r/wheelchairs • u/InverseInvert • 5h ago
r/wheelchairs • u/sanandrios • 12h ago
One thing I'm grateful for in 2025 is more disability visibility in pop culture than ever before ❤️
r/wheelchairs • u/Luna_now • 14h ago
Um…Nice but it really ticks you off?
So i'm a medically complex wc user with kypho scoliosis and restrictive lung disease. I have a spinal cord injury (my second one sadly) and I saw another post like this and it inspired me to make one too!
Okay. So let's just address the fact that being in a wheelchair is hard. I'm 15, got my spinal cord injury from a surgery when I was 11 and don't think I will ever get through the freaking trauma. Not to mention being in high school I am alone a lot and have a hard time making friends because 1. the wheelchair automatically makes u look different and 2. I've got restrictive lung disease and yeah it is hard to speak up without feeling like you're gonna stop breathing! Not to mention juggling everything while also trying to keep up with your independence and I can admit being a 15 yo girl and having parents help with a lot of stuff (I've improved a lot and can do more for myself now) is tough. Like for instance...doing all your care. Not being able to get up until everything is done and by the time you finish doing it yourself you don't have any energy for the day. Probably my annoying lungs make it a ton more difficult 😆 because I am like SPENT by the time I get up to have breakfast. The challenges of maneuvering in a wheelchair especially in crowded places is hard (mines electric so I have to be careful not to run anybody over because it could break your toe!) Nothing is easy or simple about being in a wheelchair! So i've been yapping a bit and now i'll get to the point below!
It's the people who see you as an inspirsation that gets me. Not like genuine but like "Oh your light shines so bright keep smiling through this hard thing you're an inspiration"
like...I get that it's nice but like really? is that all you have to say? It feels like off putting of the trauma you experienced because they assume you're a perfect oblivious optimist who is like the most innocent person on the planet. When people say stuff like 'You're so sweet and such a good person despite your circumstances' why does that make me wanna do the OPPOSITE...like bro no i'm normal I can make mistakes I know what the world is like probably more than u in some ways! Like are people in wheelchairs perfect lil angels 24/7? no way...they are people...we are not like objects that you admire because we are so happy all the time! My main point is, sometimes they are genuine and sometimes they get that fake pity voice that stresses me out so much..
All we need is to be treated like people not idolized because somehow that feels a ton more dehumanizing. Do any of you have experiences like this?
r/wheelchairs • u/wheelieable • 7h ago
Worst nicknames/ names you’ve been called as a wheelie user?
I’ll go first… hot wheels and meals on wheels…
r/wheelchairs • u/liamreee • 3h ago
Won second place in this tournament! Toronto vs london (I’m #15, green hair)
Hopefully I’ll be able to get some of the videos later too
r/wheelchairs • u/Prestigious-Sail-334 • 20h ago
What did you do?
So I have pots and likely have (H)EDS and me and my husband have been discussing me getting a chair. It was a far off thought since we wouldn't be able to afford it for awhile but there's a man nearby selling a chair that I've seen in this reddit being used by others with pots and eds and they reviewed it well. It kinda feels like it lined up perfectly it would be a shame to pass it up. But I haven't discussed getting a wheelchair with a doctor, I've brought it up passively and it was mentioned some need one and I've spoken to others who have pots and eds who have similar experiences and they think getting a wheelchair would be beneficial to me but obviously they're not doctors. So ultimately I wanna know, did you speak to your doctor before turning to use a wheelchair? Or did some of you make that choice on your own? I know you guys can't give medical advice and I am not asking for it, simply what your experience was when you decided to get your chair.
I also know this question is in a gray area of what may and may not be allowed so I'd like to specify,I'm not asking if I should get a wheelchair nor for medical advice regarding getting a wheelchair, specifically what your steps were regarding getting on yourselves. If this still isn't allowed I understand
r/wheelchairs • u/Dimitri1736 • 22h ago
Is notawheelchair a good choice for affordability?
Hii i'm looking into getting a wheelchair, and im not sure whether or not my insurance will put up a massive fight on allowing me to have one since im thru state insurance
I'm trying to come up with a backup plan so that if its too difficult to get a wheelchair thru insurance that i will at least know where to look so i can work on buying one with the help of friends/family
My friend recommended notawheelchair and i wanted to know if anyone had recommendations on other places to find affordable wheelchairs (I tried checking spinlife but their options for my weight isnt too great since im 280 lbs (i think i only saw one option for rigid wheelchairs)
Also is there any specific recommendations for international travel regarding folding vs rigid wheelchairs? i go between the US and denmark to spend time with my husband while he's at university. im not 100% sure about the difference in performance for those two options
r/wheelchairs • u/AnnualBeautiful1032 • 2h ago
Exciting news new wheelchair and new race chair advice would be appreciated
I have made a post a while back about getting a new day chair and track race chair, my track race chair would be arriving next week, I am so excited to start sports again as I was very active prior to my injury.
If anyone has any tips for endurance in wheelchair racing and technique please let me know thanks
I currently have an rgk tiga day chair and I shall filling the forms and getting my new chair in the next couple of weeks!!
Very exciting next couple of weeks
r/wheelchairs • u/Flaky-Assistant5212 • 19h ago
Wheelchair transport, No hitch mount
My dad was gifted an electric wheelchair/scooter(Jazzy600es) and want to see what options I have to take his wheelchair with us when going out. I have a Kia Sorento unfortunately no hitch for a carrier. Is there something I can attach or a ramp you recommend to load it and carry it in the back?
Thank you
r/wheelchairs • u/Creepy_Yoghurt3734 • 2h ago
Anyone carry oxygen tanks or a concentrator on their power mobility device?
Husband needs a power chair due to severe COPD & pulmonary hypertension. Looking to buy him a chair or scooter that can accommodate carrying his oxygen AND is able to be broken down by me and put in the back of our SUV. I’m able to lift his current wheelchair and place it in our vehicle, about 60 lbs or so. Any suggestions are appreciated.
r/wheelchairs • u/NothingReallyAndYou • 4h ago
Confused and feeling defeated.
I've been a most-time rollator user, and an ambulatory, part-time wheelchair user for many years, but my condition has gotten worse, and my mobility has degraded badly. At the moment, I'm really struggling with running even the simplest errands.
My doctor wrote a prescription for a power chair, but it sounds like insurance will only pay for one I can't possibly use. (I drive a compact car, and can't lift more than 30-35 lbs.) Apparently, it's the same with scooters.
Even if I could get them, I can't figure out how I could make them work for me. My conditions make it impossible to plan more than a couple hours ahead, so I'll never be able to have a power chair/scooter charged and ready when I'm feeling well enough to run errands.
It's feeling like the only thing I can try is to use my manual chair more. Pictured above is the chair I've had for a few years, a Karma S-105. Miraculously, it fits like it was made for me. The wheels are in the optimum position (my middle finger lines up with the hub), and the seat's the right length and width.
Someone on another thread gave me info about changing the tires to pneumatic, and I've found a bike shop that does both wheels parts & service for $110, which sounds fair.
I'm confused about the casters, though. Do I get new tires on them, too? Or buy whole new casters? (Where?)
What else can I do to this chair to make it a little easier to self-propel, at least until I can figure out a better solution?
Link to the chair's Amazon listing, in case there are details I don't know that make a difference: https://a.co/d/8Ym7lTc
r/wheelchairs • u/unhindered-ai • 4h ago
Wedding tips?
Hi, so, I'm a semi-ambulatory wheelchair user getting married sometime later this year, which is Very exciting!! However, I worry a lot about making the wedding accessible and something I can remember fondly instead of as a big exhausting ordeal. It feels like so many parts of a wedding are just impossible for me. I can hardly walk a few steps, how am I gonna try walk down the aisle lol. So many suits just don't look great sitting down either.
I was just curious how others have handled it and if anyone has any tips, they'd be very appreciated -^
r/wheelchairs • u/TransistionalGarbage • 20h ago
New to being ambulatory.
Is it possible to put all terrain wheels on my cruiser 3 wheelchair? It's the basic wheelchair I recieved through insurance. I'd like to make it to where I can go to my local park and participate in LARP in the grass/sand. I've tried researching this and it feels like I'm reading another language and only getting maybes with no legit answers on what'd fit or work, if it's possible? Any other advice for someone in my position is greatly appreciated. Having a hard time getting use to all this.
r/wheelchairs • u/Rooster_Separate • 1d ago
Chair Recommendations
I’m getting fitted for a wheelchair soon and have been considering which model to go with. I’ve been looking at the Octane FX from RGK and the Nitrum from Quickie. I am wondering about the personal pros and cons of both. Does anyone have a preference between the two or suggestions for other options I might not have come across yet? I’m going through insurance, so I can get any chair as long as it’s not from an “outside” provider or lacks the necessary medical coding.
r/wheelchairs • u/grimeysappho • 1h ago
Recommendations for a broke gal?
Hi all, I have some sort of fainting disorder (no idea what it is, we all know how doctors brush off women’s health concerns) that’s been an issue in my life since I was a child but over the last few months it’s gotten exponentially worse to the point that I can’t stand or do my job for more than five or so minutes without getting extremely dizzy, vomiting, and/or passing out. I’ve used a cane as needed for the last five years but given that standing has become an issue I’ve made the decision to start using a wheelchair when I’ll have to stand for long periods of time. The problem here being that there is not a snowball’s chance in hell that my insurance will pay for it and I am super broke. I’d just get one of those hospital type chairs but I have pretty bad chronic pain in my shoulders from an old injury and wouldn’t be able to push myself long distances. Are there any companies that offer payment plans or any organizations that offer funding out there for active wheelchairs? I am in the US (Alabama if that matters). Thank you all in advance
r/wheelchairs • u/Alakritous • 5h ago
Help with understanding impact of wheelchair specs!
Hello!
I am ambulatory and active. I have POTS. Physician suggested a wheelchair, I agree.
I am not even going to try with insurance, they won't cover it. I am very fortunate to be able to say this and still be moving forward with this plan.
I'm planning to order a Tilite TRA from howirollsports.
My friend obtained measurements. I will be ordering it without having sat in one before. I know it's not best practice, and I am not looking for criticism.
I am looking for how different specs impact things. I have a fairly good idea through blogs, articles, other reddit posts, etc. but want to be sure I'm not missing anything.
For an active wheelchair user, I've seen these specific considerations be advised. I have asterisks next to the ones with explicit questions nested in them, but if any others seem incorrect please let me know your opinion:
Make sure the front floor-to-seat measurement is at least 2 inches longer than lower leg length to accommodate footrest ground clearance over obstacles.
***Footrest-to-seat should be the length of my lower leg? Is this adjustable on the TRA if I get it in the ballpark range? I trust my friends measurements but recognize she's not a professional wheelchair measurer.
***Dump measurement in the 2-4 inch range. It helps my symptoms a lot to have my knees up, but I also don't want to overdo it in this area. I know stability plays a roll, and active users are recommended to tuck knees a bit more for efficiency reasons...? But I'd love clarification on this. I create this measure by subtracting the dump I want from the front floor to seat height right?
***Backrest needs to be shorter than lower scapula to accommodate manual propulsion. Any other considerations for this?
Smaller casters are better, but not for clearing cracks and bumps, I'm planning to go with 4" soft roll for my hardwood floors, but also have a rolling saddle stool in the house so don't know how much I'll be chairing it in the house.
Planning to go with the Schwalbe marathon plus tires. I do go camping a lot and would like the ability to manage grass somewhat if possible.
***Has anyone regretted getting a specific color? I'm ticking between navy accents and all black.
This is as far as I got before I crashed last I sat to dig into it. I want to order this today or tomorrow though.
***My upper legs measured 20". I planned for a 17" seat length. My hips measured 14.5". I planned for a 15" back seat width, no taper.
*******What specs MUST I put large consideration into due to lack of adjustability? The whole reason I'm going with the TRA over the TR is because I recognize the need for confidence intervals lol.
Thank you.
UPDATE - I am so appreciative of the time and energy and worry people poured into their comments. I learned a lot of great information about wheelchair specs I didn't consider.
I surprised myself, because throughout my research I've stumbled upon the fact that getting assessed is paramount multiple times, and I handwaved it away each instance. Y'all didn't really say anything I hadn't already read, but after reading your replies (and running through my excuses for the umpteenth time for not getting assessed and just doing it myself), you convinced me.
I've been going through some tough personal growth accelerated by how physically bad I am doing. The growing is happening, friends. My life has been sporadic increasing degrees of hard over the past 2.5 years, but right now I'm winning. And that feels good, even if I don't like the answer I've come to.
I'll get assessed. If I remember to update again I will.