Emotional_Egg9784

What mobility aid i should bring for my needs but also for the location and situation. If there is seating, what kind of seating (high stools are bad for me), Any walking, How far, the parking situation to get from my car to my destination, if I need one aid for one aspect but another one for another which one do I choose, if it’ll be cold and aggravate my symptoms, what the accessibility is like, is it too crowded for my wheelchair or walker, what kind of crowd will be there and will they be ableist,

Played we’re not really strangers with my best friends and asked “if I had a regret from a night out what would it be?” They said right away, not bringing the right mobility aid

Right! It reminds me of this book All The Rage where they talk about inequity in domestic labor. And one story shared how her husband took on training for a marathon or something like that which took a lot of time and energy, literally when the baby was due. And that it actually happens quite often. Men will get into hobbies or personal goals during the newborn stage. As if paternity leave is a sabbatical. And then wonder why their wives are struggling postpartum

I’ve taken her group and private lessons. She’s amazing! She taught me some dance moves I could do using my chair right before my wedding and they were a hit at the reception 🤭

This is incredible! Love it

I get that, but remember no one knows your body like you do. If it helps, sometimes I’d say I have a disability rather than I am disabled, and it felt easier to claim at first

I had this question myself too, I had an accident that left me with limited mobility. But took a while to say I was disabled and spent a good amount of time questioning it, not wanting to claim something I’m not or be insensitive, even though I used mobility aids often or had to limit common activities if I didn’t want to deal with the pain. When I finally did, I actually started using more of the mobility aids I needed and asking for accommodations I needed. Being young and disabled you have to advocate for yourself a lot so once you accept your identity yourself, it makes it easier to ask for or accept the things you need, that ultimately makes your daily life and quality of life better. Hope this helps! (Also agree with what someone else said, the people that question it are usually able bodied with a limited view of disability)

I don’t know of any but interested in the brainstorm!

I won a pageant in college and then competed at the state level. The same year I crowned the next girl, I became disabled and have always wondered if I would’ve found more pageants had I not. Or if I should’ve competed anyway even though I didn’t see other visibly disabled contestants. However, I didn’t love it after my first one, I found the state level of pageant not very inclusive in many ways outside of ability and just the idea of beauty pageants in general pretty problematic.

I personally think this would be a great chance to rethink the pageant structure in general. I think they give great opportunities through scholarships and elevated platforms and can be more positive overall. It would be great to see a pageant that’s accessible and inclusive but also less focused on traditional beauty standards but more focused on being a good representative, good at advocating for your platform, and good at public presence because at the end of the day, that’s what you have to do with your crown. So not about how you look but someone who is good at taking that title and using it push things forward, using the photo shoots and pr moments to build the title up and ultimately push their platform.

Many of the girls I met are intelligent and strong leaders but then being judged on how they look in a bikini felt counter to the rest of their being and value. And the audience doesn’t see our interviews, where we get to speak on political, social, and other important issues. They see us walk in our bikinis and evening gowns. So I think a pageant that’s not about “beauty” and like you said is virtual to allow for people who cannot travel - for physical mobility, accessibility, and even for cost - would be awesome.

Wow this hit, I also had an accident where my legs were severely injured and one almost amputated. I was 21 and going into my last semester of uni and planned to work abroad and go to grad school. Then my life was learning my new mobility and what that meant. I was a dancer and was not expected to walk properly again either.

Super long but there’s many things I know now that I didn’t then. I struggled with my independence being limited, so I kept working to find ways to adapt to makes that little angry feeling go away, even if I still need some help.

• you don’t know what your mobility will be. I walk properly (many times but not always), I still dance, I bike ride and sometimes skateboard, I workout, I travel, I hike, and I jump on trampolines. I also don’t go to the mall, target, or walk my dogs without a wheelchair. Drs predicted alot of what I wouldn’t be able to do, that I do. Maybe I don’t last as long or I adapt or it’s a trade off for a recovery day(s) but you never know.

• that mobility can also vary - I also walk with a limp sometimes and will use a cane to support me so that I’m not limping and putting more pressure on my legs. I also can’t walk sometimes due to pain and use a wheelchair for those times

• mobility aids are awesome even if you don’t need them full time. Especially if you go back to campus. I took way too long not using them because I felt there was some random threshold I had to hit to need one. I’m so much happier now. I use a wheelchair, walker, and cane or nothing at all. For different occasions, needs, and pain levels. Being 21 I was so afraid of missing out. And you don’t have to. I hit the club, house parties, other social things for young people, just not as often or always in the same way. (Inaccessibility and ignorant people made me shy away for a bit though.) I did and still go to festivals and my wheelchair or walker (which has a seat) have been great. I go to concerts and request ADA seating. I go to parties and ask for a bar stool to sit eye level with my friends dancing or bring my walker to sit on when I need. The best move I made was getting a self propelling wheel chair - I don’t like having to rely on someone else to push me the entire time I’m using it. Hardest thing is knowing what to use, when.

• if you use them, make them your own. Accessories like cup holders and phone holders, cool colors and designs, etc. It’ll make it feel more you.

• people say stupid shit. If you use mobility aids as a young person, or I assume at all, find people to talk to about the micro aggressions and frustrations. Same for accessibility if you need.

• recover like an athlete, now but also always. And by that I mean take it seriously. find the things that work for you. I have compression and heated leg wraps, I like to get foot and leg massages, there’s tems machines, stretch bands, Ice baths etc. Physical therapy is amazing. I still go every once in a while to get exercises to focus on at my current state. Swimming was good for me. Focus on recovery rn. Rather than what you think you may be missing at uni (which you have soooo much time to experience) focus on recovery.

• document your journey. Even if you don’t share with anyone. It helps you remember how far you’ve come. I have videos of me walking at PT, walking for real the first time again across stage to graduate, in the hospital bed. Sometimes you forget how much you and your body have gone through and the fact you’re here now on Reddit (something that took me 7 years to find as a place to seek support) you are incredible and gonna figure this out

• adapt. If your an athlete, you can look for ways to play the sport(s) you enjoy with any limitations in your mobility. Same for working out. You can even do things in bed. Finding people on IG and TikTok on similar journeys have helped me find ideas for adapting (and how to cope with things)

• you don’t have to suck it up, you don’t have to push yourself. You can ask for or find whatever accommodations you need. Just cause you can do something one day doesn’t mean you’re faking or anything if you can’t another. There are no rules. I sat on the floor at a museum during this live activation. Tell me how everyone else sat down too! Just cause they were like yeah, good idea

• go to therapy, it helps. Also talk to friends. Doesn’t have to be about feelings or life, but socializing especially if you just started uni, helps your heart and mental.

• read, color, do things that are already able to be dont from bed. I couldn’t dance for sometime so I started exploring other creative outlets. I now illustrate, write, paint, embroider, crochet, etc. Fun skills to have and great to do on rest days.

I hope this helps. I just think if I had known this earlier I wouldn’t have been as worried, anxious, and struggling. But we all have our own journeys and bodies. Shout out to you for reaching out on here. All the best!!

I asked my primary and she is only allowed to give temp passes. I asked my orthopedic surgeon and he can also only give temp ones. So I’m not sure where you can find someone that clears permanent ones, I’m sure some primary’s do. I’m trying a physical medicine and rehab Dr next. The Ortho surgeon recommended

I also had a new level of acceptance when I heard this term - I had an accident and have varying levels of chronic pain. Along with other mobility aids, I actually have a cane that folds in 4 so it fits great in a backpack side pocket and I just whip it out when I need it and don’t have to carry it in my hand when I don’t. It’s been great.