1st time taking DGM in a wheelchair?

[Boston5602]

Hi everyone
I've spent a couple of weeks going over the stickys and posts here in this forum and I've learned ALOT , THANK YOU ALL!!!

But I'm nervous about our next trip ( Jan , gosh next month ) My Grandmother never uses a wheelchair at home , but can only handle small amounts of walking so I have gotten her one to use that I'll push her around in. She is in her mid 70's and just cant do anything but very short walks.

I didn't want to use a resort ( BWV) WC because from what I read here its 50/50 shot at having them and they are heavy. I got a lite weight new WC from a friend.

Guess I'm nervous about running people over, bumping my DGM into something or accidently let her go , coming over the bridge from Epcot to BWV ( ok not really with this one )

I just want to be as confident as possible to make my DGM as much as ease as possible. Since she doesnt use one normally I figure if I feel good about it she'll be at ease.

Thanks again for the info and advice , I guess I'm just looking for some encouragement!!!

Do you have any advice for a first time WC pusher?

Have A great day everyone !!!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Don't Panic

 

[Lachesis00]

Good luck and try to keep your temper as people walk in front of you. It is to the point my husband tries not to run people over but if it happens, he doesn't feel bad.

I look forward to seeing others replies just for the sake of conversation.

 

[twinmum]

Hello! Good for you - first, by being so eager to help your GM, but also for preparing in advance. Our w/c experience is with one of our twin DS8's. They were born >3 months early and 1 DS has cerebral palsy.

If you are not used to pushing someone in a w/c, you need to become familiar both with the chair, and the person in the chair. So - make sure the chair is in good repair. Due to some family illness just befor our recent trip, I didn't get my son's chair in for its annual maintenance visit, so we had a rather grimy w/c, but thankfully, the tires had been recently fully inflated! Make sure you know how the chair works - can you inflate the tires? Oil the wheel? Easily collapse and put back together (as applicable)? Adjust the parts that adjust just in case they magically unadjust? And so on.

You also need to be familiar with your GM in the w/c (and she needs to be comfortable too). Take it out for several spins together. Is it properly adjusted? What seems comfortable for a short while may become rather uncomfortable over several days. Get used to the effort it takes so stop quickly at different speeds - it can be harder than you think! Have you manouevred ramps? Fairly steep inclines/descents? (Take note at the monorail stations whether there's an elevator and where it is...those ramps are pretty steep to me and I was pushing a pediatric chair with a 39 lb boy in it! I'll start off by saying that we know there's one at Epcot because we used it!)

What a wonderfully accessible place WDW is!!! We are used to finding accessible ways to get from A==>B, but we are also used to getting there via C,D,E....However, we found it very easy to find the accessible routes etc.

Also, get used to looking a few feet away from you - and forget ablt gazing up at Cinderalla's castle! We were there at a quiet time, but I was constatnly dodging people who walked right in front of the w/c, or just stopped dead in front of us. Luckily, no accidents! You can read both sides of the pedestrians vs w/c's and ECV's (another vehicle altogether, I was amazed at the speeds!) in another thread ("Rant, feel free to ignore") in the DISabilities forum. Whew! It's a touchy topic!

Finally, pace yourself, too. Our w/c and child aren't that heavy, but it's still work. We also have "stroller" handles that are more ergonomic. Tkae turns with other people in your party if you can - or have them promise to give you nightly neckrubs!

What a wonderful way to demonstrate you care to your GM. Have a lovely trip!