[Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello

Thu Jul 26 18:04:22 CDT 2007

I knew through trial and error.  The first one I had didn't work for me at all!  It was too big, the seat was almost flat so I kept falling forward because I have no trunk control, and every part of it was just wrong.  I had worked with 5 "seating speacialists" when I had this chair.  I got measured by one and the other 4 tried to make things work for me but they never did.

  The next chair I got was measured by myself and my boyfriend and it fits me perfectly.  I took 2 inches off of the seat width, had more "dump" in the seat so I could sit up without always having to lean on one arm, and changed every single measurement right down to the wheels.  I also got more camber on my wheels because I knew I would be more stable on slanted sidewalks and wouldn't get my fingers caught like I use to.

  I guess it all comes down to finding out what works or don't work for you by trying things and making adjustments.  My first chair was a Quickie GT so everything on it was adjustable.  I kept tweaking it until I knew what I needed.  It still didn't work for me, but I knew from the things that didn't work what would work.

  My new chair is a Invacare Top End Titanium and it has no adjustments at all besides the rear axle.  I love it because nothing comes loose and it takes a lot of weight off of the chair.  There are less things to worry about breaking and it only weighs 18lbs including cushion, wheels, backrest etc.  

  Try some differnt things out and don't let a "seating speacialist" force you into something without having a chance to test it out and see if it works for yourself.  If I had listened to everyone I would have been in a power chair in a nursing home with my guide dog taken away, but instead I'm living on my own half of the time (my boyfriend travels a lot for work), I still have my guide dog and I use a manual chair, and own my own buisness.  I've also started wheelchair racing.  All because I made it perfectly clear from the beginning that it's my life and I wasn't about to give in to whatever I was told before trying things out.

  Kim & Sophie

dmgina <dmgina at qwest.net> wrote:
  How did you know what to add to your chair to work for you?
Or did you get professional help?

--Dar
www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
Every Saint has a past
Every Sinner has a future

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kim & Sophie" 
To: "Blind wheelchair users list" 
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 11:55 AM
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello

>I had this problem with my old wheelchair because I only had 3 degrees of 
>camber on my wheels. I would get my hand caught between doorways a lot and 
>because I have no feeling in my hands I wouldn't realize until I couldn't 
>move forward, or I couldn't pull my arm away from my wheel. When I got my 
>new wheelchair I got 9 degrees of camber on my wheels and this gives me 
>enough room so my hands don't touch door frames etc. because the bottom of 
>my wheels can only touch the door frame leaving room between the top of the 
>wheel for my hand.
>
> If you decide to add more camber to your chair you really should consider 
> the width yoru chair will be at the base though. You don't want to do it 
> and be too wide to fit through some doorways! It also adds a lot of 
> stability from side to side to your chair.
>
> Kim & Sophie
>
> Laura Eaves wrote:
> Hi Jen --
> I crash into things with the manual chair too, but I have control enough 
> to
> stop. Perhaps with practice, the same would be true with a power chair.
> One annoying thing about using the manual chair is that I frequently -- 
> that
> is, *very* frequently -- get my hand caught between the chair and the
> furniture and so my hands and fingers are constantly bruised and swollen
> from little injuries, not to mention painful as heck.
> Does anyone else have this problem?
> I am fortunate in that I have full use of my arms -- I suppose there are
> some on the list that are more limited. I am also able to stand and pivot,
> but not walk.
> As for how I stear, I just push with one arm and feel with my feet and the
> other arm. I only carry the cane strapped to my chair for identification 
> so
> people know I'm blind. If I used a power chair I suppose I could use the
> cane for mobility more easily.
> Comments welcome.
> --le
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jennifer Aberdeen"
> To: "Blind wheelchair users list"
> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 10:12 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>
>
> Hi Laura,
>
> I know your question was to Dan, and I don't want to high-jack the email 
> in
> any way, but I just wanted to ask you how you got around in your manual
> chair? I have a manual chair right now, and I have a really hard time
> getting around unfamiliar places, which is just about everywhere except my
> house. I have a one-armed gear manual chair, but I don't use it the way 
> I'm
> supposed to because I almost broke my wrist trying to steer the chair when 
> I
> was learning how to use it. I'm hoping that my mobility will be easier 
> with
> the power chair, but if for some reason I can't drive it without crashing
> into things, I don't know what I'll do. I really need to be able to get
> around without people helping me.
>
> Jen
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Laura Eaves"
> To: "Blind wheelchair users list"
> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 2:42 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>
>
>> Hi Dan -- Welcome to the list!
>> I am blind and use a manual chair.
>> I tried a power chair at one point just to see how well it would work, 
>> but
>> I
>> pretty much demolished the furniture and took some paint off the wall. I
>> suppose for a one-day trial with no experience that was to be expected,
>> but
>> I decided that for various reasons I preferred the manual -- not the 
>> least
>> of which is that I don't need a van to travel, and if I need a ride
>> somewhere, my friend can throw my light weight folding chair in the trunk
>> of
>> any car quite easily.
>> I have a question -- are you total or do you have some vision? and if so,
>> how much?
>> When I was working, when my vision was better, I could see enough to 
>> stear
>> in familiar territory. But now my vision is not good enough to navigate
>> much at all. I do most all navigation by touch, or checking out the light
>> fixtures in the room (I have light vision) to know where I am.
>> Take care.
>> --le
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Dan"
>> To:
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 12:26 AM
>> Subject: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>>
>>
>> Hello,
>> I am a totally blind person who has been successfully using an
>> electric wheelchair for over a year.
>> I have a Jazzy-610 with a PG VSI 50 Amp controller mounted on the
>> left arm rest. This is a Center-wheel drive with Active Track
>> Suspension and I absolutely love the Six-Wheels on the ground at all
>> times. It really does give me tremendous stability.
>>
>> I didn't need Rehab Seating. However I do have a High-Backed seat
>> with a Headrest and it also Reclines.
>> While I can still walk some, I feel much safer in the wheelchair.
>> For guidance I use an extremely lightweight carbon fiber folding
>> cane with a roller tip and it works great.
>> Dan
>> _______________________________________________
>> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blind-rollers mailing list
> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blind-rollers mailing list
> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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> boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> _______________________________________________
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> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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1:16 AM

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-------------- next part --------------
I knew through trial and error.  The first one I had didn't work for me at all!  It was too big, the seat was almost flat so I kept falling forward because I have no trunk control, and every part of it was just wrong.  I had worked with 5 "seating speacialists" when I had this chair.  I got measured by one and the other 4 tried to make things work for me but they never did.

The next chair I got was measured by myself and my boyfriend and it fits me perfectly.  I took 2 inches off of the seat width, had more "dump" in the seat so I could sit up without always having to lean on one arm, and changed every single measurement right down to the wheels.  I also got more camber on my wheels because I knew I would be more stable on slanted sidewalks and wouldn't get my fingers caught like I use to.

I guess it all comes down to finding out what works or don't work for you by trying things and making adjustments.  My first chair was a Quickie GT so everything on it was adjustable.  I kept tweaking it until I knew what I needed.  It still didn't work for me, but I knew from the things that didn't work what would work.

My new chair is a Invacare Top End Titanium and it has no adjustments at all besides the rear axle.  I love it because nothing comes loose and it takes a lot of weight off of the chair.  There are less things to worry about breaking and it only weighs 18lbs including cushion, wheels, backrest etc. 

Try some differnt things out and don't let a "seating speacialist" force you into something without having a chance to test it out and see if it works for yourself.  If I had listened to everyone I would have been in a power chair in a nursing home with my guide dog taken away, but instead I'm living on my own half of the time (my boyfriend travels a lot for work), I still have my guide dog and I use a manual chair, and own my own buisness.  I've also started wheelchair racing.  All because I made it perfectly clear from the beginning that it's my life and I wasn't about to give in to whatever I was told before trying things out.

Kim & Sophie
dmgina <dmgina at qwest.net>
wrote:
How did you know what to add to your chair to work for you?
Or did you get professional help?
--Dar
www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/5779
Every Saint has a past
Every Sinner has a future
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim & Sophie"
To: "Blind wheelchair users list"
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007 11:55 AM
Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>I had this problem with my old wheelchair because I only had 3 degrees of
>camber on my wheels. I would get my hand caught between doorways a lot and
>because I have no feeling in my hands I wouldn't realize until I couldn't
>move forward, or I couldn't pull my arm away from my wheel. When I got my
>new wheelchair I got 9 degrees of camber on my wheels and this gives me
>enough room so my hands don't touch door frames etc. because the bottom of
>my wheels can only touch the door frame leaving room between the top of the
>wheel for my hand.
>
> If you decide to add more camber to your chair you really should consider
> the width yoru chair will be at the base though. You don't want to do it
> and be too wide to fit through some doorways! It also adds a lot of
> stability from side to side to your chair.
>
> Kim & Sophie
>
> Laura Eaves
wrote:
> Hi Jen --
> I crash into things with the manual chair too, but I have control enough
> to
> stop. Perhaps with practice, the same would be true with a power chair.
> One annoying thing about using the manual chair is that I frequently --
> that
> is, *very* frequently -- get my hand caught between the chair and the
> furniture and so my hands and fingers are constantly bruised and swollen
> from little injuries, not to mention painful as heck.
> Does anyone else have this problem?
> I am fortunate in that I have full use of my arms -- I suppose there are
> some on the list that are more limited. I am also able to stand and pivot,
> but not walk.
> As for how I stear, I just push with one arm and feel with my feet and the
> other arm. I only carry the cane strapped to my chair for identification
> so
> people know I'm blind. If I used a power chair I suppose I could use the
> cane for mobility more easily.
> Comments welcome.
> --le
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jennifer Aberdeen"
> To: "Blind wheelchair users list"
> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 10:12 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>
>
> Hi Laura,
>
> I know your question was to Dan, and I don't want to high-jack the email
> in
> any way, but I just wanted to ask you how you got around in your manual
> chair? I have a manual chair right now, and I have a really hard time
> getting around unfamiliar places, which is just about everywhere except my
> house. I have a one-armed gear manual chair, but I don't use it the way
> I'm
> supposed to because I almost broke my wrist trying to steer the chair when
> I
> was learning how to use it. I'm hoping that my mobility will be easier
> with
> the power chair, but if for some reason I can't drive it without crashing
> into things, I don't know what I'll do. I really need to be able to get
> around without people helping me.
>
> Jen
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Laura Eaves"
> To: "Blind wheelchair users list"
> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 2:42 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>
>
>> Hi Dan -- Welcome to the list!
>> I am blind and use a manual chair.
>> I tried a power chair at one point just to see how well it would work,
>> but
>> I
>> pretty much demolished the furniture and took some paint off the wall. I
>> suppose for a one-day trial with no experience that was to be expected,
>> but
>> I decided that for various reasons I preferred the manual -- not the
>> least
>> of which is that I don't need a van to travel, and if I need a ride
>> somewhere, my friend can throw my light weight folding chair in the trunk
>> of
>> any car quite easily.
>> I have a question -- are you total or do you have some vision? and if so,
>> how much?
>> When I was working, when my vision was better, I could see enough to
>> stear
>> in familiar territory. But now my vision is not good enough to navigate
>> much at all. I do most all navigation by touch, or checking out the light
>> fixtures in the room (I have light vision) to know where I am.
>> Take care.
>> --le
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Dan"
>> To:
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 12:26 AM
>> Subject: [Blind-rollers] Just wanted to say Hello
>>
>>
>> Hello,
>> I am a totally blind person who has been successfully using an
>> electric wheelchair for over a year.
>> I have a Jazzy-610 with a PG VSI 50 Amp controller mounted on the
>> left arm rest. This is a Center-wheel drive with Active Track
>> Suspension and I absolutely love the Six-Wheels on the ground at all
>> times. It really does give me tremendous stability.
>>
>> I didn't need Rehab Seating. However I do have a High-Backed seat
>> with a Headrest and it also Reclines.
>> While I can still walk some, I feel much safer in the wheelchair.
>> For guidance I use an extremely lightweight carbon fiber folding
>> cane with a roller tip and it works great.
>> Dan
>> _______________________________________________
>> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Blind-rollers mailing list
>> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blind-rollers mailing list
> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>
> _______________________________________________
> Blind-rollers mailing list
> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the
> boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> _______________________________________________
> Blind-rollers mailing list
> Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.19/917 - Release Date: 7/25/2007
1:16 AM
_______________________________________________
Blind-rollers mailing list
Blind-rollers at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-rollers

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