11yo will definitely be in a wheelchair...need some tips!

[graygables]

I was concerned about her foot and went ahead and purchased a wheelchair from Amazon (it was a pricing error, they honored it, my mom sometimes needs a wheelchair, and I'll eventually need one when it's time for my knee replacement , so figured at $83 shipped, it was a wise investment!) She'll be able to transfer to rides and such, but just won't be able to walk for long distances.

Are there such things as pads for the handles to make it more comfortable for the pusher? Will a regular backpack fit on the back or should I look into a bag/net designed specifically for a wheelchair? Are there any other accessories we should look into to make it more comfortable?

 

[SueM in MN]

We've always just used a regular backpack for DD's wheelchair. They are more easily available than wheelchair bags and less expensive. If you are handy with sewing, you could add some loops to the top of the bag to go over the wheelchair push handles.

My DD has always had expensive custom wheelchairs since she is in a wheelchair full time. Those come with foam over the ends of the push handles. A lot of less expensive wheelchairs come with hard plastic handle covers. One thing we've used for other tubing is foam meant for wheelchair handlebars. The bicycle area of your local store (like Target) is a good source of accessories. You can find things like bike gloves that will help you get a grip on the handles and also cushion your hands, lights, and things like cup or water bottle holders.
You might also want to look into some kind of seat cushion to make the seat more comfortable. You can look in the kitchen/dining area of the store, or here's a cushioning one meant for car travel.