Need Help_Suggestions for Forearm Crutch Holder on ECV

[scooby9932]

Hi, all! I'm hoping you can help me.

Damage to my knees from Lupus and Myasthenia Gravis (MG) cause a need for forearm crutches for short distance walking. I also wear braces, but still sometimes need the crutches for stability, etc.

I am currently needing them & don't see that will change before my trip in late April/early May.

I rent an ECV from an offsite company for use while at WDW. However, there are times where I need to transfer from the ECV & might need to use my forearm crutches. I travel with my DD who is not able to push me in the wheelchair through some of the queues (PoC, Space Mtn [tho not a problem this trip], and a few others depending on the CM in charge when we get there). Also, I'd like to be able to get off the ECV on occasion to look through stores, etc. & give my muscles some relief from sitting. This will help the MG from getting worse over the course of the trip.

My questions are these:

• Do you have any recommendations for a holder for the forearm crutches on the ECV? If you have a link to where you can buy them, that would be great!
• If you've used crutches & the holders, have you had any difficulty with them being bulky & causing problems fitting through tight spaces (e.g. bus loading, railed queues) when driving your ECV? I don't want to constantly worry my crutches are going to "snag" on something. I brought down a few clothes racks one time - talk about embarassing!
• Have you had any complaints that they're in other people's way while viewing a show? Just curious - When I rented a scooter with a canopy to try to avoid the sun, I was accosted by a very mean man in CoP who said I should take the canopy off or leave the theater because I was blocking everyone's view. (The disability section is in the front of this attraction.) I didn't engage him because the theater was practically empty & he could have moved, but thought it was more fun to yell & curse at me through the entire ride! The canopy turned out to be a bad choice for me for other reasons - getting caught on racks in stores, not shading me very well, blocking my view to a great degree, etc.
• Did you feel comfortable riding the ECV with them there- the crutches didn't hit the back of your head, etc.?

As you can tell, my main concern is making sure I can get around without the ECV for short distances while also not compromising my ability to get around on the ECV for the majority of the time. If I have to forgo the crutches, that's ok, but it would make my trip much easier if I were able to take them with me.

Any insight you have would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Piper]

I have one on my personal ECV. I think you can request them to be added to a rental. Just be sure you request the forearm crutch holder and not a cane holder!

 

[KPeveler]

if you cannot get one with the rental, a friend of mine takes those collapsable unbrella seats you use for picnics and such, the ones that fit into the long, narrow bag, and just slings the bag over the back of her chair - not great forever, but it works for a week!

 

[peemagg]

I use a cane holder on my personal ECV. I don't have any problem with it hitting me in the back of the head. The ones that I have seen to hold crutches are simmilar to the one for the cane.

If you have a bag chair at home you could leave the chair at home and bring the bag to carry your crutches in on the back of your chair. Or just bring a couple of bunjee cords and strap the cructches to the front of the tiller.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

As long as you are using an off-site rental (See Post #2 in the disABILITIES FAQs and follow the link in my signature) you can tell them of your need and for a small fee (usually $10 for the entire rental) they will have the holder attached to the ECV.

 

[Piper]

This is a picture of the back of my ECV. The black thing on the left is the crutch holder (no crutches in it at the time of the picture) It has a shallow "cup" for the bottom of the crutch, the top of the shank fits in between a clamp and then velcro goes around it. It is secure and yet it is easy to get when I want it. I took the arms off the ECV so I could put it in easy reach instead of in the back. That way I can unhook it and use it to help me stand.

 

[scooby9932]

for all the responses! I will be calling Walker Mobility today to see if they can add the bag on to my rental. I'm glad to see they look so compact & secure.

If they can't, I think I'll try the bungee cord suggestion. I used to go camping a lot, so have tons of bungee cords!

Again, thanks to all for your quick & helpful responses!