Options for older child with mobility issues

[eva]

My grandson who has a genetic disorder called KBG Syndrome desperately wants to visit WDW with us this spring. But I am racking my brain on how to do this. He can walk fairly well for short distances, but is very slow and has a strange gate. He tires very easily and his legs and feet swell with too much walking. Part of his disability includes brittle bones. I know a wheelchair sounds like a good idea. But He will be 12 at the time and is a pretty big kid. I am not sure we will have the endurance to wheel him around WDW. I assume he is too young for an ECV. What other options should we consider?

 

[Mrsjvb]

Rent a pediatric wheelchair from off site. The adult size probably won’t be comfortable for all day use.

 

[lanejudy]

Some kids use a special needs stroller. They come in different sizes and can be rented if his family doesn’t have one. Though at 12-years-old and sounds like possibly a big kid, a wheelchair is probably a better option.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I have a Convaid chair, it is like a giant stroller for an adult. Unfortunately it is very expensive (maybe $1200). My son is an adult, 160 pounds. I saw another guest with a power WC, where the pusher controlled the power. I may get that eventually, as I am aging too and hills getting difficult. (My son can walk at home, only uses on vacations and day trips that require lots of walking)

 

[SueM in MN]

These companies rent special needs strollers for larger children or small adults.
They are typically lighter and easier to push than a rental wheelchair. Depending on the exact special needs stroller, they may be able be used for someone up to 200 pounds.

- Scooterbug rents Freedom Push Adaptive Stroller (found under strollers)

- Kingdom Strollers rents Liberty Special Needs Stroller (found under Special Needs)

- Orlando Stroller Rental rents Maclaren Major Special Needs Stroller (found under strollers)

- Orlando Medical Rentals has the largest variety of Special Needs Strollers (found under Special Mobility Strollers)

 

[mamabunny]

@eva - you are correct: ECV rental vendors will not rent to him until he is 18 years old.

One thing you can consider (if a wheelchair or stroller won't work) is a Rollator. Typically, it's as cheap to buy one, as it is to rent one. Most models will fold flat, and like any other mobility device, a Rollator will fly for free on all US airlines as medical equipment that can be gate-checked.

A Rollator is walker with a built-in seat, so that when you are standing in line, he can take that time to sit. It gives him something to hang on to when he walks (which can possibly help smooth out his gait), and most of them have a basket under the seat that can hold supplies, if needed.

Rollators typically can be height-adjusted to fairly short sizes if needed.

Remember also that there are First Aid stations in every one of the 4 Theme Parks if he needs to rest for a little bit. Ice water is free at all QS (Quick Service) food locations in case he has issues with dehydration.

I mention the following 2 options only because it sounds like when planning ahead for his future, one of these might be something for him to consider:

There are vendors that will sell ECVs to young people: Travelscoot has a "grow up" plan that utilizes their "Shopper" unit and allows for the purchase of a smaller scooter, and the parts are swapped out to full-size as the child grows into their adult height. It is expensive, but I used one for many years until my condition deteriorated to the point where I had to move to a Fold & Go wheelchair.

There *are* also some powered wheelchairs that have an "attendant control" that would allow him to sit in the chair, and you (or another adult) to move him via the joystick control that is mounted on the back or handlebar of the unit, however those tend to be an extremely expensive option to purchase as well. Fold & Go (which is made in the US, and is a local favorite of *many* of us here) has an "attendant control" option that could easily be removed when he is at home, or in places where it isn't so crowded that he can't control the chair himself. Fair warning, however - controlling a joystick based chair can have a learning curve to it, so be sure that you can allow some real-life practice time with the attendant control before showing up at WDW with one.

If he does have mobility equipment already, it will fly for free on any US airline, and can be gate-checked when you board the plane; that way he can just take his own equipment with him, which would be most comfortable for him.

 

[cobright]

I assume he is too young for an ECV. What other options should we

Can he manage an ECV or Powerchair? If he can, that is likely the best option. It's difficult to find a rental powerchair for a minor down there. Check your local craigslist or even the Orlando area craigslist for used. I've bought them sometimes for about what a 10 day rental would cost. If you really don't need it afterwards, there's a few scooter shops that will give you a couple hundred back for it when you're done.

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

I agree with this poster. I’ve used a manual wheelchair at Disney for the past 3-4 years, even though I don’t need one day to day. Hubby had a lot of trouble pushing me in August with the mask on. And he had a motorcycle accident since then that broke both a wrist and his collarbone and we decided it was time I upgrade to a scooter. I ended up finding an electric wheelchair and hitch hauler at an auction and picked them up for $150 which is far less than I can rent one there. Plus, I can personalize it, and just store it between trips.

 

[CheshKAT]

My son , about the same age as your son, twisted his ankle some time before we were preparing to leave for Disney. He didn't tell us how sore it was until the end of the first full day when he decided to tell us he was in pain. We had a 10 vacation planned. We thought, "should we go home or take him to a doctor?" He didn't want to go home. We ended up getting him a wheelchair. He was also a big boy but we managed with the wheelchair. He would get out of it every one in a while which helped. That chair saved our vacation. I hope you get to take your son to Disney, how ever you choose to do it

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

My grandson who has a genetic disorder called KBG Syndrome desperately wants to visit WDW with us this spring. But I am racking my brain on how to do this. He can walk fairly well for short distances, but is very slow and has a strange gate. He tires very easily and his legs and feet swell with too much walking. Part of his disability includes brittle bones. I know a wheelchair sounds like a good idea. But He will be 12 at the time and is a pretty big kid. I am not sure we will have the endurance to wheel him around WDW. I assume he is too young for an ECV. What other options should we consider?

I am in a similar situation with my youngest daughter. I’m currently researching pediatric wheelchairs and special needs strollers (again... as she has recently outgrown her current stroller). The one thing I’m finding is that good wheelchairs have better shocks which help absorb some of the bumpy theming throughout Disney, but medical strollers do not perform as well. I do understand the issue of not feeling able to push your grandson around (as I’m in a wheelchair myself!)... there are others in my family that can take turns pushing, plus she can do a little walking, which will lighten the burden on them. I have looked into powered options, but that’s tricky with kids who only need it some of the time.

You can try rent something or ask his doctor for a prescription to purchase one (so that insurance will cover it). Good luck finding the right tool to help your family enjoy your trip together!!

These companies rent special needs strollers for larger children or small adults.
They are typically lighter and easier to push than a rental wheelchair. Depending on the exact special needs stroller, they may be able be used for someone up to 200 pounds.

- Scooterbug rents Freedom Push Adaptive Stroller (found under strollers)

- Kingdom Strollers rents Liberty Special Needs Stroller (found under Special Needs)

- Orlando Stroller Rental rents Maclaren Major Special Needs Stroller (found under strollers)

- Orlando Medical Rentals has the largest variety of Special Needs Strollers (found under Special Mobility Strollers)

Thank you so much for this! I wasn’t sure if any of the rental companies offered pediatric wheelchair rentals... it was on my to-find-out list! Orlando Medical definitely has a lot of great options for our trip if we can’t find the right one to buy for her beforehand.

 

[SueM in MN]

Sorry for the sideways photo..
this is my daughter’s new wheelchair that she got in September.
Most manual wheelchairs don’t have any shocks to help cushion the ride. What custom manual wheelchairs do usually have is a comfortable, cushioned seat (hers in gel and foam) and better quality tires and casters. Her chair is fitted to her, she doesn’t have to lean over in a too wide chair to brace herself.

Her wheelchair is also very light - probably only about 1/4 to 1/3 the weight of the common rental chairs.

 

[mamabunny]

Sorry for the sideways photo..
this is my daughter’s new wheelchair that she got in September.
Most manual wheelchairs don’t have any shocks to help cushion the ride. What custom manual wheelchairs do usually have is a comfortable, cushioned seat (hers in gel and foam) and better quality tires and casters. Her chair is fitted to her, she doesn’t have to lean over in a too wide chair to brace herself.

Her wheelchair is also very light - probably only about 1/4 to 1/3 the weight of the common rental chairs.View attachment 544138

Those wheels!

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Sorry for the sideways photo..
this is my daughter’s new wheelchair that she got in September.
Most manual wheelchairs don’t have any shocks to help cushion the ride. What custom manual wheelchairs do usually have is a comfortable, cushioned seat (hers in gel and foam) and better quality tires and casters. Her chair is fitted to her, she doesn’t have to lean over in a too wide chair to brace herself.

Her wheelchair is also very light - probably only about 1/4 to 1/3 the weight of the common rental chairs.View attachment 544138

I love it! It’s good to know that most manual wheelchairs don’t offer shocks. The ones I’ve been looking at do, but I have primarily been looking at off-road types since that might make the most sense for my daughter. However, instead of saying “good” WC’s come with shocks- I should’ve said all-terrain ones do! & your daughter’s is awesome!! Thanks for sharing!

 

[SueM in MN]

Those wheels!

thanks!
this was her first wheelchair in years with spokes. Almost all her previous ones had mag wheels, which we decorated with glow in the dark stars.
We missed having those, but there was no place to add them to the new tires. We added clear spoke guards - flat donuts of Lexan plastic. They are usually used to keep fingers from getting caught in the spokes. She didn’t need them since her handrims (the part that says ‘The Natural Fit’ prevent that).
I used The spoke guards to put the stars on. Some are glow in the dark (green ones) and some are reflective (grey ones). I added more since this picture.
Really cool after dark.

 

[SueM in MN]

I love it! It’s good to know that most manual wheelchairs don’t offer shocks. The ones I’ve been looking at do, but I have primarily been looking at off-road types since that might make the most sense for my daughter. However, instead of saying “good” WC’s come with shocks- I should’ve said all-terrain ones do! & your daughter’s is awesome!! Thanks for sharing!

Most (? all?) power wheelchairs have pretty substantial shocks.

There are shocks for the front forks (small casters) that can be added as an option for many custom manual wheelchairs. The most common brand I’m aware of is called Frog Legs.
We chose to spend extra for better quality front casters and back wheels because we thought they would make more of a difference for her. Nice thing of customization - you can choose what options you think fit best.

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Thank you, @SueM in MN! Can I ask- is her chair a TiLite Twist? I had just run across that one a few days ago & it interested me. I think I’ll start a new thread asking others for input on a good mobility device for my daughter’s unique SN & I always appreciate your input!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you, @SueM in MN! Can I ask- is her chair a TiLite Twist? I had just run across that one a few days ago & it interested me. I think I’ll start a new thread asking others for input on a good mobility device for my daughter’s unique SN & I always appreciate your input! ☺

Good idea!
My daughter’s wheelchair is a TiLite Aero Z.
She‘s a small adult and would have fit in the Twist for the width, but not for the depth (Her chair is 14 wide and 17 deep).

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Good idea!
My daughter’s wheelchair is a TiLite Aero Z.
She‘s a small adult and would have fit in the Twist for the width, but not for the depth (Her chair is 14 wide and 17 deep).

Thanks!

 

[eva]

Thanks for all the replies and ideas. Not sure if buying a wheelchair is in the budget. He really doesn’t need one on a regular basis. And I am not sure how easy we could get it down there. We are taking us (DH & I), our daughter and son-in-law, and our 4 grandkids. We will be driving in two cars from Illinois. 8 people with luggage may be cramped already. I looked at EVCs, but you have to be 18 to operate one with all the rental companies I looked at. Plus, he has never used one. Not sure how a 12 year old would do in a crowded park. I never could find an electric wheelchair to rent. I saw ones for sale that are powered by the pusher, not the rider. Kind of like a self propelled lawnmower. But have not seen one to rent. I know it seems like we should have enough adults to push him. But he is a pretty big kid and both my DH and DSIL have high blood pressure and carry some extra weight. My DD is a little thing and I have arthritis in my hands and wrists. I know, it sounds like we are refugees from a medical facility. Guess I will keep lookin.

 

[Groot]

If he can learn how to drive a powerchair, definitely look into Fold and Go.