Electric Arguments
by Treadmarkz
This one is mostly for people who are not in wheelchairs. I am going to tell you this because I understand that you very well may not quite understand what you are saying. Here’s what I am talking about. I am a paraplegic. My arms work great. I have huge arms. I keep myself in shape (sort of) simply by getting myself around every day. Much like you would likely grow fat and your circulatory system would grow stagnant if you stopped walking every day, my wheelchair is what keeps me active, virile etc.
And this, my friends, is why when I get my new wheelchair in a couple of weeks, NO, it will not be an electric wheelchair. People who do not use electric wheelchairs do not get electric ones for their next chair unless they are experiencing marked loss of mobility which I am clearly not and I thank God for that. Most people you see in electric wheelchairs either have cerebral palsy and do not have the amount of control over their arms required to push a chair, or quadriplegics.
And even if I wanted one, Medical Assistance would not give me one. Read back a few pages on this blog and you will find out that you have to justify to them why your lifestyle requires you to get a new chair in the first place. Imagine trying to justify why you need a motorized one even though you still have two strong, functional arms. No way, man, it ain’t happening.
So please, for the love of all things good and Holy even, when you see a man in a manual wheelchair (a pusher) and you find out he is getting a new one, don’t ask if he is getting an electric. You’re not rude and you haven’t hurt me. This is just some information for you, mixed with a little simple logic. (okay that was rude. Sorry.)
Cheers.
well put, and ironically I just read a similar blog here http://www.beautyability.com/2.0/2008/11/23/best-tire-pump/
have a good thanksgiving!
except Tiff has a manual chair to improve her access to parties!
easystand
November 26, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Sorry, we’re sometimes insensitive…I’m guilty as charged, I was seeing T5 paraplegic and I stupidly asked why he didn’t get an electric wheelchair…I was not popular. Unfortunately there isn’t a really handy How to Date a Paraplegic guide, so we do slip up occasionally…
youthere
December 10, 2008 at 6:15 AM
Dating someone in a wheelchair, and all of the different possible faux pas that come along with it are in another league altogether, I am sure. My now-wife was very cool about it when we were dating and she only asked the very constructive questions, but I can see how it is not easy, believe me. But I am just talking about making small talk with someone in a wheelchair. It doesn’t always have to revolve around their wheelchair. That is my point I guess. Thank you for helping me figure out what my point was, “Youthere” Maybe you can comment on my other postings and help me figure out what the hell I was talking about on them as well.
treadmarkz
December 10, 2008 at 11:28 AM
Oh my goodness I never would have thought, but it makes sense. Thanks for giving me some much-needed insight!
tara @ kidz
December 11, 2008 at 12:24 AM
Yea, nix on electric wheelchair idea unless you really need it. However, you could always have some fun working on converting an old one with a gas engine. Years ago I made mockups for running mine off a go-kart engine.
Looking back I’m glad I never made the conversion. Working on it would have been great fun, but my legs wouldn’t have been the only thing messed up by the time I was done riding in it.
Zero-to-sixty in WWWAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! [crash]
QualityChuck
December 16, 2008 at 2:04 PM