Wheelchair for 11 year old???

[dfluvsmick]

Hello there. I am just looking for others opinions on what I should do. My dd is 11 and has been injured for the past 3 weeks. We just got results of MRI saying that she has severely bruised her knee bone! She starts physical therapy tomorrow. She is currently in a leg brace that starts about 6 inches above her knee and goes down to her mid shin. We leave for Disney in 24 days. I have an old wheelchair that belonged to my dad (who was 78 and a pretty big guy). So....do I just bring the wheelchair with us even though it may be huge for her? Or.....what is the requirement for renting a chair there? Do they have smaller ones for children? Can children use the electric ones? Please give me your opinion on what you would do in my case.
Thanks

 

[SueM in MN]

If you look in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, you will find some links and phone numbers for rental companies where you could rent an appropriate sized wheelchair for your child. I would not bring Grandpa's too big wheelchairwith because it will be difficult to push and won't be comfortable for her because of the size, especially since she can't bend her knee.

I would also check if there is a local company you can rent one from to bring with ( you may be able to get assistance with this from your doctor's office OR FROM THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST). You can bring a mobility device with on an airplane at no charge - more info about that in the disABILITIES FAQs thread too. That way, you would also have it to use in the airport. If you are using Magical Express to get from the airport to your hotel, let them know that you will have a wheelchair so they can get a lift bus for you. ( more about that in the FAQs thread too).

Depending on your insurance, you may be able to get some of the rental cost for a wheelchair covered by insurance. You would need a doctor's prescription for that, but in general would not need a prescription to rent a wheelchair.

The rental companies do not rent ECVs for use by children, so that is out. (Those are the motorized mobility scooters). At any rate, they are adult size, not sized for children anyway.

Hope you have a good trip - maybe not the one you planned, but good anyway.

 

[SueM in MN]

PS
You may also want to rent a wheelchair with an elevating footrest/legrest. That will help because she would be able to elevate her leg if it swells or aches.

 

[dfluvsmick]

Thank you so much for your information. I will check with the PT tomorrow.

 

[dfluvsmick]

One more question... I now have heard that there are Standard and ??? (larger) wheelchairs there. Does anyone know the measurement of the standard? I want to compare it to the one I have here that my dad used. Then I will know to rent one or not!
Thanks.

 

[clanmcculloch]

The standard size is 18". I rented a 16" for my 10 year old who was 4'9" and 85lb. The 18" at the airport was definitely too big, but it was fine for the short time we needed it at the airport. We rented from a company in FL who delivered it to andpicked it back up again from our resort. Ours was also a temporary need due to a broken ankle. We did make sure that the rental had the leg support so we could raise her leg as needed. Many of the regular chairs don't have this so you do need to ask about it.

 

[Here we go again...]

PS
You may also want to rent a wheelchair with an elevating footrest/legrest. That will help because she would be able to elevate her leg if it swells or aches.

If you do use the elevated foot rest you may need someone to walk along the side of her next to her leg. I had someone trip over my leg after knee replacement and get mad at me. Remember, they are looking up at the sights and forget about us down here.

 

[dfluvsmick]

clanmcculloch.... do you happen to remember the name of the company that you rented from that had 16" wheelchairs? Please let me know.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I rented from K&M Rentals. They were very helpful. I had tried contacting another couple companies that I got from here and TourGuide Mike's special needs board and nobody who I contacted got back to me. The legs on the chair were both able to rise and had padded supports for the back of the calf. I spoke with Mary who was very friendly and helpful. Supposedly they had just gotten in a bunch of new 16" chairs but we didn't get one of the new ones (she told me the new ones had a pouch on the back plus there was a really tiny tear on the arm so I know it wasn't new, but it was still fine so I'm not saying that as a complaint). The chair we got did not have any kind of pouch on the back of the chair but I just hung a bag myself. The chair was waiting for us when we arrived and we left it with bell services when we left. We did a split stay and they were fine with picking it up at a different resort from where they dropped it. The chair folded very easily (just lift the seat from the middle).

 

[dfluvsmick]

Thank you so much. Will call now for a quote

 

[SueM in MN]

I have seen some K & M wheelchairs at the resorts and parks ( even a very little pediatric one). I had not added them to the FAQs thread resources because we didn't have any feedback and I could not find them listed anywhere like the Better Business Bureau.

If anyone else has feedback, I would appreciate it.

 

[clanmcculloch]

My TA sent me the info on K&M because I tried the places listed in the sticky and either they didn't list 16" chairs or they didn't get back to me. It was very frustrating trying to find a chair. My TA said he's had several clients use them with great results. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to use them again. They were friendly, reasonably priced, easy to work with and the chair was great.

 

[maroo]

These folks rent the 16 inch chair and we used them - they were great.

You will want to make sure that the foot plate can elevate...but I bet they can get one that can, if you need it. Edit: The website says they DO have elevating foot rests at no extra charge - just let them know you need one.

And it only costs $70 a week - they deliver and pick up for you, too.


Apple Scooter 16 inch chair

 

[dfluvsmick]

Thank you!