Being disabled isn’t easy but luckily there are some amazing products out there to help us with our daily living tasks. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every where we went was wheelchair accessible? You would be surprised to know how many times I have tried to go to someones house or business and not even be able to enter the front door. Most people who are not disabled have never even considered if their home is accessible. Just take a minute to consider whether you have a step or two leading up to your front door? Many homes and business’s do. What about your threshhold? Is it too high to roll over? These examples are actually so prevalent that products have been designed to help people who require wheelchairs to have easier access. Portable ramps are great if you just need to get up a step or two. I carry mine with me wherever I go. I love the Orford nonskid portable ramp. You can find a link to purchase it here. It come in multiple lengths and is rated up to 600lbs.
Once we get up onto the porch or landing we often still have to maneuver over the doorway threshold. This often requires a smaller ramp on either side of the door such as any of these! There are many different types so here is the link to an assortment of threshold ramps of different sizes and materials to fit your needs.
After getting through the door we are usually pretty independent especially if we can reach whatever we are needing and are able to hold onto it! Being a quadriplegic I have found a few things in the kitchen that I wouldn’t be caught dead without. Most people don’t even think about coffee cups being difficult to hold, but for someone, without the ability to grasp efficiently they can be really difficult. The other issue I often encounter is how much heat they put off. Having very little sensation of hot or cold can be detrimental when holding a hot beverage. It is very easy to burn yourself just holding a ceramic mug. For this reason, I always keep a supply of insulated coffee mugs. They are lightweight, I can get my fingers through the handle, and I no longer get burned drinking my coffee. You can purchase some insulated mugs on amazon at this link.
Another great gadget that I just recently became aware of is this nifty little can opener. It is so easy to operate I just couldn’t believe it. I use to struggle to hold a can and get the electric opener to open it without making a mess but not with this little baby. All of the work is done for you. Just line it up on the top of the can, push the button and let it get to work! No more struggling to not make a mess. Lid pops right off! You can find one on Amazon at this link.
Getting jar lids open for the first time is still pretty difficult by myself even after tapping the lid and running hot water over the top. One simple device I have found helps most of the time is using rubber jar grippers. These can really make a big difference in getting a tight lid off.
These are just a few of the products that I use on a daily basis to make my life more accessible. I hope they can help some of you too. I’ll be writing future blogs about other products I have found really handy in the near future so stay tuned!
