[loolie]

well im a t12 incomplete spine just moved over. I dont use a board i believe i might have for the first few months. My theory is you have to test your limits bc if you dont you will be in the spot you left the hospital in.... Doctors tell you this is it and you get that mnd theory so I say the heck with that stuff. I know some have to use the equipment but if you dont why use it? I have a poster bed which is high off the floor I personally just pop on the side of my chair and pop in. Before i got my honda i had a explorer that i didnt have gears put in and i did the same just pop in you just have to intervine your other muscles and find a way to go about doing things. Just like with the bath tub. I dont want to take a shower on a chair all the time so you got to pop in the tub. I think we focus to much on all this they cant do it without this kind of thing and its not so. The world needs to see that we can do just as much as if our legs are walking we just may have to improvise in away. Im not trying to cut down on your project or question or anyone who needs these things bc i know some do but i feel some feel they do bc its instilled in them and when my accident occured my mother instilled in me i didnt need it that i could do anything i set my mind to and worked at. I may fall trying but in the end i would get there and learn to do it in the end and i have and it makes life a whole lot easier knowing i can get in the car any car truck or chair bed i want to no matter how high without a board or a tub. I can go out of town not having to worry about how imgoing to take a shower. I think if its possible for the person they need to be taught those skills not this is what we can do for you so you can tug this around......

[Smoothcruz]

Will, on Mar 11 2006, 01:29 AM, said:

Hi, I'm a student studying a Bechelor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury New Zealand. For our design class we are designing a method of independently transfering a C5/6 quadriplegic from a wheelchair to a bed. I was interested to see if anyone has methods they would like to suggest to accomplash this task.

kind regards

Will

I would have to agree with loolie just jumping in with both feet and trying things without using adaptive equipment I really feel is the best method! When I first had my accident I remember the doctors telling me in the hospital that I would never be able to take care of myself and transfer myself in and out of my wheelchair and somehow that stuck in my head for over four years. And then not long ago I was invited on a fishing trip where I would not be able to bring my wife a long to take care of me (to dress me transfer me in an out of bed and help get me cleaned up!), well I decided to go and I decided that I was not too comfortable with having all the guys that were going on this trip doing all the things for me that my wife usually does! I had three weeks to prepare for this trip and within one week I was putting myself in an out of bed completely by myself without the aid of a transfer board or any other adaptive aid, I really feel if you can do things with out adaptive aids you are much better off I find that transferring is easier without using a transfer board anyways! As far as getting in and out of my vehicle I still have a little work to do on that one but I will figure it out in time! And getting dressed I found can be done it is just very time-consuming and I'm sure with practice I will get faster.[/size]