e-motion wheels at WDW

[webbtj]

Our DD uses a TiLite manual WC with e-motion power assisted wheels. On rides at WDW, would they consider her WC a manual or power? SHe would prefer not to transfer, so we are hoping they consider it a manual. If mnot, she can use her manual wheels, but it's harder to push.

 

[SueM in MN]

It won't be a problem for shows/theaters.
In general, power wheelchairs are considered 'wheelchairs' for the rides that have wheelchair cars. The biggest constraint is the size of the wheelchair - a power wheelchair that is no bigger than a manual wheelchair will usually fit. The second 'sticking point' is how much clearance the wheelchair has on the underside. For example, my DD's manual wheelchair fits just fine on the wheelchair car on Aladdin (and the exact same type of car on Triceraptop spin). Her power wheelchair takes the same space, but it only has about 3 inches of clearance underneath the battery case and would not fit on those cars.
From what i can see about the e-motion, it looks like a wheelchair with those would fit where ever a wheelchair without them would fit.
They look pretty cool!

 

[scottsod]

i would say you should have no problem we had the emotion and since they fit right in the wheels i would say no cm would even notice
but if u are flying i would take the batterys out of the centers before u gate check it
scott

 

[luvyawdw]

Webbtj, I think your emotions would be fine, our daughter just tested a pair last month and it was right before our trip to WDW, we had to give the demos back before we went. I don't think they will even notice they are on her chair and even if they did I really don't think they will consider it a power chair size. By the way, would you all mind at all answering a few questions about the emotions? Like I said we had a pair to demo for Beth, and now we are in the process of working it out with our insurance and her current wheel chair. The wheelchair tech that gave us the emotion loaner set, could not get the wheels on her chair up far enough for her to reach. They set to far back. Her chair has the larger wheels in the back and small ones in the front. Its a Quickie pediatric manual chair. It is about 2 and a half years old. We originally thought she would only need this chair part time and through her spine surgery, but it turns out she will need a chair for some time. She is having further surgery in the end of the month. Her rehabilitation physician ordered the emotions, with a refferal. He felt they would be wonderful for her. The problem is the wheel chair she has right now does not seem to be very compatable for self propelling. It just is not designed well for that. The wheel chair tech and her pysical therapist both feel she will need a new chair to be able to use the emotions. I don't know if our insurance will go for this, they feel they will because she had a major surgery in June which changed her medical condition, making the chair she is in now, unusable to her. Any way, how do you all like the emotions???? What kind of chair do you have them on? Was it difficult to have insurance cover them?
Thank you,
Lisa and Beth

 

[lunapnp]

Lisa,
Sorry I'm "butting" into your conversation. However, my daughter Hannah has had the emotion wheels for about 3 years now. We love the emotion wheels. She also has the Ti lite frame. I had difficulty, at first, getting our insurance to pay for the emotion wheels. There initial denial said that if Hannah could not propel a manual chair, we would need to do the "least expensive" alternative...which they said was a power wheelchair. The emotion wheels were about $6000-7000. So, PART of my argument was that the emotion wheels with the frame was much cheaper than a power wheelchair. (I made other arguments, too.) Our insurance did approve the wheelchair and the emotion wheels. Hannah is due for a new wheelchair next month. Unfortunately, we are not going to be able to do the emotion wheels again. Hannah has developed some dystonia in her arms and it makes it difficult for her to push the wheels. So, I guess we will be going back to a power wheelchair. How old is your daughter? Were you looking at the 22" wheels or the 24"?

Kellie

 

[scottsod]

to but back in my self

my son got his at about age 7 with a quicki chair and he was never realy able t oget a good push on them after several adjustments it never worked out we traded them in for the emotion setup that has a joystick to control it and use it infrequently as he was not responisble enuff to not run prople over so we we can change to manual or emotion wheels as needed and slap on the joystick the wheels are a great idea and seem to work good if u are old enuff to give them a good push

scott

 

[luvyawdw]

Thank you everyone for your input . Kelly, our dauthers current chair is the quickie 12" wide and I believe the 22" wheels. And with the demo emotions wheels they could not get them in the right position so she could get a good push, they were to far back for her arms to reach ( if that makes sense) her current chair is large wheels in the back, small ones up front. I don't know if that matters all that much? The wheelchair technician (that tried to install the emotions on Beths chair) said that they just wont work on the chair she has now. Im really worried about trying to get the insurance to cover a new chair and emotions. Beth is 13, she is very bright and responsible. She does not have enough strength to push her chair very far or for very long. The physcian that ordered these for her feels that she would maintain or gain better muscle condition by using the emotions, he felt, and I agree, that a power chair will cause her to loose muscle strengh. Beths conditions is not progessive, however, when she has surgeries such as the major spine surgery she just had, she can have some major set backs with her mobility. Beth will likely always need a chair with power assist for school, shopping, day at the movies, but we hope she will soon walk again at home. I think the emotions sound like a great alternative, Beth is so tired of relying on people to push her around, its been about 1 year and a half. It really is not fair to just sit and wait for help all the time, the emotions would give her so much more independence.
Scott, you mention your son would run people over, Bethany has students at school that have fallen on her when her aide is pushing her! They also walk right in front of her or across her legs....She said she feels invisible at school. Beth would probably love to cruise through the halls without someone pushing her, maybe they would watch out for her instead of running into her ? She wouldnt do it, but Im sure the thought has entered her mind of running into some ankles ! lol
I will keep you all updated, we have an appointment tomorrow with the wheel chair tech again, he said it could take up to 4 months to get this all approved and done sounds like a long time. Does that sound right?
Maybe our next trip to WDW will be with Beth and her new emotions! I hope
Very Sincerely,
Lisa and Beth

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I'm so sorry it's proving so tricky to get this approved. I'm afraid I've not idea how long it should take, as I'm in the UK, but I hope things start happening soon.

As for the invisibility thing, I think all of us get that quite a bit, unfortunately. I like to believe that it's just people aren't looking for someone at my height, but I'm not so certain *sigh*. I can also empathise with wanting to run people over ! Sometimes I find that wearing bright colours helps people to spot me a little easier. It doesn't have to be a high-vis jacket, just a red jumper or a purple top can make that bit of difference. I've also decorated up my chair, which makes it stand out a little more!

If Beth wants to talk to other people with invisible disabilities, I'm on a forum called But You Don't Look Sick. I was directed there by the lovely K (also a DISer) and have found it to be a great support. There is an online magazine to read and message boards where she can chat to other people going through a similar thing, in a safe environment. Obviously, all of the normal internet safety rules should still apply.

Good luck with everything

 

[webbtj]

Thanks to everyone for the advice on using the e-motion wheels at WDW. We already feel more comfortable knowing that they will probably not even be noticed by the CM's on the rides. We are driving, so we don't have to worry about how the airlines handle them.

She has had the e-motion wheels for 2 years, but has not used them much, so this will be a learning experience. One of the wheels has been in for repair twice already because it made a grinding noise and malfunctioned. Hopefully, it will work correctly on the trip. If not, we are bringing her Spinergy wheels and I'll help push - not a problem. I might even loose some weight

I was happy to see the additional discussion on your e-motion experience in general. I don't have much to offer except that her wheels were originally supplied on an Invacare Solara rehab chair where they were set too far back for her to reach also. She ended up getting a TiLite replacement chair, but one equipment provider did say they could modify the Solara to bring the wheels closer to the front.

We were extremely blessed that we had good health insurance at the time of her accident and had minimal grief in getting the e-motions, a stander and a Sure Hands lift, all of which we depend on greatly now. Soon she will be on Medicaid, so we will have to get used to doing without. Enough about challenges - We will be in the land of Disney Magic in 25 days. We plan on taking it easy and enjoying every moment.

 

[luvyawdw]

I hope you all have a wonderful time!