September 2019

Reviews can help promote independence

Independence is important to me therefore I always aim to choose products that enhance my quality of life. This usually means that it is not a standard product as things have to be adapted to suit me. This is known as an inclusive design. Reading product reviews and recommendations helps me choose which products to buy and gives me ideas for making life easier.

What I look for when choosing products to enhance my life

The main thing I have to look for is the height of products. It’s difficult to be sure of my height as I cannot stand straight but I’m approximately 4ft 8 inches. This lack of height coupled with how Cerebral Palsy affects my muscles means that products need to be really low. Therefore hardly any standard products are of use as they are all too tall! This is why I take a step with me when I’m away from home but this isn’t practical for daily life.

The other thing I look for in disability aids is portability. This is rare as disability equipment tends to be quite bulky. I often find that non-disability products, repurposed, work best. Read my article for some ideas.

Reviews of places I’ve been to

Reviews of places I’ve seen or stayed at will be largely based on my own access needs but I will include other information if known. If you have a specific question you would like answered or would like me to review please contact me.

Me with a shopping trolley attached to my chair
My TDX powerchair
My PowerChair

Disability

15/09/2019

In this category. I will write about my experiences, sharing what living with the disability known as Cerebral Palsy is like for me.

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral Palsy is a neurological condition where parts of the brain don’t develop properly. It can be caused by infection or abnormal brain development. In my case, I was born three months early so the part of my brain that controls movement never developed properly. The reason for my premature birth was never discovered.

How does your disability affect you?

My disability affects my arms and legs which means I have poor dexterity and I cannot stand or walk unaided. My need for equipment to assist me in life is a must as is my need for care support. I have to access services to get this assistance. As a result, my opinions have become well-formed over the years!

I rely on my wheelchair to move around and grab bars to transfer. In order to be able to transfer all of my equipment needs to be at the correct height and in the right place. Because of this, I have a wet room with grab bars surrounding the toilet, a shower chair, a slide sheet to assist me to transfer in and out of my shower chair, a custom made manual wheelchair and a profiling bed.

Without the above products, which I will review, I would be reliant on a hoist, many people with a disability do! While there is nothing wrong with this, hoists are large and therefore take up space. It is also healthier for me to use my muscles and to move my body as much as possible. The reviews category and the disability category will cross over. Therefore posts written under reviews will cover a specific place, event or piece of equipment. This disability section is where I will write about everything else and hope to have discussions with my readers along the way.

My Dog, Ben, Sunbathing in the garden — Me with an umbrella attachment