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Temporary Use of a Wheelchair
Dear Friends,
Many people don't quite need wheelchairs, yet they can only
walk very short distances with careful planning and lots of
sit-down breaks. These are people with bad knees, fragile
hips, those who fatigue quickly, pregnant mothers, etc. Some
of us have been in that category for years, not using wheels,
yet unable to make it all the way through a grocery store
or art exhibit without a big problem. Some of us just don't
go out in the first place and miss an awful lot in our lives.
Why do people miss out? Other than
economic reasons, many people feel too stigmatized to be seen
in a wheelchair or scooter. It can be daunting at first: children
gape open-mouthed and some adults express pity or even treat
wheelers like celebrities! It's okay to be pushed around in
a stroller when you're a tired child, but as an adult, you're
expected to walk upright, no matter what.
I lived in the "not quite" category for 20 years.
Finally my multiple sclerosis made it too tiring for my legs
to walk anywhere, so I use a motorized scooter everywhere
except inside my home. At first it bothered me when people
treated me differently, but that got so old, I could no longer
be bothered; I stopped paying attention and read my magazine!
The exhilaration of having my freedom and independence back
makes my life fun and much easier. Life has so much to offer
that I'd rather deal with a few folks who are perhaps under-informed,
than miss out on shopping, parks, gardens, museums, concerts,
and important appointments.
Now people stop and ask me where they can get a scooter because
it looks so easy and comfortable. A motorized scooter simply
sums up a solution they've wanted for a long time, either
for themselves or a family member. Motorized scooters give
people more out of life than their bodies could on their own!
Some scooters are made to break down and fit into a car trunk,
such as the Amigo Classic, or the Pride Sundancer. If you’re
mainly going to use a scooter for shopping trips, look for
lightweight models with front-wheel drive or a collapsible
folding wheelchair. You’ll need a scooter with rear-wheel
drive, or a rigid-frame manual wheelchair for sidewalks, grass
and gravel. For more information about scooters, see Scooters.)
My best to Everyone!
Candace Bennett,
Infinitec Web site Managing Editor
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