How's your social life as a quadplegic? What are some of the challenges you face logistically in having one?
Again PWD's ONLY and lots of answers please. Mine is about a two...I don't drive. I have a heavy duty electric wheelchair because I can't operate a manual one with one hand. Manual wheelchairs are easy to manipulate and store in the backs of cars, but as I said manual wheelchairs aren't a solution as I only have use of one hand. Question(s) would you allow one of your non-disabled friends to push you if it meant you could have a more open social life at the expense of your independence? I want to hear your opinions. Also, do the manufacturers of electric wheelchairs take into account that the kids (and adults) who have serious congential (or acquired) physical disabilities (quadraplegia and the like) desire to have active social lives in the least restrictive way possible with their "normal" (TAB) friends? My answer is a big fat f***ing No! as it stands I'd conjecture every transit system only goes as far it "home" city or county. How are your dealings with transit systems (if you
crap it put it in "business and finance" is their a Person's with Disabilities category or not?
use the transit system? What are some of the best cities/airlines/disabled travel airlines to use?
I think Chicago would be pretty accessible? What about other cities? I need some literature and other stuff on disability and travel and disabilities and the accessibility of different places? Online papers or books doesn't matters keep in mind I can't buy online because I don't have a credit/debit card and my parents are afraid of security risks...whatever I just need information on social/living options for people with disabilities. Thanks.
August 1st, 2010 - 06:54
Unfortunately transit systems in our country do a pretty sub par job of enabling our citizens with disabilities to get around as easily as able bodied citizens do. They tend to only exist in major cities and therefore don’t service some of the outlying suburbs and definitely don’t service rural areas. I have traveled with chair users to some major hubs: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio, Orlando, Miami, etc. Those places were very accessible. The only city I have been to that was a little hard to navigate in a chair was New Orleans, but it may be better now. You also have the option of renting a wheelchair accessible van when you travel. A wheelchair accessible van rental enables you to go anywhere you want, regardless of what the transit system is like.
I would reach out to other people with disabilities in your local area and see what they suggest for where you are from. Try Disaboom, it is is kind of like a MySpace for people with disabilities. http://www.disaboom.com
August 1st, 2010 - 06:54
Hi John,
As they say "been there, done that" going in circles in a manual chair. I too am in a Power Chair and have been for 9 years.
Here is a little history on me.
I would like to introduce and tell you a little about myself. My name is "Curtis Bridges" but I like and have always been called "Curt". I’m 51 years old. I have been happily married for 32 years. I am very proud to be the "father" of an architect and a contractor. I must brag about a 7-year-old "grandson" and a 4- year-old "granddaughter", that keeps me "on my toes".
On March 17, 1999, while working as a superintendent for a large underground utility contractor out of Denver CO (Texas Division) I suffered a "Giant Basilar Aneurysm" requiring emergency surgery and leaving me paralyzed. Coming out of surgery and after a month in "ICU" the only movement I had was the ability to blink my left eye.
Originally being from Jefferson City, MO and having two sons and many relatives there, I was flown back to MO, by an air ambulance for eight months of extensive "inpatient therapy" and one year of "outpatient therapy" where I regained partial use of my left hand and learned to talk again (though not very well). So here I sit, today confined to a wheelchair. I was fortunate to be left without any "memory loss".
My voice is very soft and hard to understand therefore I speak through an electronic speech enhancer connected to speakers on my wheelchair. This makes phone conversation very difficult, I rely mainly on email.
Hang in there,
Wheels