photographs and videos of themselves to devotees. There are Internet communities and chat rooms specifically for wheelchair paraplegic devotees and people with similar attractions. Some wheelchair paraplegic devotees have a fetish for wheelchairs rather than people who are paraplegic.

Being a wheelchair paraplegic devotee is often considered to be a psychological disorder. Whether the person is considered to have a psychological disorder can be depended on how extreme the devotees behavior is. While some devotees may have abnormal behavior such as living as if they are paraplegic, others may simply have an attraction to disabled people similar to how some people are attracted to people who have a certain body type or hair color.

Moses Wright is an expert in wheelchair safety and making wheelchair ramps. Be safe not sorry and read further on our site.

Disabled Friendly Travel Resources

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

There are many disabled friendly travel resources that help disabled people plan vacations. Disabled friendly travel resource is provided information on easily accessible transportation and destinations. Some disabled friendly travel organizations provide travel companions for people with disabilities.

Most airlines offer services to help people with disabilities to use the airline. Though information is commonly available on the airline’s website about the company’s policies and procedures for helping people with disabilities, a disabled person or their family may want to talk to an airline representative before the travel is to take place to discuss the needs of the disabled person.

Some disabled friendly travel resources give information about the accessibility of specific destinations. In addition to information, some offer our special tours for people with disabilities.

One disability friendly travel resource that is destination specific is Accessible Barcelona. Through their website, a disabled person can get information on accessible hotels, the accessibility of local transportation, and the accessibility of popular tourist attractions in Barcelona.

Some disabled people may have to cope with other needs besides accessibility while on vacation. Some disabled friendly travel resources include information on the locations and availability of medical services such as dialysis.

Information about camps for children with disabilities can be found on some disabled friendly travel resource websites. Burn camps, cancer camps, visually impaired camps, and other disability specific camps are available for children with these disabilities.

People with disabilities may want to try a vacation home exchange with other people with disabilities. One unique disabled friendly travel resource, the Independent Living Institute, provides information on their website that allows people with disabilities to swap homes with other families with similar needs. This way, the person with a disability knows accessibility features of the home.

People looking for information on the accessibility of the location can use a search engine to search for disabled friendly travel resources at that location. If the destination is undecided, disabled people may want to browse search results from a search of “disabled friendly travel resources.”

Books and travel guides specifically for disabled people can provide valuable information on the accessibility of popular tourist attractions and vacation destinations. Some of these travel guides are focused on one destination while others may provide information on different countries.

Allan has a wheelchair related blog that discuss about wheelchair ramp and wheelchair vans. He realised that wheelchair users are staying at home and not live life to the fullest, all because of accessibility. So he wants more people to know that public places and public transit should be made accessible. Help him spread the word.

Disabled Friendly Travel Resources

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

Disabled friendly travel resources provide information and services to help people with disabilities plan vacations. The information provided through disability friendly travel resources can help people avoid problems with this accessibility. Licensed travel companions for people with disabilities are one service that some disabled friendly travel resources provide.

Airlines typically have information on their website about their policies and procedures are helping customers with disabilities to use their services. Discussing be needs of the disabled person directly with the airline representatives cannot prevent problems and delays in boarding and using the airline.

Information about the accessibility of specific destinations is available on some disabled friendly travel resources. Some of these resources are organizations that offer tours at that destination.

One disability friendly travel resource that is destination specific is Accessible Barcelona. Through their website, a disabled person can get information on accessible hotels, the accessibility of local transportation, and the accessibility of popular tourist attractions in Barcelona.

Some disabled people may have to cope with other needs besides accessibility while on vacation. Some disabled friendly travel resources include information on the locations and availability of medical services such as dialysis.

Some camps are as this typically designed for children with disabilities. Some disabled travel friendly resources include information on camps for children with cancer, burns, visual impairment, and many other disabilities.

One unique disabled friendly travel resource and is a vacation home exchange service for disabled people. The Independent Living Institute provides information on their website to allow disabled people to swap homes with other people who have similar needs. This can help both families save money as well as ensure that the necessary accommodations are present in their vacation destination.

People looking for information on the accessibility of the location can use a search engine to search for disabled friendly travel resources at that location. If the destination is undecided, disabled people may want to browse search results from a search of “disabled friendly travel resources.”

Books and travel guides specifically for disabled people can provide valuable information on the accessibility of popular tourist attractions and vacation destinations. Some of these travel guides are focused on one destination while others may provide information on different countries.

Allan has a wheelchair related blog that discuss about wheelchair ramps and wheelchair accessible van. He realised that wheelchair users are staying at home and not live life to the fullest, all because of accessibility. So he wants more people to know that public places and public transit should be made accessible. Help him spread the word.

The Needs Of Care Takers

Thursday, August 27th, 2009
by Allan Tan

Care takers of wheelchair users must be knowledgeable of the needs of the wheelchair user. The care takers or caregivers must also be aware of the many features of the wheelchair and how to operate it safely.

The caregiver or personal assistant of the wheelchair user helps the wheelchair user in many ways. Care takers may be responsible for helping put the wheelchair users self care such as bathing and preparing meals. The caregiver may also be trained to assist with the emotional needs of the wheelchair user.

Many times, the main care taker is a family member of the wheelchair user. The main caregiver has a lot of responsibility for the physical well-being of the wheelchair user. Caregiving can be exhausting especially since the caregiver must lift and move the wheelchair user.

The primary caregiver may go through training for instruction on caring for the wheelchair user. At a minimum, the primary caregiver should have received instructions on the proper way to maneuver the wheelchair safely as well as the routine maintenance of the wheelchair. The primary caregiver must feel comfortable with doing necessary tasks such as assisting the Wheelchair user over a sidewalk curb.

Transporting the wheelchair user is another necessary task for which the caregiver must be prepared. Helping the wheelchair user in and out of the vehicle safely is important knowledge for a caregiver. The caregiver often has the additional stress of keeping track of the wheelchair user’s appointments and making sure the wheelchair user attends the appointments on time.

Many times, the caregiver neglects to take care of their own needs. Care takers need to be aware of their own limits. They should feel free to get help from others when necessary. Otherwise, the caregiver can end up feeling burned out due to the stress associated with caregiving.

One way that the main caregiver can cope with the stress of taking care of the wheelchair user is to schedule regular times of assistance from a professional caregiver or personal care assistant. This can give the primary caregiver time to themselves on a regular basis which can be very productive for stress management and fulfilling the caregiver’s own needs.

Being isolated should be avoided. The caregiver should try to spend time away from the wheelchair user and socialize with friends and family. By being involved with other activities, the care taker and wheelchair user both benefit. If they wheelchair user and caregiver become isolated, it can cause resentment and frustration which can damage the relationship.

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Discover How To Look After Your Mobility Scooter Batteries

Friday, August 14th, 2009
by Lenny Dean

To ensure a longer life and the best possible performance for your mobility scooter batteries, you should keep on top of their maintenance and cleaning. This is not hard to achieve however, and relies very much on simply applying common sense, and ensuring you stick to a routine.

Each time you return home, take a minute or two to plug your battery into its charger – as with me, mobility scooter batteries perform far better when well fed!

If you are heading off on holiday, or not needing you scooter for an extended amount of time, (anything over 3 or 4 days really), it is best to remove your battery from charge and disconnect fully from your scooter. This ensures the battery does not overwork and limits the possibility of wear.

Where you store your mobility scooter batteries is also important. Ideally, this should be in a shed or garage. If you have to keep the scooter and batteries in your home; ensure they are kept away from damp areas or areas subject to marked temperature changes.

If your battery and/or scooter does become wet in away, ensure it is thoroughly wiped with a dry cloth immediately.

Finally, no matter how well you care for you mobility scooter batteries or the scooter itself; ensure both are fully serviced by a qualified engineer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. By simply following these tips, you should get an awful lot of life and sustained performance from your scooter.

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The Pros And Cons Of Electric Wheelchairs

Sunday, July 26th, 2009
by Moses Wright

Electric wheelchairs are wheelchairs that are powered by rechargeable batteries. They are sometimes called power wheelchairs. They are generally easier to use than manual wheelchairs since they do not require upper arm strength to propel the chair forward.

Some people choose to use manual wheelchairs due to the cost of electric wheelchairs. Others may have the medical need for electric wheelchairs if they do not have the necessary upper arm strength to use a manual wheelchair without assistance.

If the user of a manual wheelchair must navigate inclined surfaces like ramps or hills or move over curbs, the user may need assistance. Though an electric wheelchair has limitations, the use of an electric wheelchair may reduce the frequency of the need for assistance. An electric wheelchair will not help a user move over a curb on their own, but it may eliminate the need to assistance on inclined surfaces and not cause tiring after a long period of use.

There are three basic models of electric wheelchairs: rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, and mid-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive wheelchairs are the traditional models.

Front-wheel drive electric wheelchairs can make tighter turns than rear-wheel drive wheelchairs. Mid-wheel drive wheelchairs have the highest degree of maneuverability.

Using hands or arms while moving forward is not as difficult for electric wheelchair users as it is for people who use manual wheelchairs. People who use manual wheelchairs must stop moving forward in order to have free use of a hand or arm.

One disadvantage of using an electric wheelchair is its reliance on battery power. If the user forgets to charge the battery and it loses power, the user cannot use the electric wheelchair until the battery is charged.

Electric wheelchairs can be difficult to transport by vehicle since they are much heavier and larger than manual wheelchairs. Electric wheelchair manufacturers offer wheelchair accessories like ramps and motorized lifts to assist in loading an electric wheelchair into a vehicle.

Electric wheelchairs cost more than manual wheelchairs. If the person has a medical need for an electric wheelchair instead of a manual wheelchair, the persons insurance company may pay all or most of the price of the electric wheelchair.

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Travelling in a Lightweight Wheelchair

Sunday, May 10th, 2009
by Joan Normski

There is a new horizon for wheelchair bound people, gone are the days when they have limited locations they can travel and now they can explore beyond what hey have ever imagined. Now they can gain access to the home, office and even unfriendly wheelchair locations, they can navigate various terrains and perform every day tasks that 10 years ago were impossible.

But by using a lightweight wheelchair we will begin to live a normal life where the simple tasks can be completed alone without the assistance of others. And with the simple fact of the reduced weights we can begin to integrate in to the system.

Portable wheelchair ramps start at three to five feet in length and have a very compact design, they come in a roll and are unrolled when needed, and they come with two side rails that will turn the roll of ramp into a rigid ramp that can support the ramp. This type of wheelchair ramp is extremely portable but can climb up around two steps at best.

Lightweight wheelchairs have the advantage that they can still use batteries and as they are so light are ideal for patients or users that are generally weak and find it hard to move them around.

Multi fold portable wheelchair ramps allow you to reach over higher obstacles than most other ramps, typically they fold into 4 pieces but when folded are still longer than the other ramps, multi fold wheelchair ramps are very heavy duty and are heavier than other ramps and will be as long as 12 feet in length.

Manual wheelchair can be sometimes be very awkward because of the weight. Luckily, lightweight wheelchairs are already out in the market for a while. Most of this kind of wheelchair are coded as K0004 (a Medicare code) which lessens the cost as compared to a regular manual wheelchair.

Lightweight wheelchairs are cheap compared to other forms of wheelchairs so you should consider its actual function carefully. Also compare the accessories that come with the wheelchair as they can be a great help to the user.

The climbing wheelchair also has the ability to allow the user to reach higher shelves or chat to others at eye level.

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Portable Portable Wheelchairs for Showers

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
by Joan Normski

A Standing wheelchair is one that supports the user in a nearly standing position. They can be used as both a wheelchair and a standing frame, allowing the user to sit or stand in the wheelchair as they wish. They often go from sitting to standing with a hydraulic pump or electric-powered assist.

The set up of a lightweight wheelchair consists of a steel frame which will typically weigh in the region of 13 lbs and come with a nicely upholstered padded seat and arm rest. The arm rests are folding down to the seat before folding the whole chair. Other types of lightweight wheelchairs are the same are rigid version of this one.

A Lightweight folding wheelchair is actually more geared towards older users who require the ease to fold design. The wheelchair is not designed for the user to fold up, but actually from the assistant to do.

A big disadvantage of lightweight folding wheelchairs is there lack of flexibility to be costumed to the users need and size, as they need to fold they have little adjustment so not to affect the folding movement. Compared to rigid wheelchairs that don’t need to fold and hence can be adjusted to suit the person’s needs.

Depending on others for personal hygiene

The manufacturer of the standing wheelchair is a company called the Standing Company at their website you will find all the question and answers that you want to understand before you consider buying the standing wheelchair.

Maintenance of all parts of your wheelchair is important and if not used often should be kept in the house and not left in the weather. You don’t want the day you require the wheelchair you find the nuts and bolts rusty and unable to unfold.

Good thing about lightweight folding wheelchairs is they people access to the world and at the same time the ease of transportation.

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How To Get The Most Out Of Your Motorized Power

Friday, May 1st, 2009
by Debbie Normski

Modern wheelchairs, especially motorized power wheelchairs have been designed in such a manner as to provide solutions for various needs for different kinds of disabled persons. With an ongoing evolution in modern society taking place, there is also a corresponding evolution taking place in the field of wheelchairs. The modern motorized power wheelchair is a good example of such evolution and it has in fact, done a lot to improve the life of many a disabled person.

Many of these units are designed with ease of use in mind and simply require a regular charge to keep their batteries charged an ready for use. The portable power wheelchair can offer improvement to the individual’s freedom of being able to get out and about on their own.

You should only buy a motorized power wheelchair if it suits your lifestyle and is essential in the performance of daily activities. The ideal such mobility device would be one that helps people who are unable to move on their own and who need mobility without outside assistance.

Other factors that can help you decide on using a motorized power wheelchair include visual perceptions and posture as well as coordination, and you will also need to consider environmental factors as well as living conditions.

Aluminum hand rims molded with contours are the main features of the folding power wheelchair which improves its strength and durability. The tires are solid, the upholstery is normally vinyl and the carbon steel frame is chrome-plated. This makes it durable and easy for maintenance. If you can propel with your feet, the wheelchair is provided with the adjustable hemi-height.

It is easier to fold a manual wheelchair than a power one. If you cannot do without a motorized wheelchair, and you are not able to move on your own in a manual wheelchair, you cannot travel with it, because then you will lose your independent mobility totally. The best thing is to travel with a transport wheelchair because the weight is low and it is convenient to pack.

Sometimes, you may only need to use your motorized power wheelchair temporarily and in such circumstances, you may be better served by checking out a motorized wheelchair rental rather than purchasing the wheelchair outright.

The bottom line as far as using this kind of mobility device goes is that it provides users with several advantages including more sophistication as far as control and stability are concerned, and these wheelchairs are also available in various types and are easy to use.

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