Manual vs power chair in the world?

[princess mom of 4]

My DS-14 just got this first power chair, and is surprisingly proficient at "driving" it so far. I am trying to decide whether to have him use it or the good old manual wheelchair for our trip...any thoughts on how to decide?

 

[Katwillow1]

I personally don't see any issue with him using his powered chair. If he is comfortable using it in crowds, and proficient in driving it....let him have a go!!! I have seen quite a few younger WDW fans in powered chairs and thought it was great.... figuring it probably gives them more of a sense of independency!!!

If 'mom or dad' isn't sure or even himself .... take him to a mall or other 'crowded' venues and see how he does.

I wish you and him luck.

 

[BCV23]

After the first time we had our daughter's powerchair for her at WDW, we've never considered going back to a manual. She loves the independence and handles crowds very well. It is also much easier to converse when you can do it face to face rather than at her back!

The first time I drove it down for her. After that we rented one for several trips but that is expensive. Now we have a backup power chair for college that is not as expensive and we check it on flights.

Good for your son that he is doing so well! Our daughter got her first powerchair at about that age too as she was starting HS.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

I say go with the powerchair! Give the young man some independence.

 

[tarkus]

Take the power chair, this is why you bought it.

We all only have so much "physical currency" to burn each day. That goes for the able bodied also, so chose how you want to "spend" it.

Enjoy your trip,
Alan

 

[travelitis]

Power chair!! You'll all be happier.

 

[Talking Hands]

Definately take the powerchair! The independence is wonderful.

 

[Laurajean1014]

My DH uses a power chair every so often for arthritis and hip displacement. He loves the power chair and would not go to a manual.

I personally, could never use one. I would hurt people, 'cause I can't drive those things.

 

[loadsapixiedust]

How does your DS feel about taking a manual or power chair?
We travel from the UK and always bring DS's manual chair. Quite apart from the difficulties of transatlantic travel with a power chair and transporting it in a hire car, he prefers to have his manual chair on holiday.
He has CP (quadriplegic dystonia) and driving his chair is very physically demanding for him so would limit the time he could be out and about each day and would also mean he needed to rest a lot more. Crowds would also be a problem for him, he struggles with spatial awareness, he is fine in spaces he knows well, but unfamiliar places especially with moving objects like people, strollers and ECVs he would really struggle. Consider also that when driving he needs to be looking ahead and so is missing out on seeing a lot of the detail in the parks and things going on around him.
In order to conserve energy, allow our DS to enjoy looking around him when he is in the parks and travel more easily, we think the manual chair is a better bet. Depending how you travel might it be possible to bring both?

 

[Chuck S]

My thought, since the power chair is new to your son, would be to ask him what he is comfortable with. If he feels he can control it well in a crowd, then go for it. If he'd rather be in a manual chair for the trip, that's fine, too.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Definately take the powerchair! The independence is wonderful.

You know, I really resent comments like this. Not picking on you TalkingHands, but I have used a manual wheelchair since I was 6 and it gives me total independence. A power chair would be burdensome to me.

 

[ToriLammy]

I think that it depends on the reason for the chair, my daughter has CP and had a manual chair up until the age of 12. She got her first power chair then because she was in middle school and pushing from class to class really tired her out and it took a long time. She could have had someone push her and get there faster but who wants to be dependent on someone else for mobility. For her a power chair did equal independence and speed. Every situation is different and people are replying about what is best for them LindsayDunn and really should not cause you any concern.


For the OP - whether your son should take the manual chair or power chair is probably best left up to your son and how you are traveling to the world. We once travelled with my daughter's power chair only to see the workers who were loading the plane driving it on the tarmac. Now when we travel we drive our own vehicle so we take the power chair. My daughter has used her chair at WDW twice (99 she was 13 and 2003 when she was 17) her biggest problem was me (I was paranoid about people stopping in front of her or cutting her off). She handled it quite well.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You know, I really resent comments like this. Not picking on you TalkingHands, but I have used a manual wheelchair since I was 6 and it gives me total independence. A power chair would be burdensome to me.

The original poster gave no indication as to the extent of the problems which cause her son to be in the chair. He may not be able to maneuver a wheelchair well and have to be pushed, in which case a power chair will give him independence.

This is just the same as my comment to people who have a temporary or new disability that they would be better off with an ECV rather than a wheelchair. The use of a wheelchair can be very tiring, especially for a person not used to one, and if they need pushing it really takes away their independence.

 

[pugdog]

We once travelled with my daughter's power chair only to see the workers who were loading the plane driving it on the tarmac.

One way to prevent this is to:
1. take the joystick off and bring it on board with you.
2. place the chair in free wheel mode so they have to push it. Most people don't know how to put it into gear.
3. we have DW's chair set up so we fold the back down and there is no place for them to sit.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

You know, I really resent comments like this. Not picking on you TalkingHands, but I have used a manual wheelchair since I was 6 and it gives me total independence. A power chair would be burdensome to me.

That is obviously not the situation of the OP or they wouldn't have bought the power chair to begin with.

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

Power chair all the way. Just make sure the airplane has room to store the wheelchair upright.

Christamae

 

[LindsayDunn228]

That is obviously not the situation of the OP or they wouldn't have bought the power chair to begin with.

I am aware of that. I was just commenting on another post.

 

[princess mom of 4]

I appreciate everybody's input...My son has CP, and is pretty independent with the manual chair, until he gets tired. Taking the chair to a mall or somewhere else crowded is a good idea. We will be driving so that's not an issue, and we might have room for both chairs in back of my DH's giant pickup truck, but then might be too crowded in resort room......... I was just fishing for ideas from you guys, and I did pick up a few!

 

[pugdog]

DW always travels with both. That way if we need one over the other for something we have it. Also if the PC breaks then we have a backup till it gets fixed.