Hello all, hope you are well. We are okay. I’m sitting here reading for a bit before the day gets started. I thought I’d bring up a few of the mods I use on my wheelchair. I do not provide links to the items, because so many of them I have had for years and years, and I’m not into the blogiverse to sell you all the crap available in the world.
My chair is a drive medical 22 inch. I moded the wheels right away. I swapped them out from the ‘nursing home’ wheels for ones that work both inside and outside. Then I put some artwork on the back. This was to make certain that my chair is completely unique.
Next was the add ons. I have clamps that make it so that if I am stuck in the sun, I can add an umbrella for shade. Then I added a cup or ashtray holder. Two of these mods are available for bikes, and just make sense. The umbrella thing is from camp chairs.
I added a gel cushion, and have a diaper bag that works to hold onto the push bars in back. I chose a diaper bag because it is sturdier, and where diaper bags are designed to hang from strollers, work on the push bars.
Mods I rejected: I did not add those little arm rest bags. My hips are big, and those stupid things just don’t fit. I got rid of the foot rests. I use my legs just as much as my arms to get around. I don’t have a tray table. They are designed for wheelchairs with full arm rests.
I rarely use the umbrella mod. I’m rarely outside where I don’t have a tent or tarp overhead for more than a few minutes.
Okay, now let’s talk about my wheelchair EDC.
- Water bottles, filled at home. I have several stainless steel water bottles, and the little sachets to flavor them.
- Incontinence padding and necessities.
- Snacks, I am diabetic, and a low blood sugar is dangerous.
- My tablets and stylus, with a couple of power banks, and cordage.
- Tiny projects for knit or crochet or cross stitch. (Ever been stuck waiting in a Dr’s office for more than 20 minutes?)
- Leggings and a tunic. (Rolled up in a 1 Q ziplock bag.)
- Cross body purse, with cell phone, keys and mini wallet.
This is not a complete list, but it is close. I load the diaper bag in the van first, along with my purse. I then open the back door of the vehicle, and sit on the floor of the van with my legs over the edge. I adjust the chair for loading. I remove any accessories that would prevent loading.
I then go to the driver’s seat with my cane that I keep in the vehicle. I tip the chair at an angle, front wheels on the floor of the vehicle, and use it as a lever to roll the chair into the vehicle.
Finally, I adjust the chair, strapping it if necessary, and proceed to get in and buckle in myself.
Note: I removed the seats from our vehicle, and got rid of them years ago. I have a Chrysler Town N Country. The back doors are sliders, and thus make it really easy to enter and leave the car this way.
Why do I call it a car? Sheet, it’s basically a car height vehicle I can easily enter and leave.
That’s about it for now. Take care my friends. -L
AnonymousKnitter 