Experiences renting ECV offsite

[madenon]

I've read experiences scattered on the DIS, but I would love to read some more experiences with renting an ECV offsite. What kind of type of ECV do the various places rent, how did you find their quality, service etc.?

I'm asking because I have to make some difficult decisions. It's too long of a bad soap, so to make a summary; I just found out that my new powerchair isn't what it is suppost to be. I can't use it, let alone use it all day, day after day at CBR. I'm fighting for all I'm worth to get it fixed within the next couple of days, but it looks like it won't happen before my magical date of 9/4.

So that'll leaves me with 3 options;

- take my manual chair, and be confined to the room. NO option if you ask me.
- going and renting an ECV for the time being. With all the mistakes made, you bet ya that I'll present the bill to the gouvernment responsable for all of this. Downside; using an ECV causes me so much more pain than the powerchair I supposed to be having, getting, whatever, would. It would mean at best to be able to spend half the time I could have spend with the powerchair at the parks, around the resort, eating etc.
- changing my trip all together to a later date. (but than again, we've been at this drama since september last year, so we'll never be able to book and be sure things will be in order in a couple of months)

Option 2 and 3 are the ones I'll have to pick from, so I'ld love to get as much info as possible. (allthough I really don't want to make any decission like these) TIA!

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry about your bad luck.
If you go to the disABILITIES FAQs thread, there are links to all the companies that DIS posters report most frequently using. All of the websites have pictures of the 'typical' ECV that company rents.
Hopefully, others will be able to give you more information.

 

[KPeveler]

if you have used a power chair at home, there are ways of renting a power chair in disney... they dont generally rent to people who have not used them before, but if you have the one at home for a short time even, you may be able to get one in WDW.

 

[madenon]

Thnx for the info so far!

Kpeveler, I know I can also rent a powerchair (have got the experience, well for the moments the first wrong chair didn't literally kicked me out. ), but it wouldn't do me any more good than an ECV, I think. I need special, ehm how do I call this in english....well a type of system that makes you feel bumps in the road as less as possible. So I've got this great system build in that'll reduce the bumps. Kinda like the same thing some truckdrivers have in their chairs. They standard type on the weels and fraim of the powerchairs is like none at all for me.

If I'm not mistaken, I've seen you around on the eds-board, right? Well in that case, you know how important a right support in seating and back is. Without the seating system I'm supposed to be having, never mind which chair I'm in. All of them will kill me and luxating uncountable times a day. Unfortunately, I can't rent the type of chair I'm supposed to be getting/using whatever, because they aren't on the US market yet. (a Permobil C500KB. The KB is a special back that can be changed optimal to ones need, got "joints" and all in it). I'ld still have the big problem of not having the right cushions and backcushions, but a normall chair simply wont cut it for me.

So wether I rent a powerchair or an ECV; same pain, same deteriation (hate that), same loss of time I could normally have been spending having fun. And I'm not going to beat around the bush; I've had problems about needing a powerchair and really needed time and space to get over that. Using a rental chair that doesn't suit my needs and will actually increase my pain, will only make me go back a lot of steps in that process. Not too fair perhaps, but a ECV doesn't have that emotional charging for me (probably because I used on for years in my better times).

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I just checked and the seat on my (formerly rental) ECV is about 18 inches wide and 16 inches front to back.

Have you thought about getting an inflatable cushion that you could put on the seat (possibly covered by a towel) if that might help.

 

[madenon]

Thnx for thinking along, Cheshire.

I've thought about bringing along my seating-cushion (well, I would be anyway, it's the same as is in my manual). Unfortunately I can't bring my back-cushions and another downside is that the cushions only function proparly when they're put in the right "holder" (back or seat). To put it very simple; the combination of the cushions and the special seating/back/bounce-device gives enough support but not too much. Loose any of these factors, or if they are even a bit off, and it'll have no effect. I am luxating joints by even plain breathing or mear (spelling?) gravity pulling on a joint, so I desperately need the right support. Too little or too much will result in more luxations. Difficult person, I am.

Gosh, I'm so hoping that we can make miracles happen on monday. (it's evening here now) I don't need puxiedust at The World, I need it now and here. I'm lost as to think what I should do if push comes to shuff. I need a break after the last years. I could finally also afford to go to WDW. When I get back, I'll go back into a schedule of multiple operations and rehabs, so no time for vacation and the mental boosting before would be great!

Cancelling; don't even want to think about it! Changing the dates is a possibility, but probably is making trouble for the operations. And also; what will the expenses be? It's not clear if my travel insurance will cover this (could kick myself. I allways think about everything medical and aid-wise and check it, how couldn't I have checked this?) Disney wouldn't be too big of a problem (only $50,- changing fee I believe. And having to downgrade from CBR to ASMo), but I can't change my flight-ticket.

Renting; doesn't feel too great either. Also because I know that doing it that style would permanently damage me even more. (any trip does, but that's ok if you choose to do it yourself) And again; extra costs as I'm not holding my breath about those responsable for all of this paying for it.

I guess I'm just a spoiled ranting little brad who wants it her way and no other way.