wheelchair rental for newbies...

[buffettgirl]

a few questions:

what's the best location to rent a wheelchair for a 12 year old who's never used one before? Would it be wise to get him measured (or fitted? I have no clue of the correct terminology) here at home first? He doesn't need a chair day to day, so we're not at the point where we need our own, but this summer his stamina has been crazy bad and unpredictable . I anticipate that we're going to need some help on some days while at WDW. Probably not every day. Would renting in the park be best or are those chairs just too large. He's a big kid, though.

Would it be easier to arrange the rental for the week and have it at the hotel in advance even if we thought we'd only need it a few days? We could get to WDW and he could do fine, making it a waste. Or he could do fine at first and then we wouldn't need it till the end of the trip. We never can tell. (we were just on vacation last week and he climbed all over a children's museum one day and was fine but the day before he was exhausted just walking in a park. ) Can they be rented last minute if the need comes up?

All very new for us - what would also be the best option for parents who have never had to push one before? And, what do we do on buses where he can easily walk onto a bus (or ride, or boat, or whatever).

 

[Carnator]

Here is a link that will give you some info concerning some of your questions.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

You might want to rent from a rental company. Some of the onsite resorts are quite large. Even walking to bus stops could be a good walk. Even walking to the Magic Kingdom from the bus stop could be too far.

If you think he could get around the resort ok, then maybe just renting from the parks might be the answer.

 

[peemagg]

Depending upon what you mean as in"big kid", a youth wheelchair that you rent from home and bring with you might be best. Most regular wheelchairs have a seat that is 18"x18". This causes most kids and small adults to swim in them and they aren't that comfortable when they are either too large or too small.

You could go to a medical supply place at home and see if a regular size chair would work for him. If a smaller one is needed I would try and rent it from there and bring with. One thing to keep in mind when sizing him, is if the chair is too wide it will be difficult (to almost impossible) for him to use on his own at all. It will stretch his arms too wide to reach the wheels.

Another thought that you might think about is getting a transport chair that you can take anywhere with you. This is a light weight chair that does not have the big back wheels and have to be pushed at all times. It would give you something to use elsewhere whenever you need it. Transport chairs can be purchased at places like Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and other medical supply places. They are around $100 or more.

Are you flying? If so what about in the airports and getting around? You might possibly need one there too, so you might look into bringing one from home.

For you parents, I recommend a set of good fitting gloves to use when pushing the chair. There are ones out there used for biking that have nice padding in the palms, and some are fingerless. This will make it easier on your hands when pushing the chair.

 

[disney david]

If the wheel chair can fold you can carry it on the bus but if he needs a seat ten I would recommend him staying on the seat and have the chair ties down. That your best way to make ire he has a seat. If the bus is empty and you don't want to use the ramp then just fold the chair and keep it in front of you. If it can't fold then the driver will have to tie it down but he can still transfer to another seat if one available. If the bus is full then they will call in another bus so your wait won't be as long ti wait for the bus assigned to that route. It very easy and 99.9 percent of the drivers are very nice and helpfully. I'd you want to practice you could ride your local public transportation bus it give you a good idea what to expect. Just keep on mind most if not all public transportation buses load through front door and Disney buses load trough the back door.


All Disney buses can hold two wheelchair some can hold three and few can hold four. The new ones are low floor buses that have no steps to enter. They still have some older buses that have stairs and a lift but they are all most gone.

If you get the transport chair unless it made to go on the bus with tie down points your have to fold them thy won't be able to be tied down. Don't let the drivers tie then down some might but they will bend the frame if not made to go on the bus or other rides that use tie down points.

 

[buffettgirl]

Depending upon what you mean as in"big kid", a youth wheelchair that you rent from home and bring with you might be best. Most regular wheelchairs have a seat that is 18"x18". This causes most kids and small adults to swim in them and they aren't that comfortable when they are either too large or too small.

You could go to a medical supply place at home and see if a regular size chair would work for him. If a smaller one is needed I would try and rent it from there and bring with. One thing to keep in mind when sizing him, is if the chair is too wide it will be difficult (to almost impossible) for him to use on his own at all. It will stretch his arms too wide to reach the wheels.

Another thought that you might think about is getting a transport chair that you can take anywhere with you. This is a light weight chair that does not have the big back wheels and have to be pushed at all times. It would give you something to use elsewhere whenever you need it. Transport chairs can be purchased at places like Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and other medical supply places. They are around $100 or more.

Are you flying? If so what about in the airports and getting around? You might possibly need one there too, so you might look into bringing one from home.

For you parents, I recommend a set of good fitting gloves to use when pushing the chair. There are ones out there used for biking that have nice padding in the palms, and some are fingerless. This will make it easier on your hands when pushing the chair.

Thank you. That's exactly what I needed.

In the airport he should be fine. So far it seems to just be a combo of the heat, activity that is getting to him and it's all new. So typical day he walks just fine - we usually go for a bike ride/walk every day usually it's 2 or 3 miles. It's just when the lack of stamina hits, it hits hard, and I never know when that's going to be.

If the wheel chair can fold you can carry it on the bus but if he needs a seat ten I would recommend him staying on the seat and have the chair ties down. That your best way to make ire he has a seat. If the bus is empty and you don't want to use the ramp then just fold the chair and keep it in front of you. If it can't fold then the driver will have to tie it down but he can still transfer to another seat if one available. If the bus is full then they will call in another bus so your wait won't be as long ti wait for the bus assigned to that route. It very easy and 99.9 percent of the drivers are very nice and helpfully. I'd you want to practice you could ride your local public transportation bus it give you a good idea what to expect. Just keep on mind most if not all public transportation buses load through front door and Disney buses load trough the back door.


All Disney buses can hold two wheelchair some can hold three and few can hold four. The new ones are low floor buses that have no steps to enter. They still have some older buses that have stairs and a lift but they are all most gone.

If you get the transport chair unless it made to go on the bus with tie down points your have to fold them thy won't be able to be tied down. Don't let the drivers tie then down some might but they will bend the frame if not made to go on the bus or other rides that use tie down points.

thank you. i think on the bus he'd be fine even if it was a tiring day and even if he had to stand (just as guess as I have no clue really what will happen, but best guess is that he'd have no trouble standing if that was necessary) But I wasn't sure if we could fold it and put it on the bus. I would feel terrible taking a space from someone who couldn't transfer out/stand when we're no where near that amount of need. Like I said, most of the time he's fine. it's just been this sudden drop in stamina this summer that has me worried and coupled with the heat and general amount of activity in WDW I'm really starting to think we will need some assistance.

thanks for the info everyone.

 

[SueM in MN]

Walker and Apple both rent narrower 16 inch wide wheelchairs for people 80 to about 100 pounds.
One of those will work better than a standard adult size wheelchair.

Both companies are listed in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
There are also companies that rent special needs strollers listed there.

 

[buffettgirl]

Walker and Apple both rent narrower 16 inch wide wheelchairs for people 80 to about 100 pounds.
One of those will work better than a standard adult size wheelchair.

Both companies are listed in post 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread.
There are also companies that rent special needs strollers listed there.

He's about 110lbs and almost 5 foot tall, so I think I'll have to take him to a local place and see what fits. He's 12 and, like I said, most of the time has no trouble. So a special needs stroller would not be needed. He's balking at the suggestion that he might need a wheelchair. I can't imagine if I suggested he get in a stroller. He thinks there is nothing wrong with him...at all. I laugh a little at that, and then it makes me sad too.

 

[disney david]

He's about 110lbs and almost 5 foot tall, so I think I'll have to take him to a local place and see what fits. He's 12 and, like I said, most of the time has no trouble. So a special needs stroller would not be needed. He's balking at the suggestion that he might need a wheelchair. I can't imagine if I suggested he get in a stroller. He thinks there is nothing wrong with him...at all. I laugh a little at that, and then it makes me sad too.

Well you could rent one from off site and see if it helps or he dose not needed. Then if you don't need it you could call the company and have them pick it up early some times it better to have it then not. Or rent at the parks but that be expensive and you wouldn't be able to take it out of the parks. In the end you will know what best for him so if you think he needed then rent it I am sure now he thinks he wont need one but at Disney after all the walking he might think differently. Well I hope you you have a great trip and If you have any other question please feel free to ask.

 

[buffettgirl]

Well you could rent one from off site and see if it helps or he dose not needed. Then if you don't need it you could call the company and have them pick it up early some times it better to have it then not. Or rent at the parks but that be expensive and you wouldn't be able to take it out of the parks. In the end you will know what best for him so if you think he needed then rent it I am sure now he thinks he wont need one but at Disney after all the walking he might think differently. Well I hope you you have a great trip and If you have any other question please feel free to ask.

Thanks David. We're in this weird transition period with him right now. And due to the nature of his disease we just have zero clue what might happen next. Like I said above, we walk or bike nearly every day - many miles. But it's not disney. (it IS 90 and humid though LOL)

 

[SueM in MN]

You could always get a wheelchair and use it for distances, but park it when you get to the general area you are going to be in.

 

[buffettgirl]

You could always get a wheelchair and use it for distances, but park it when you get to the general area you are going to be in.

oh? I guess I didn't even know you could do this. Park it with the strollers??

 

[SueM in MN]

oh? I guess I didn't even know you could do this. Park it with the strollers??

Exactly

 

[buffettgirl]

just thought i'd update. In the end we took phone numbers for rentals but didn't end up needing to get one. The weather was much cooler than we've had (even at home in MA) so he was not overly drained each day. He also has reached the age where he has realized that napping is good for him, so he took nice long naps each afternoon instead of spending the entire time swimming. Because of the naps, we had a lot less trouble at nights when the temps were cooler and the lines weren't as long. In the past he'd be exhausted by 8pm even with a mid afternoon swim break. The napping was key.

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[disney david]

just thought i'd update. In the end we took phone numbers for rentals but didn't end up needing to get one. The weather was much cooler than we've had (even at home in MA) so he was not overly drained each day. He also has reached the age where he has realized that napping is good for him, so he took nice long naps each afternoon instead of spending the entire time swimming. Because of the naps, we had a lot less trouble at nights when the temps were cooler and the lines weren't as long. In the past he'd be exhausted by 8pm even with a mid afternoon swim break. The napping was key.

Thanks for everyone's help.

That great I am glad you all had a great time it better to have the numbers and not need them then not then and need them.

 

[buffettgirl]

That great I am glad you all had a great time it better to have the numbers and not need them then not then and need them.

I agree. It has also made my husband and I decide that we do need to have this convo with our specialists the next time we all meet. It's an inevitable thing that's going to happen. Might as well be prepared. I have a great local friend who also has a child with this same syndrome so she's been carefully helping me find my way. It has helped that my son has seen her daughter in a w/c and also seen her walking and functioning normally.

 

[SueM in MN]

Glad things worked out.

The thing I think is a key is to look at the wheelchair like a pair of glasses. No one think of using glasses as a negative thing. They are just what some people need to use.

 

[peemagg]

Glad things worked out.

The thing I think is a key is to look at the wheelchair like a pair of glasses. No one think of using glasses as a negative thing. They are just what some people need to use.

I have the same type of theory for any mobility device or aid that someone needs. I look at them as tools. You need a hammer to build a house. Some of us need other things to get around. No shame in that! The shame is not using them because of your pride!

 

[buffettgirl]

Glad things worked out.

The thing I think is a key is to look at the wheelchair like a pair of glasses. No one think of using glasses as a negative thing. They are just what some people need to use.

I have the same type of theory for any mobility device or aid that someone needs. I look at them as tools. You need a hammer to build a house. Some of us need other things to get around. No shame in that! The shame is not using them because of your pride!

that's such a good way to look at it.