48 replies to this topic

[Trinity]

Beautiful, on 21 December 2011 - 11:11 PM, said:

Are you able to push with one hand? I can't really explain how I do it. I just use one hand while holding the container. If I lose momentum, I can push off my wheel with my elbow. I don't know if that makes any sense... ha.

The one hand push is a very useful skill to learn and essential for carrying cups of tea etc (you can't ram hot drinks between your legs!) Using walls and furniture to push off helps build up momentum and to get round any corners. Best practiced with cold water though!

[wheeliebear75]

My APOLOGIES! I can't believe I did such a big boo-boo!

OK....here is the IKEA link for the BRADA tray here in the U.S., ------>

http://www.ikea.com/...ducts/80115790/

edlee, on 22 December 2011 - 11:14 PM, said:

Hey Wheeliebear,, where's that USA link you mentioned???
ed

http://www.ikea.com/...ducts/80115790/

[Victoria]

This is a great website! Thanks to everyone for their suggestions, today was the first time I had seen all the input, and I'm really impressed! and grateful, happy new year to you all!

[alflyhigh]

just rock a kiter water bottle.

[AussieBrad]

I have a lap table that is very handy..another idea I saw on some ones w/chair was a water bottle holder off a pushbike zip tied to the chair
down near the front castor...

[greybeard]

greybeard, on 22 December 2011 - 04:05 PM, said:

joskevermeulen, on 22 December 2011 - 02:35 PM, said:

Hello to all of you,

Sorry for my bad english but i will do my best. I use a laptop cushion that i bought by IKEA.
The back-site is a cushion, the upper-site is a horizontal plastc(pvc)platform.
I put it on my knees so i can move with two ore more drinks to another room.

See: http://www.ikea.com/...ducts/10086654/

No more spills.

Hi joskevermeulen, welcome to the forum.

This is also available in the UK http://www.ikea.com/...ducts/60115791/
It is a bit wider than the Trabasak so might suit those of larger girth, like me . It lacks the straps of the Trabasak but with the extra width they might not be needed. Think I'll get one to try and let you know how it goes.

Well, this lap tray arrived this morning and I'm very impressed with it. These dimensions : Width: 51 cm & Depth: 38 cm, mean that it is roughly half as big again than the Trabasak. For me, it is much more stable than the Trabasak, which tends to slip down between my knees. Having said that, I've found that putting the Ikea tray on top of the Trabasak lifts the working surface up to an ideal height for using the laptop (I'm typing this, this way at the moment) and also the perfect height on which to rest the forearms while holding a book or a Kindle. At £9.99, it was definitely a good buy.

[Dean1978]

I use a big cup that has a handle on it with a lid. makes it alot easier

[brockit79]

Victoria, on 21 December 2011 - 09:35 PM, said:

I'm in hospital, and needed to get water as I have some yummy Movicol in store. I filled up my jug but then sat like a lemon waiting for someone (a busy nurse with better things to be doing)to push me.If I had put it between my legs I would have spilled it and looked silly and sad. So, dear friends have I missed something, what should I have done?!

Vict,

in rehab you will probably have wheelchair skills sessions and they will teach you pushing techniques. bean bag trays are good too. the last thing you want to do is get in to the habit of putting a cup or jug on your lap in case you put a hot drink on your lap. It does happen. Yeah I push right wheel with right hand whilst carrying receptacle in my left, then swap and put receptacle in my right and push my left wheel with my left hand. Go steady though and practice with an empty one first.

hope it helps ye to be sure to be sure

[Tetracyclone]

I Keep It Simple S. I reuse 1 liter bottled water containers, screw the lid on, and tuck it between butt and side guard of my chair.

[Edinburgh Colin]

In rehab I used to have a 500ml coke bottle that I used to refil and shove between the rigidizer bar on the back rest and the upholstrey of the back rest.
Bottle side also helped keep track of fluid intake which was a bonus, 500mls every 4 hours between caths, very convenient.

[joegoldie]

i can hold most cups or glasses with my teeth but i'm a quad. i have lap trays throughout that i set cups on too.

[richo]

try an electric wheelchair

[BillS]

If you look at this picture of me you'll see I have a belt looped around my legs. It allows me to carry just about anything in my lap without dropping it. I didn't use one to begin with but when my daughter was born I needed something to stop her from falling through my legs as I carried her, this worked perfectly and I've been using it ever since.

[dreamerr]

I find them very heavy and I don't want more weight on my chair. I have been using humans to carry stuff. Someone needs to come up with a very lightweight tray that doesn't cost a lot cause as you know stuff for disabled peeps cost way more then other things. A laptop tray with a bean bag is only 20 bucks.

[cigarman]

I have made a cup holder that just pops into the frame of the wheelchair where the foot rest should sit
it is just a small piece of broom handle with a 4" square piece of ply woodon top for the cup to sit on

[dom]

How does one bring a jug of water to ones room? i would have thought ones butler did it

[greybeard]

Cue Clara ......................Tadaaaa!!! OOps - sorry. Lady Clarrington.

Edited by greybeard, 18 March 2012 - 01:19 PM.

[HowiRolldotcom]

Try holding the jug in one hand, preferably your weaker hand. Then, use your stronger hand to push off the hospital walls (or anything stationary) as you roll down the hall. It will take some getting used to, but much more efficient than pushing 1 wheel and rolling in circles.

[Mary-Anne]

Use the water bottle with a clamp that is sold to attach the water bottle to a bicycle, but attach it to the frame of your wheelchair instead. Pick one with a lid that closes and a built in straw. You may need to wrap something between the wheelchair frame and the water bottle clamp, in order to attach it tightly enough.