#wheelchairuser — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #wheelchairuser, aggregated by home.social.
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(Ireland, not ME-specific)
I thought I would highlight again the Independent Travel Support (ITS) service that exists in Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Waterford and Galway. According to some search results it is also available in Drogheda and Dundalk.#Disabled #Disability #wheelchair #WheelchairUser #mobilityscooter
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Some things can’t be helped, or at least I can’t personally think of an alternative. Some things are just on the top shelf and it’s just bad luck when I get so many in one trip.
But some things could be made more accessible.I *loathe* the doors that are fitted on all refrigerators in supermarkets now. It is ridiculously hard to open them towards me and manoeuvre my chair round while keeping them open.
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Popped to the shops for a few things. Out of 6 items, 4 I had to ask for someone’s help. It’s so tedious.
#WheelchairUser #Accessibility -
Time for #TipOfDay since I’ve been glowing for a few days now with joy in having a number or things go right; good coffee at hand and a quiet home to browse online and remember other pleasant things that took a lot of work yet went well. This post has many accommodations we use for #Accessibility.
Solved: for my son who is a wheelchair user to sit right up to the table. The height of the chair arms was limiting how close he could sit. Tables were way too low or too high. After trips to furniture stores with no success finding a table with height to allow wheelchair to fit under it. “Counter height” tables too high.
Son has to have support for his back and arms while eating. He has declining dexterity so he has a special spoon and adult bib. I’ve kept a heavy vinyl topper on the heavy oak table and use placemats. Think: messy eater. He could only get seated close but still 8-10” farther away from the edge of our table because of the arms of his chair or wheelchair. We all wanted him to sit right up with us.
So, no new table was available and none online a height where a wheelchair user can fit in with the rest of the adults at the table. Think of how many families have this same issue! Surely a workaround is needed.
Voilá, lightbulb moment. Got very strong walnut risers 1” tall for table legs. Drilled hole through and got bolts 1 1/2” to attach to original hole in leg used for original bolt with thin hard caster. Put 2 heavy felt casters in place. Now table perfect height to allow an armchair or wheelchair to slide under. But the old chairs were a bit low for table now. Voilá, very thick chair pads solved it all. Instead of spending $1,000 or more on new table and chairs, spent about $100 and we are all happy. #Disability #Wheelchair #WheelchairUser #DisabilityAdvocacy
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I really wish I could get a job in accessibility auditing, campaigning, consulting or something.
I want to make this shit better somehow. It shouldn’t be like this, any of it. -
CW: V long rant about accessibility at the cinema
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CW: V long rant about accessibility at the cinema
Over a month since I made a complaint about accessibility and quality of their 9 year old cinema, Showcase have finally responded.
For context - we went to see Wicked 2 on my Not Birthday last month. We booked the accessible row but non-wheelchair so I could take Roach but have a recliner seat. Paid extra for Xplus or "crystal clear definition" and "breathtaking, multidimensional sound". Spent a fortune on some impressively mediocre snacks.Issue 1 - The seat didn't recline (broken) but it wasn't busy so we just moved along
Issue 2 - The screen quality was awful - there were swirly patterns all over the image throughout, which was really distracting
Issue 3 - The audio quality was possibly the worst I've ever experienced in a cinema. We could only hear it coming from the front because the accessible row had a high wall behind in where the regular stadium seating started so we were essentially in front of a baffle that blocked/muffled all the sound coming from the sides, meaning the mix was really odd in places.We approached a staff member afterwards to make a complaint or at least let them know about the broken seat. They called a manager but I didn't want to hang around any more as I was feeling pretty overstimulated by that point and just wanted to go home. So I used their contact form online the next day.
I got a one line response a couple of days later asking if we'd received anything when we spoke to the staff member. I confirmed we hadn't. I got no further communication from them despite chasing it twice, until today.
Here is the response pasted directly."Thank you for the email below and we sinceely apologise for the experience you received in particular as it was your birthday to enjoy the reclining seat.
Wheelchair spaces are provided on the Gallery level as well as the low level between screens 1-6 except screen 4 , each row has is separated by a wall which does not impact the sound but provided adequate leg space for reclining the chairs and guest access.
I, sincerely apologise you have not had the correct response and it is unfortuante you did not speak with a manager on the day as the feedback would have been addressed with return tickets offered .
As a gesture of goodwill I would like to extend two complimenatry tickets to return in the near future, in hope you will accept them, please your full postal address."Firstly, it is just terribly written for a person responsible for customer service. Maybe I'm being picky but there's a typo in the first sentence ffs.
Secondly, flat out telling me I'm incorrect about the sound being impacted by a solid wall is... a choice.
And then asking for more personal information so they can send two free tickets to go back? Bold. Their entire ticketing system is online so I'm not entirely sure why they couldn't just be emailed.
No mention of them ghosting me for a month or the screen quality.But say I even wanted to go back, how would it be different? I checked out the gallery option, wondering why we hadn't seen it when we booked before. I couldn't find any available accessible tickets in the gallery in any showings I checked, until I realised that area is only available in the evening - we went mid afternoon.
It's also at least £10-15 more expensive and the actual wheelchair options? Right at the back in the corner of course! And you don't get a seat, just a space for your chair. Because ambulatory wheelchair users don't exist. What do you mean your chair doesn't recline? Ah, sucks to be you!Of course you can just book regular seats in the gallery section and assume there's somewhere to store your wheelchair. Given the gallery has its own bar I wouldn't imagine that'd be too difficult, assuming they allow you to do that.
So if you're an ambulatory wheelchair user or can't do stairs and don’t want to sit right at the front:
- You can only go to the cinema in the evening
- It'll cost you £44-50 for two, not including drinks or snacks
- It'll be less if you're happy to sit in your wheelchair AND you have a CEA card as you'll get a free carer seat, BUT you have to sit at the back in the corner with the worst view of the screen
- You may or may not be able to store your chair/mobility aid somewhere nearby
If you're a full time wheelchair user, even less choice. If you're also going alone, it's not even cheaper - you're paying the same price as everyone else for an empty space to park.This turned out even longer than I anticipated, I'm sorry. It is just SO frustrating. Even more so when you get responses like this.
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I’m thinking I might take myself to the cinema tomorrow.
I haven’t been to the cinema since before lockdown and I’ve never gone as a wheelchair user so that might be fun.
Of course it’s school holidays but maybe it won’t be too bad midday on a Friday?
Or I could just go see something 18 or foreign.
Tips and recommendations welcome ☺️
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In much less frustrating news, the company I bought Roach ♿️ from have promptly sent out a new wheel to replace the broken one so I can go out on a little adventure for my birthday tomorrow while D is at work.
Now I need to decide what to do / where to go…
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If you can't leave the sidewalk clear of *even your tailgate* when you pull into a residential driveway...
*Park at the curb you motherfuckers*.
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Having had my steed for a couple of weeks, here are a few more things I have noticed:
- Sadly, my chair is not that expensive (in the general scale of these things) so I am starting to notice flaws such as how difficult she is to turn from stopped.
This is especially frustrating trying to manoeuvre myself to tables in pubs.- I had no idea how slanted pavements were until I had to negotiate them in a chair that will run straight into a busy road, lampposts and people if I don’t adjust for them enough.
- That said, now I’ve had a bit more practice, in a straight flat area I can go pretty fast. This is enjoyable.
- Playing chicken with (particularly but not exclusively) white males who are used to other people being the ones moving out of the way is especially satisfying.
*Mate, I am at least twice your weight even without the chair, get the fuck out of the way. *♿️
#ActuallyAutistic #Disabled #MyFirstWheelchair #WheelchairUser -
I meant to post that I had my first “have you got a license for that?” in the pub the other day.
Suggestions for witty/funny comebacks very welcome.Also for any other silly things people say to wheelchair users because I’m rubbish when put on the spot.
#Disabled #WheelchairUser -
Outside AGAIN.
This chair could be our financial ruin now I can easily go out by myself in the day. That said, I think I can manage the occasional sausage roll.I have no idea why it gives me the confidence it does. I’m going into shops, interacting with people, all stuff I genuinely really struggled with before when alone.
#Disabled #WheelchairUser #ActuallyAutistic -
Outside of living costs, my wheelchair batteries are slowly approaching end of life due to... idk planned obsolescence bullshit with lithium-ion batteries and how much you can charge them and get out of them per charge as they get older and-- a lot of shit I don't understand but the point IS, they're slowly dying on me.
My wheelchair is how I go places without a million exhaustion Every Time. The optimal OEM replacement is $500 (plus whatever shipping); I can't even figure out what non-OEM option might work, plus I'd rather not risk fires and explosions. (Mind you, I don't know why a 24v 20Ah (480Wh) battery is $500 but that's fucking disability markup for you. 🙃🙃)
(Also, I need a better/different cushion. My tailbone hates my current one - it worked great for my old chair but... lmao.)
We have a vague plan to ask a local-ish medical supplies store if they carry or can get this battery and if so, how much (aka will it be a better price than ordering it ourselves) but we'll still need to be able to *pay* for it.
So... if anyone is able to help out, that's great. 💕 (If any of y'all know someone who can absolutely spare a whole $500 at once, stick this in their face and be like "come on help them keep their independence" lolol.)
For real tho, passing this along to a wider circle is A++, the more eyes the better, and if that's all you can do: thank you!! I appreciate it! If you can manage $1, or $5, or $10, $25, whatever increment you can spare: thank you!! I appreciate it!
My cashapp is $Inoru
Spouse's venmo (because I don't have venmo; pls specify "for Inoru's chair"): @californiummmAsk @camilla for PayPal/zelle info if cashapp or venmo don't work for you. 💕 (please also specify "for Inoru's chair")
#transcrowdfund #transcrowdfunding #disabledcrowdfund #disabledcrowdfunding #deafcrowdfund #deafcrowdfunding #helpfolkslive #HelpFolksLive2025 #mutualaid #MutualAidRequest #moneyhelp #wheelchairuser #powerchairuser #wereallwegot #passingthesame20bucksaround
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I have to keep reminding myself the reason I’m feeling better, less tired, in less pain is *because* of the chair.
Not because I don’t need it.
The imposter syndrome is wild. -
More things I have learned from my first wheelchair:
Slow walking people with no spatial awareness are my nemesis.
Actually - all people walking in the same direction as me.
People coming towards me mostly seem to do the little panicked side step dance.Pram bags are great for wheelchairs and have so many pockets.
Carabiners are essential. Need more.
I’m surprised how much using a wheelchair has helped my Autism. I can basically just put in my loops/headphones and there’s so much less sensory input to deal with.
I guess I never realised how much pain was amplifying everything and making just being outside so much harder.#ActuallyAutistic #Disabled #MyFirstWheelchair #WheelchairUser
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CW: Long post about accessibility at gigs
We're seeing Alanis Morissette this time next week. It's the last of the "stuff I missed out on in my youth" gigs this year and the first I booked when I found out about it back in January.
I've not been to gigs for a long time due to costs/accessibility and going again this year as a #Disabled person has been challenging but mostly it's all generally worked out ok.
But this Alanis gig has been the most stressful of them all and I'm starting to actually dread it and honestly, that feels pretty bloody bad.
It started when they changed the venue. It was supposed to be Cardiff Castle - a well known and established venue with plenty of reviews and reports of the accessibility available online.
Because of "demand" (greed of the organisers) it was moved to a field about 15-20 minutes walk away at Blackweir Fields.I've been voicing my concerns about the accessibility to the organisers via email since they notified me of the move. As best as I can tell, they haven't ever put on a live music event at this location, certainly not to this scale - Cardiff Castle was 9000, Blackweir is somewhere around 35000. So I have no idea about the arrangements outside of what little the organiser Cuffe & Taylor have said.
I've twice had to inform them links on their website don't work, including their "Accessibility Pack" that was supposedly available weeks ago but amazingly, literally not actually accessible to view from any browser or device I tried.
Strangely, it is now - just minutes before I got a response to my last email telling them about it.
I have only just had it confirmed there'll be metal tracking at least between the entrance and the accessible platform.
The "sensory tent" for neurodivergent ticketholders however, is about as far from the platform as it can get and without tracking. So almost certainly inaccessible if it rains and the ground is muddy.Then they've just told me that my "essential companion" ticket does not include a chair (you cannot take your own as chairs are on the list of banned items, which also includes umbrellas). They expect D to stand next to me the entire gig. I've told them how ridiculous that is and how it would make communication difficult and potentially painful. Also, depending on how they've set the platform up, wtf is a wheelchair user behind a standing carer supposed to do? Or are they going to line up the carers to the side like waiting servants?
It's all so... exhausting.
I'm so close to just not going and trying to get a refund.It really shouldn't be this fucking difficult should it?
#WheelchairUser #Accessibility #Disabled #MusicVenues #Alanis
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Los Angeles Weird(tm) from today:
- the (probably unhoused) dude on a bicycle with the back wheel normal adult size for the adult size frame, but a thicker, smaller, white kid's bike tire for the front wheel. Seemed to work pretty okay for him, 0 struggle. Just kind of "what the fuck..." to watch go past. 😅😂
- the quite possibly high af dude cheerfully running along with a water bottle, fast food & drink, who paused and asked me for a cigarette and I told him "no, sorry" (I don't smoke). He took off again cheerfully enough and kept trying to yell things back at me, but. I'm deaf. Didn't understand a whit of it. Hope you got a cig eventually, dude.
- the short (maybe my height) dude with this big dog - possibly an Old English Sheepdog in need of a groom? - and *I* might have been the weird one there... I definitely exclaimed, "what a puppy!!" 🤣😅😅
#LosAngeles #LosAngelesEncounters #VanNuysCA #PanoramaCityCA #weirdmoments #everydayweird #betheweird #funmoments #lifeisweirdrollwithit #wheelchairuser #powerchairuser
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:boost_requested: My system's wheelchair keeps eating our fingernails. If we don't cut our fingernails ourselves, our wheelchair will do it for us! This is less convenient than it sounds. Does anyone else deal with this? Any tips on how to avoid the Automatic Nail Clipper? 😭 Help,,
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Ref Sheet Commission for Vio of their fursona!
#Furry #SFW #SFWfurry #FurryArt #Otter #Disabled #Disability #WheelchairUser -
Cringing with your shoulders in your ears as you make the turn doesn't absolve you from making the turn that you knew damn well you shouldn't have *because there was a pedestrian (me) starting to cross*.
That "GET FUCKED!" wasn't even a tic, just accurate.
#VanNuysCA #traffic #traffuck #wheelchairuser #powerchairuser #gobacktodrivingschool #LosAngeles #LosAngelesCounty
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Hey. Help us pay for my new wheelchair? I'm desperately hoping the issues with my current chair are that it's old and battered and possibly needs more in repairs than would be worth it (it's better than NOT having one, don't get me wrong...). But $1,100 (rounded slightly up) is a dear price even if cheaper than we'd ever get anything custom.
We're hoping to pay it off in chunks, since we used a credit card, but. The assurance of *having* the money to pay it off would be awesome - and y'all can say you helped buy my chair! Win/win!
Current goal is at $50/$100
(Unless that's changed literally while I've been typing 🤣)
My cashapp is $Inoru, spouse's CashApp is $ceahhettan and his
Venmo is @/californiummm; ask them for paypal/zelle. Comment wheelchair or a Blue wheelchair emoji with specifically-for-this donations! Any amount helps and I/we appreciate!<*wiggles in New Wheelchair excitement*>
#crowdfund #crowdfunding #transcrowdfund #transcrowdfunding #disabledcrowdfund #disabledcrowdfunding #deafcrowdfund #deafcrowdfunding #helpfolkslive #HelpFolksLive2025 #mutualaid #MutualAidRequest #moneyhelp #ambulatorywheelchairuser #hEDS #hypermobility #hypermobileEhlersDanlosSyndrome #wheelchairuser #powerchair #wheelchaircrowdfunding #powerchaircrowdfunding #IsThisEnoughHashtags #hashtag
via @camilla
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New #introduction / #intro post!
I'm Rachamim. I live in North West England and I'm a multiply #Disabled and #ChronicallyIll writer.
My unrealistic life goal is to earn a mention on Wikipedia's List of #Jewish #anarchistsI read and watch #mysterythriller 🔪 #SciFi 👽 #fantasy 🪄and #horror 👻
I *write* horror & #weirdfiction
