4 Tips to Help Disabled Persons Get Back Their Confidence

August 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Wheelchair basketball at the 2008 Summer Paral...

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Everyone has weaknesses, but some have a name for it, and ways to take care of it. Disabled is not a negative label, but simply a comment about someone to make others aware of their needs. Adults have ways in most cases to deal with those people, who are not enlightened enough to understand that we are all able and all disabled in different ways at the same time. Children are a different story. Children are at the mercy of whoever is in charge of them, and of society’s attitude. Like anything else there are ways to protect a person’s self-esteem from those who wish to make someone else feel less.

  • Surround yourself with people who love and like you just the way you are. Believe it or not, there are gifts to not being the norm. A disability makes you look at the alternatives and decide what is important and what is not. Many people with disabilities have productive, creative lives.
  • Find a support group of people who have similar issues. Talking with others who have experienced what you have let’s you know your feelings are normal. There will be someone in the group you will admire despite the disability. You learn it is not the number one item that defines you. Find a group by using a service such as canada 411.
  • Learn to be assertive with those that insist on making you feel less. It empowers you to tell your story and your definition of yourself whether they listen or not. It tells all listeners what you stand for and who you are.
  • Help someone who has more issues or difficulties than you do. It makes you look at what you can do, and to let go of the rest.

How will you help someone’s confidence?

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Overview of Wheelchair Styles

December 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Wheelchairs can open up the world to those with a disability that limits mobility. The sleeker designs, light and comfortable materials, and ease of use, can turn using a wheelchair into the funnest part of a person’s day. There are two different types of wheelchairs.

Self-propelling Wheelchairs
These chairs are small enough to fit into a car so that you have total mobility. A self-propelling wheelchair can be steered very easily and will allow you to move about in the most natural way possible. This type of chair is designed for the rider to use alone, by pushing and pulling the wheels to get in motion. Since you touch the wheels, if they are dirty, your hands will get dirty too. Flooring can affect the momentum of the chair, which will be slower and harder to push on thick carpets, but quick and smooth on flat floors. If you have limited upper body strength, weak arms, breathing difficulties or high blood pressure, this may not be the chair for you.

Push Wheelchairs/Transport Chairs
The chair is for those that can not or do not want to do the work to move around. A person is needed to stand behind the chair and push it along, with the disabled person enjoying the ride. This means that you must always have someone else with you, possibly making a person feel less independent. You will have to direct your pusher on where you’d like to go, which may be a hindrance when doing such activities as shopping. Most of these types of chairs will fold up and fit into an average sized car, but there are some models that are large and may require the use of a modified vehicle. A push chair is also great at negotiating curbs. A push wheelchair is not as maneuverable as a self-propelled wheelchair, making it harder to move around crowded places and stores.

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3 Tips for Newly Disabled People

December 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When a person suddenly and unexpectedly becomes disabled due to an accident, illness, or any other uncontrollable reason, there is no way to prepare for the future. With a few tips, newly disabled people will learn that their feelings are justifiable and that their situation is not the end of the world. Instead of viewing yourself as disabled, think of yourself as differently-abled.

Emotional Reactions
You will feel a wide variety of feelings and emotions when you suddenly become disabled. Instead of being negative, use these feelings to propel your recovery forward. Take advantage of counselors, massage therapists, and other similar healing and stress reducing techniques. Your family and friends may also be feeling a lot of emotions because of your situation. They want to say and do the right thing, but it may not come out right. Simply tell your family and friends to treat you as normally as they did before you became disabled.

Hire a Care Team
Depending on the severity of your disability, you may need help to complete day-to-day tasks or you may just need a little assistance once in a while. No matter what your needs are, request help from family and friends. It could be something as simple as having someone come in to clean once a month, or someone to come in daily to prepare meals and disperse medication. You will be happier when your needs are met. If you must hire someone, be sure to check their references thoroughly.

Nothing is Impossible
You can do just about anything with a disability that you can do without a disability. That is why many people prefer the term “differently abled”. You can do the same things, but you may have to go about doing it in a different way. You should never let anything stand in the way of your success and ability to get the things you want in life. When one door closes, another one opens.

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Overview of Motorized Wheelchairs and Scooters

December 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

ContentThere have been great advancements in wheelchairs over the past years and these days the new power scooters are like owning a race car! Many insurance companies will pay for all or at least part of the cost to purchase a motorized wheelchair or scooter. When you have greater mobility, you will have a better quality of life. And, don’t be surprised if others want to take a ride on your new wheels!

Motorized and Power Wheelchairs
A motorized or power wheelchair is perfect for those with very limited mobility looking to maintain independence. It is powered with one hand by moving a joystick. It may take a bit to get used to using the powerful joystick so you should expect to crash a few times. This chair will not fit in most cars, but will fit into a modified vehicle. A motorized power wheelchair does a pretty decent job of negotiating curbs and crossings. If a person is looking for a sense of independence, but can not use a self-propelling wheelchair, this is a great option. A power wheelchair is more maneuverable than a motor scooter, but not as maneuverable as a self-propelling chair.

Motorized Scooters
These have really advanced over the past few years. They are lighter, sleeker, smaller, and provide a smooth and comfortable ride. A motorized scooter is perfect for people with limited physical strength, both disabled people and the elderly. A motorized scooter can negotiate curbs and crossings very easily. If you are looking for a chair that is rugged enough for outside use, this is a great option. But, they may be a bit difficult to maneuver in crowds or tight store isles. Scooters are rather large and will not fit in an average car. These scooters run on battery power, so it would be a good idea to keep an extra battery, charged up and ready to go, in case the current one gets depleted.

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