I'll vote for that 👍️ :-)

It's weird that people stare. When I see someone I'd like to stare at I ignore them completely, because I don't wanna be disrespectful. But if they're hot I'll steal a glance once in a while.

She is pretty stunning.

@@unicorn1655 Same.

I agree the grouping could have been phrased differently. But I think it’s clear what people’s attitude is when they’re staring. They both noticed it, and they were specific about the difference between the looks they got in the previous trip. A stare of judgement feels different from one of acceptance. Jessica and Claudia aren’t crazy. Still, you’re within your rights, of course, to point out that you were offended that they mentioned all the judges seemed to be elder women. I’m sure there were some elder women who minded their own business.

My sentiments exactly!

My question is where on earth will she keep them all?! 😂

@@wilmaknickersfit 🤔

Boy do i know it!! She's amazing and boy do i remember the struggles my family had with my 6 ft plus stepdad having to use a hospital reject manual chair ans what a nightmare it was! He was having a heck of a time getting around our old house, going to walmart was a special occasion and i can't even imagine the headache it was for him while at work as a teacher in a medium security prison (he taught GED, for those not from the US, the test to graduate from high school if you didn't get the typical diploma from staying in a traditional high school) it was really a relief when he got a scooter and how expensive it was really held him back from getting one until the sunsetting months of his life. It meant alot to him to be able to go outside since he really valued camping, used to race bicycles and being able to travel during his more able years. The one he had was fast, none of us could run past it and felt almost like a motorbike, so a little manly like he was, burgundy red which was his favorite color, so gave him some of the feelings he might have had when he was back on his bike. I'm so glad she gets to use one now and not only improve her current quality of life but potentially extend/improve her "normal" into her future for a longer period of time. So happy for her!

BuddyBontheNet the bike is foldable so she can keep it in the trunk of the car easily if need be, Fantastic feature! Honestly not much bigger folded than an ordinary wheelchair.

I'd buy them as Christmas gifts for damn near everyone I know!

And she has to be wearing sunglasses

Hyoko As an horse owner of 10... Yes!! ❤️❤️ Thats excactly it.

It's totally true though! I just got my second a few weeks ago, and it's because a mainly outdoor one can do things an indoor one can't - like allow me to keep up with my kids while they bike

This quote... actually makes a lot of sense and isn’t bad advice for different situations that are best handled by different solutions.

@@michelleswanson6347 I thought you were talking about horses for a bit and was terribly confused why you needed an indoor horse.

Literally got off call with my therapist and then read this comment

The number of times employers have said, "you can't possibly do your job from home" cut to now.

Its probably one of the few good things to come out of this whole pandemic thing. I can get tele-consults with my specialist where before i would have to take time off work, reorganise my roster, get to and from the specialists office....a phone call is just so much less stress

Lol glad I scrolled down before I posted my own, "Medical consults? On a VIDEO CALL?!?!?!" comment. Positive change through Covid-19?

She's a fortune teller!

And then they're like: EEEEWWW WHY ARE DISABLED PEOPLE SO GROSS AND UGLY

I think they were probably just blown away to see someone who is disabled just living their best life.

@@violightghost8592 exactly. I'd rather be noted for being pretty and disabled but I have that 'you've really let yourself go' aesthetic I'm working with here...

@@toni5543 yeah, that doesn't happen often, sadly

You also forget the "You are too young to be disabled!" I got that alot before (and while I was in recovery of) my correction surgery

I was thinking the same thing. If that detracts from the style aesthetic, maybe a sticker on the back?

That's a brilliant suggestion!

I used to hang a disabled symbol on my daughter's pushchair (as I used it as both her pushchair and a walking frame for me!) so no-one would ask me to fold it on the bus or train and because of it people offered me seats frequently. The odd person here and there thought it meant my daughter was the disabled person though! Not quite sure why I'd hang a big sign on her pushchair advertising her disability if she had one though heehee

What a brilliant idea.

Ooh that's a /smart/ idea!

I'm having a similar problem lately, except I don't think I need a walker. I walk with two canes, and that's okay for me now, but my problem is I get tired often and need a rest where there are often not places to sit. I'm hoping to find some sort of light, foldable/compact, but strong chair or stool I can strap to my backpack to have a quick rest on my hard days.

@@Marialla. I know this is a year later 😂 but there are canes with built in stools. They look a bit bulky, but could serve your needs well if you've yet to find a solution

That's why I use stickers. It just really stinks though that we even have to do this though. Why can't people just not stare? It's so rude

I guess because some have met people who act really rude with these scooters and it makes you feel like they are taking advantage of it - like just driving ahead and expecting everone to jump out of the way at full speed. It could of course be because they are tired of ableist people. (Which I get - but come on) If it's your first contact to disabled people, it gives a bad impression. (I had a very bad opinion for a long time - thank god for the internet and being exposed to more information.) Public places should be more accessable for disabled people, instead of "hiding" them away. At least thats how it feels to me.

@@Yakarash some people who aren't disabled are super rude and expect people to jump out of the way for them. I don't assume everyone who isn't disabled is like that though because I know that would be wildly inaccurate to generalize a group like that. I think the main problem really is disability and chronic illness are not well understood by society as a whole. I know I didn't understand them much until I got chronically ill and disabled myself. I wish at least the general public understood it's rude to stare at someone, and that definitely includes if you're staring because someone is disabled or ill. I feel like the reason I get stared at less with the stickers is because instead of staring at me and "trying to figure out what's wrong with me", the sticker blatantly tells them I'm chronically ill. It's like I literally have to label myself to get people to not stare which is ridiculous

@@michelleswanson6347 Wether we like it or not, we tend to generalize based on what we know. Only by being aware of it and fighting it, can we overcome this. When I met my future husband, he had the same name as a student of mine who had been in a horrible accident. That alone was enough for me to not become his friend, because it brought back those memories. It wasn't fair to him and I had to actively fight against those feelings. It takes time to unlearn prejudices. In my dream society, we would educate children and make sure, they have enough contact with people from all kinds of background regularly. I guess society as it is struggles with people who don't fit the norm. Although I believe a lot of that is because so many of us hide our differences. For those who can't it is double hard. I wonder if it would be easier if we'd be honest with "hidden" disabilities and illnesses as well. I know so many people with Depression, bipolar disorder, autism, etc. If we where more willing to talk about it, would we be more open to "imperfections" in general? I love that nowadays people can have a voice online. I have learnt so much through channels on youtube and podcasts.

@@michelleswanson6347 Sorry. I didn't want to make up excuse for people staring. It is super unconformtable.

Yess

Ooh yes!

Awww, that's sweet, and so true!

Couldn't agree more! Or purple velvet and gilt.....? I need to make my 'pimp my ride' service official... I've already pimped my walking stick and my Dad's 'chair.....

@@stephaniemcintosh2808 pimping mobility aids is essential! (Unless they look like Jessica's adorable new scooter ;) ) I never properly pimped my last powerchair - only partially - but I certainly will do with my new one

The price is about the same, so not an entirely inaccurate comparison. I wanted that tricycle. I do not have an extra £1500 for it sadly, so no adorable bike rides with my fiance.

I second this!!

💯

Most definitely!

Yes plz!!

Except it's worse because you have to wait like a month in between every visit. 😫

You have to learn to speak doctor. If you can talk to them with the fancy terms they went to medical school to learn, it tends to put them off the "I know more than my patient" attitude. There are a few doctors out there that cheated their way through school, and tend to be the worst offenders for dismissive or ping pong tactics, while some are just under-educated in particular issues. This strategy plays both of these unhelpful doctor types; the cheater will be terrified since you can actually catch them in their fraud and will at least refer you to someone likely to help to ensure you won't come back (they are rare, but I've thus far met two and had one's license revoked due to malpractice); The under-educated gets played by their ego since you as a patient can know more than them but shouldn't by the general standards of how doctors tend to think (I went to school for so much money and time, it had to be worth something others can't just learn from a textbook right?). The family doctor I had in high school when my immune disorder kicked in was the under-educated type, he was a decent GP but clueless with immune issues. Well I figured it out, he tested for it, tests proved it, and he treated me better as a patient. He actually thanked me a couple years ago for teaching him to be a better doctor, he laughed that I was favorite difficult patient because I kept him humble as a doctor. Shame he told me he retired that same day and I'm now fruitlessly three years into trying to train his replacement, who is a stubborn egotist I get to replace when I move in 4-5 months.

especially when you know bringing mom and dad together to communicate the problem would solve it all

Gotta love all the additional copays for each visit between doctors for the same problem :’)

Yeup! I thought I had carpal tunnel and have been ping pinging between general practitioner and physical therapist. Apparently I dont have carpal tunnel I just have forever pain with no explanation or compassion from people to continue trying to figure out why I am in a constant state of pain (:

Glad she didn't Fellini bush! 😋

Andrés Fincher it took me a while to realize some people just don’t look down at all. We’re the height of a child in a chair, so how many children do these people step on?! But truly elevators are the worst. They have no idea of personal space and the shall I say bits and bobs well and bums that end up in my face is appalling! People please be aware of people in wheelchairs on the elevator, and for goodness sake stop racing the disabled to the elevator or the checkout line.

@@melissamelech9536 they were very nice! Brought it right to me at the beginning of the exhibit and helped me beg from the second floor back down to the first through the employee only area. It was a great experience and honestly would do it again.

We need a right priority rule for wheelchair drivers in the law, so nobody can ever step in front of you without expecting it, and you can sue those people, muahaha!

When out and about, my SO is in a powerchair. That's a 300lb piece of gear that does NOT stop on a dime. They've clipped many a foot that's stepped out right in front of them. And yeah - I'm thinking of getting some kind of bike flag for them so that there's something there to draw the eye and get people to recognize that there isn't an open space there. Having said that - I suspect some of the feet clipped belonged to jerks who absolutely saw my SO and stepped closer to them than they ever would someone on their own two feet.

Ooh might i ask what museum or what state you were in if you’re comfortable? I was at a Monet exhibit in Washington around the time this was posted!

Same. Mostly for the same reasons as Jessica. I used to stick training wheels on my bike but it the last bike I did this with has probably long since rusted away in the shed. Also I’m pretty sure it’s a children’s bike (i still might need a children’s bike as I’m only 4’8”). Also also I don’t remember where my old helmet is and there’s no way I’d ride a bike without one

Same I thought I was the only one, because if where I live a bike wasn't practical and whenever I say I can't ride a bike people make fun of me

Tamara Epps that's insane. Plenty of people who need a scooter to get down to the shops or around the park or whatever can manage around the house - a few steps from one room to the next is not like getting down the street.

@@tealkerberus748 Exactly my feelings. Luckily I knew someone who could loan me the money for a scooter and it has really changed my life, but I put it off far longer than I should have because of this.

So the basic assumption is that you need to be stuck inside a house (if you don't feel comfortable /can't use the wheelchair outdoors) for half a year to get some help in moving around outdoors....Great system 😑😑😑

That's such a stupid and depressing answer to get. Obviously we all need to be able to leave the house.

@@MrsScorpionette the basic problem is that UK social services are massively underfunded and oversubscribed. They are free to use, which is great and so much better than many countries, but you have to be at the most needy end of the spectrum before you qualify for any help at all, even then you usually need to push hard and shout loudly before you get it (voice of experience here). And, as the OT in the video says, they'll only really help with the most basic things, like washing, dressing, moving around your house and making a sandwich. Going outside apparently doesn't qualify as a basic necessity. When I needed a wheelchair (fortunately for quite a short time) we borrowed one from our local Red Cross, which lends them out in return for whatever donation you can afford, which was great because we were also broke. It was an absolute lifesaver for us.

I was thinking the same

Christopher Metcalf 🤣😅

I'm stuck on the horns of that same dilemma. I now have a second-hand Pride Go-Go scooter but it is hell to use inside because of the trouble getting onto and off elevators; same trouble outside using the bus or taking it apart to put it in a car. (sigh). Power chairs have the unlikeable "joy stick", are heavy and awkward to transport, and are too expensive for me to have both. There OUGHT to be something that considers these problems and combines the two aids!!!! Also. who has room to store 3 mobility aids?

Nona Hammon I’m in the same boat as you. I have a jazzy electric chair but the bloody ramp to get it into my car alone weights 45lbs not to mention the weight of the wheelchair. I can’t go anywhere alone with it. I want something I can travel easily with alone. That doesn’t cost me my precious violin (that’s what I had to trade for the ramp because insurance doesn’t believe you ever need to leave your home). We need better and more stylish options because they’re bulky and ugly now.

René Price I’ve had back problems since I was sixteen, all the doctors say is to lose weight. There’s no effort into finding out if there’s a real problem or not...

René Price that’s awful, I am so sorry to hear that. I’ve worked with people with fibromyalgia. In my country depending on how disabiling it is people get either physiotherapy or more (psychologist, art therapist, doctors, nurses etc). We also are very wary of (daily) pain medication with chronic pain, because when used frequently it can unfortunately no longer help or sometimes even worsen the pain. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have access to help and proper guidance in using tools and/or medication. Fibromyalgia does not mean you are ‘crazy’. It’s psychosomatic physical illness, which is not the same as a mental illness. The pain, fatigue and bowel issues are very real and disabiling. Anyways, I am sorry if I went off-topic, but I just wanted to say fibromyalgia is real and you are not faking it, René.

I'm really sorry, I don't have fibromyalgia but because of my mental health I can get anxious to the point of excruciating pain such as the time I had to be out of school for six weeks and I'm always nervous that people will think I'm being over dramatic because it's technically "not real"

I'm sorry, so sorry that you're going through this. I have nothing useful to offer, only sympathy from a random internet stranger.

Tim Starkey your issue is 100% real and valid. I don’t know if you need to hear that right now but your pain is real and also valid.

Actually it makes a lot of sense to need more than one mobility aid to get everywhere you want to go. People who are able to walk usually need more than one pair of shoes, like sturdy hiking boots for off road terrain or light and cozy slippers for indoors. It would be nice if there was a "one fits all terrains and situations mobility aid".

Also, please do a year end review of all the mobility aids and which one ended up being the most used for various reasons.

+

Wish they'd existed when I was a kid, 40 years ago. 😢

so fantastic they are helping - it's hard enough trying to get mobility aids as an adult - that parents have to struggle to find aids for their children is horrendous - that the NHS/government don't even provide basic cover for all this is inhumane. Many many people I've spoken to think the NHS bought me my powerchair. Oh no sir. Some also think I am 'given a car for free'. Nope. Have to cash in all of my mobility allowance plus pay for petrol ourselves. I think the government do very well convincing the general public that they provide properly for disabled people when charities are the ones who really support us and our families. I hope his chair is fantastic and wonderful and gives him great support in his life. Sorry for the essay x best wishes x

@@ixykix Thanks, we have a mobility car as well and the comments you get from some people is ridiculous xx

​@@ixykix If only it was just NHS, it is a common tactic of public health agencies. In Canada we do have a lot of stuff that gets covered, if you meet ridiculously specific criteria according to office workers with no medical expertise. My immune disorder causes horrifying muscle pain that made walking feel like I was doing it with a set of kitchen knives jammed in my thighs and thus actual torture. I have never been approved in 20 years for mobility aids despite having the immune disorder that causes severe mobility issues during flare ups (even as immune suppressed as I am now) and I had multiple instances of paralysis on par with spinal injuries during my kidney failure (No spinal injury, but potassium poisoning can mimic the symptoms as a not so fun fact). The agencies here move money around when they announce they fix an issue, there was a big stink at the beginning of the year about not being able to afford rent, so they cut our funding for new glasses from 1 pair/2 years to 1 pair/3 years so they could give us all a raise.. that still doesn't let us afford rent, and makes me have to pay for an extra pair of glasses that costs more than the raise over three years combined. The public and even a lot of our community falls for it because they go out of their way to make sure we have as hard a time as possible finding out what programs we might qualify for.

Oh awsome! So happy for you and your kiddo that you get help on this way :)

I think that is backwards. You use a high gear in a car when you are already at cruising speed. You have already expended The energy in low gear.

thanks for this explanation, I think I finallyunderstand gears now

I think that explains it pretty well. On a bike low gear is for going up hills while higher gears are for going downhill or on flat ground. Low is slow. High when you can let fly.

@Diejt Childs The Lazy Gamer it's the same logic in cars. I guess the easiest way to explain gears is that when you go slow -> low gear, when you go fast -> high gear.

Chronic Reader you might be able to divide up the cost or ask for stipends ( did both actually)

I was rectly diagnosed with Ehlers-D and finding it difficult to walk long distances especially when it migrates from public transport to pavement and into shops. I don't mobility scooter seems to stigmatising to be used as I find u might cause too many eyes looking at me also there very awkward to get into public trasport or around shops.

Checkout advertisement or (this may seem morbid) look at estate sales. I found my chair for free in an advertisement from someone who upgraded. The battery was dead in the old one therefore they did not think it was right to sell it. That means with a tank of fuel plus the new battery it was under $100 (had to take my driver, my dad, to lunch too). Then I had a great scooter. Good luck!

Run them down! 😈 Just keep that between us, eh? 😜

I just became a wheeled walker. I live it and so far have only had a little abuse, but it's worth it to have some independence back.

Sera - Marie Please don't be bothered with other people and their nonsense. Smile and wave, my friend, smile and wave.

Thats what i'm planning to get.

Hope you get some relief, and comfort. Keep trying to get one.

This needs to happen!