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Welcome! If you’ve found yourself on this page, the chances are that you’re interested in mobility aids. Whether you’re considering if they’re right for you, seeking tips for making the best choices, or after some advice for making the most of life on wheels, you’ve come to the right place.
I can’t claim to have all the answers, but my own experiences have taught me a lot about using mobility aids alongside my chronic illness. On this page, you’ll find a combination of blog posts, YouTube videos, and social media content spanning all aspects of using mobility aids alongside a long-term condition – some designed to be informational resources, others sharing my own lived experiences. Although I’m unable to help individuals directly, I really hope these resources help make the road ahead smoother (physically and metaphorically!) and much more enjoyable for you.
Am I ‘Allowed’ To Use Mobility Aids?
- Power-chairs aren’t just for elderly people. Here’s my little online look-book of adults and young adults using their mobility aids with style.
- The way that mobility aids have been represented in marketing in the past can make us worry that they’re not designed to be used by us. It’s time to challenge that assumption.
- Many wheelchair users are ambulant, which means they can use their legs some of the time, but not necessarily all the time. This video dives into what it means to be an ambulatory wheelchair user.
- A fear of stigma about being an ambulatory wheelchair user can put people off using the aids that could really help them. Here are my thoughts on that internal conflict.
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What Aids And Equipment Are Right For Me?
- There are similarities between powerchairs and mobility scooters, but also key differences. This post aims to help you decide which is the best option for you.
- Walking aids are just one category of equipment that can help you manage fatigue. You can find plenty more examples here.
- Sadly, it’s the cost of many mobility aids that prohibits people from accessing them. There are no magical solutions, but here’s how my Instagram audience funded their aids, including their tips and advice.
- Off-road wheelchairs are incredibly cool and I *wish* there were more of them available to hire in public spaces.
- In 2024, it was time for a new power-chair. Here’s a blog post about how I chose and funded the power-chair I’m using now.
How Do I Choose The Best Mobility Aids?
- Many people have questions about using mobility aids and ME/CFS (or similar Energy Limiting Conditions) – this video answers all the most frequently asked questions.
- If you’re in the market to buy mobility aids, here are my five top tips for choosing the best ones for you.
- One year on from getting my first power-chair, here’s what I’ve learned and what I wish I had done differently.
- Different models of power-chair have different features that suit chronic illness symptoms. Here are some of the snazzier options coming onto the market.
Ways To Deal With Stigma Or Insecurities
- One of my first ever freelance articles explored using mobility aids with an invisible illness – the stigma, struggles, but ultimately the benefits of using a wheelchair with a less-visible condition. You can also watch this one in video format.
- Disney Made Me Question My Disability – here are some of the reactions I noticed when standing up from my wheelchair in Disneyland Paris.
- Dealing with ignorant or unnecessary comments from strangers is unfortunately part of the wheelchair experience when you’re a young adult. The more we talk about these things, the better we can challenge the stigma.
- Sometimes even when people compliment you, it can have slightly problematic undertones. Here are some tips for responding in those situations.
- The lockdowns affected my relationship with mobility aids much more than I expected them to. Here’s how I moved forward when things began to open up again.
Life With Mobility Aids
- Here are 5 accessible holiday destinations in the UK. Some I’ve visited myself, others are high up on my bucket list.
- Travelling with a wheelchair does come with challenges, but it can be awesome. You can find some of my blog post trip reports here, and watch my wheelchair travel vlogs on YouTube.
- Using public transport with a wheelchair can feel scary, but time and practice makes all the difference. Here are my top tips for building confidence on public transport as a new wheelchair user.
- If you take a break from using mobility aids, you might find that you have to rebuild your stamina to handle the exertion. Here’s my experience, and also some tips for keeping warm in a wheelchair during the colder seasons.
- My BundleBean wheelchair cosy is my holy grail product and I only wish I’d discovered them sooner. Here’s my review and a cheeky discount code.
- Some public attractions enable you to rent mobility aids for the day, and I can’t wait for the time when this becomes more mainstream.
- There are all kinds of fun activities that are wheelchair-accessible or adaptive. Here are some of the things I’ve tried so far, and there are even more recommendations in the comments section.
Can Using Mobility Aids Impact Your Physical Health Condition?
- Using mobility aids has helped me to walk. Yes, you read that right. Here’s how using a wheelchair has helped to stabilise my fluctuating symptoms and even allow me to slowly increase my physical strength.
- I’m Not ‘Undefeatable’, and exercise isn’t a ‘cure all’ for chronic illness. Using mobility aids like a wheelchair is one way that people can better pace themselves and avoid the ‘booming and busting’ that makes so many of us unwell.
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And there we have it! Thanks so much for reading. I hope this info comes in helpful, and here’s to your own wonderful journey with mobility aids!
I don’t have a Patreon or Ko-fi or any similar platforms, but if you found this page helpful, I’d be so grateful if you would check out my books and eBooks, spread the word about my work, or join my lovely community over on Instagram. It’d be great to have you!