6 replies to this topic

[Gary Anderson]

Please help folks. Can anyone out there tell me what sort of special adaptations you can have made to an electric wheelchair. My nephew still remains critically ill, however, we are hoping that he will recover and the suggestion has been made about "specially adapted electric chairs."

We are COMPLETELY IGNORANT. My SIL tried asking an OT but was told to "wait until he recovers first."

So, if anyone can help, please reply.

Thanks in advance.

[kanga2433]

Well I don't know much but some people manage to control a chiar with just suck and puff. Thesite adminsitrator for the Tranverse Myelitis Site, J Lubin is C2 vent dependant and yet used suck and puff to run the message board and move about. You could ask there and probably get some good advice.

[russ1]

I think the OT's advice is probably pretty well spot on as until they have some idea of the extent of your nephew's function as he recovers post trauma then they won't know quite what he needs but rest assured that as long as he can sit in a chair then there's an adaption that can be made to enable him to get around by himself - these vary from sip andpuff controls to chin controlled joysticks to hand controlled joysticks.

[Gary Anderson]

Cheers Russ. To be honest, my brain is clogged, I never thought of those adaptations. My nephew can move nothing so I expect sip/puff would be best.

Thanks.

[lynne]

Hi Gary,

As you know my son is C3 complete like your nephew except that he has no movement whatsoever. He uses a chin controlled wheelchair and has fairly got the hang of it now, although he still bumps into everything. I tell him he needs to get L plates!! Simon from Portugal has something similar, I gather. From what I remember Alan has some hand movements so there are other chairs that are designed for people with limited hand movements, the controls are on the arm of the chair. I have seen them in operation in Rehab. It gives them a sense of independence, not having to rely on somebody to push them around.

How is Alan doing, I saw on the other site that he was to have another operation how did it go?

My thoughts are with him and everybody involved.

Lynne

[Gary Anderson]

Hi Lynne

Afraid the new on my nephew remains not very good. He had another operation, however, has remained on the criticial list for the past few days. At this point, my own medical opinion ( and I am only an anaesthetist) is that he will not survive. However, we can only wait and pray.

[Simon]

You can have hand control (left or right mounted), chin control, head control, suck/puff - almost anything really for any disability even voice control has been tried.
I have a chin control as mentioned above. I bump into things occasionally still, normally when reversing despite memorising my surroundings!
Simon