Mild cerebral palsy - stroller? W/C?

[denanbob]

I canNOT decide what to do! My DS10 has a very mild form of cerebral palsy. It mostly affects his legs (he has a noticeable gait). He will get tired MUCH quicker than the rest of us because it's an effort for him to walk/run. Although he CAN, and he does really well. He can even ride a bike independently and he plays on the basketball team just to give you an idea of his abilities. I'm just worried that he will not be able to keep up and I'd like a resting place for him. I was thinking of renting a wheelchair or a stroller since the strollers look like they may fit him. He is only 65 pounds and 53" tall. Can you recommend one over the other? I'm sure my other 2 (8 and 6) will want to take turns taking breaks too. We are flying so I don't think we should bring one from home (plus do any strollers fit a 65lb. child?) Plus, since I don't have anymore strollers, that makes it hard to bring one along too Any info/tips would be most appreciated! Thanks a bundle!

 

[SueM in MN]

The wheelchairs available to rent are adult wheelchairs and usually not that comfortable for a child - the armrests end up being higher (for some kids more like shoulder rests) and the seat is at least 16 inches wide and deep enough that if the child is sitting all the way back, their legs will be sticking straight out because the bend of their knee is too far back from the edge of the seat. If they sit forward so the legs can bend, they are too far forward to be able to lean back in the seat. The rental wheelchairs are also heavy to push and rather large.

The strollers that can be rented at the parks are easier to push and are large enough to fit a small 12 year old (I haven't tried it, but that's what CMs who work in the parks have written). If you need more space, you can rent a double. Since your other kids will probably want to ride sometimes, that might be the best option.

Another possibility is to talk with the PT or OT who work with him. Some communities, hospitals or chapters of organizations like United Cerebral Palsy have "lending closets" with equipment like special needs strollers they can lend out. Special needs strollers are large size strollers that fit people up to (and sometimes over) 100 pounds. You can check with Care and Walker (listed in the disABILITIES FAQs thread) to see if they rent them (at least one of them used to, but no one has posted recently).

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I would look into getting an affordable children's wheelchair offsite. Your son is 10 and I think it would be humiliating to be put in a stroller because of a disability. But just my opinion.

*This coming from a woman who was a paraplegic at age 6. I would have been extremely embarassed if my mom had done this to me when I was 10*

 

[denanbob]

Well, I definitely wouldn't put him in a "baby" stroller, but somebody said the strollers at Disney don't "look like strollers"???? Anyway, I think he would say he'd be happy to be wrapped in a blanket and rocked if it meant he didn't have to walk anymore But I know what you mean..........he may be like "MOMMMMM!!! I'm not sitting in a STROLLER!!!". If we get a child size wheelchair offsite, then we will have to lug it with us on the buses, monorail, etc........and I think that will be more hassle than a benefit in some ways. From all the research I've done (I've yet to see a picture of the strollers), I think I'll plan on renting "something" from AK and EPCOT and maybe just having him walk with frequent resting breaks at MK and MGM. And if we find we need one there, we will just head back and get one. I wish they had child size wheelchairs, that would be wonderful!

 

[staci]

(I've yet to see a picture of the strollers),QUOTE]

http://allearsnet.com/pl/strol_faq.htm

This should help you!

 

[SueM in MN]

If they looked like baby strollers, I would not include strollers in my suggestions, but you will see many (very many) older kids in the WDW strollers. In fact, a common thread that pops up on both the Theme Parks and Family Boards involves how old is too old for a WDW stroller. If you look for one of those, you will find lots of people are using strollers for 8-11 year olds. (I see someone posted a link to pictures of the strollers)
That said, my DD got her first wheelchair at 30 months old because we didn't want her being in a stroller. A wheelchair also gives a lot more independence. I would say though that there are very few smaller wheelchairs to rent at WDW and a child in an adult size stroller (especially a child on the small size) does not look very comfortable and will have about the same amount of independence as they would in a stroller.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I happen to know the difference between a baby stroller and the Disney strollers. Give me a little credit here. I know the child is only 10 but let him keep his dignity. If he says he doesn't want to be in a stroller, please don't force him.

 

[JenJen]

Both my kids prefered Disney stollers to Wheelchairs when they needed them. My son used one until he was about 10 or 11. He said they were more confortable. He had the choice which one to use.
((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))
Jen

 

[Tissa]

My ds10 also has mild CP and is 52' tall and 64 lbs. He has used the stroller the last two trips and was fine in it and didn't feel like a baby using it. The problem was he tired out walking from the busses to the park entrances where you rent the stroller. I ended up carrying him a lot more than I wanted to. They do sometimes have transport wheelchairs in the parking lots with flags on them you can use and we did this a couple of times.

After our last trip I talked to his PT and got a convaid chair for him to use on our trips so I won't have that problem again. It folds up so I can take it on the bus without having to use the ramp. See if your insurance would cover it because they are $$$ but it has made our lives so much easier especially at the mall and zoo.

 

[SueM in MN]

I've posted links many times to a good place to find special needs strollers to buy (made for people up to 100 pounds). For someone who is capable of wheelcing themselves, a pediatric wheelchair might be a better option since it would give him the ability to wheels himself
www.adaptivemall.com
They have many types of equipment.