#mobility aid

[alizardbro]

It's amazing how differently people treat you based on what mobility aid you're using. When I'm using my cane I get funny looks from people because I'm a young person and "do you really need that?". Almost nobody holds the door for for me and when I drop something almost nobody helps me pick it up.

When I'm using my forearm crutches people are a little nicer but not by much. I get less funny looks and more people hold the door for me, but still hardly anyone helps me pick up stuff I drop. And if I'm out alone shopping or something, nobody helps me reach stuff on high shelves unless I ask. I get not wanting to come off as ableist by offering to help, but if you see someone clearly struggling you might want to step in.

Now when I'm using my wheelchair, that's a whole different ballgame. Almost everyone is holding doors, helping me pick up stuff, helping me with high shelves, and being really nice to me. But people often infantilize me when I'm using a wheelchair. They always smile at me, which sounds nice, but it's usually in a way you would smile at a little kid out in public. If I'm with someone then people will talk to them instead of me, and if I'm alone people will talk slowly to me or in a high pitched voice.

It's literally not that hard to be normal around disabled people I just don't get it.

#crps #disability #actually disabled #disabled #cripplepunk #mobility aid #cane user #crutch user #wheelchair user

[cripplemetal]

but seriously, i can't believe how far i've gone. and how i should be really proud of myself.

11 years of never-ending pain, of learning how to ignore and endure it, how to look and act "normal".

then my first shitty canes (they're pretty but completely unusable). first steps. first shame. how i was afraid to show up at work with it.

after that, i ordered a custom cane. and then another one. i decorated them. made them vibing. i started taking it to work, still afraid to use it around my colleagues.

then i got three house canes (first and second ones got chewed by my beloved dog lol) and started using it at home as well.

and now i use it everywhere i go. when i walk my dog, when i go to my lunch break on work, when i get around my apartment.

i got forearm crutches and learned how to use them. i decorated them too! they're yellow, covered in flowers stickers.

today i started saving up for my future rollator. i believe i'll be able to actually order it by june.

it all happened too fast, i still have impostor syndrome, i still feel self-conscious, like i'm not actually disabled and don't belong to cpunk communtiy and i'm a faker etc etc etc... but one thing happened: i improved my life. (even if i'm a faker lol) i got less pain every day, less fatigue, i stopped being ashamed at least of my canes.

my best friend was a big part of this journey, without her support i'd never get here. love her so much.

#chronic pain #mobility aid #cripple punk #disabled #cane user #physical disability #chronically ill #c punk #cpunk #using a cane #mobility aids #mobility aid user #rollator #forearm crutches #disabilties

[pleastrop]

I was talking to my mom about mobility aids and also said that I am going to buy compression socks/gloves and she got SO mad, she told me those things are for old people and that I'm not going to use any of those things, even if I pay for them myself, all because "you're only 19, you DON'T need them!!" I'm so tired

#chronic illness #chronic pain #chronic fatigue #chronically ill #disabled #actually disabled #disability #chronic disability #disabilities #mobility aid

[defiantcripple]

Bottom Tier Cripple Moment:

When your cane touches The Bad Texture and slips, and your entire life flashes before your eyes

#i hate tile #inspired by a true story #cripple punk #cripplepunk #cripple #cripple problems #queer cripple #angry cripple #cripple shit #cripple posting #crip punk #cpunk #c punk #cpunk blog #c punk blog #cane user #mobility aid #mobility aids #mobility aid user #dc crippleposting

[neurotypicalabusesurvivor]

This is a friendly reminder that none disabled people often do benefit from the same accommodations disabled people benefit from.

#mobility issues #leftism #mental illness #autism #medical model #mobility aid #social model of disability

[deoidesign]

A general cane guide for writers and artists (from a cane user, writer, and artist!)

Disclaimer: Though I have been using a cane for 6 years, I am not a doctor, nor am I by any means an expert. This guide is true to my experience, but there are as many ways to use a cane as there are cane users!

This guide will not include: White canes for blindness, crutches, walkers, or wheelchairs as I have no personal experience with these.

This is meant to be a general guide to get you started and avoid some common mishaps/misconceptions in your writing, but you absolutely should continue to do your own research outside of this guide!

This is NOT a medical resource!!! And never tell a real person you think they're using a cane wrong!

The biggest recurring problem I've seen is using the cane on the wrong side. The cane goes on the opposite side of the pain! If your character has even-sided pain or needs it for balance/weakness, then use the cane in the non-dominant hand to keep the dominant hand free. Some cane users also switch sides to give their arm a rest!

A cane takes about 20% of your weight off the opposite leg. It should fit within your natural gait and become something of an extension of your body. If you need more weight off than 20%, then crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair is needed.

Putting more pressure on the cane, using it on the wrong side, or having it at the wrong height can make it less effective, and can cause long term damage to your body from improper pressure and posture. (Hugh Laurie genuinely hurt his body from years of using a cane wrong on House!)

(some people elect to use a cane wrong for their personal situation despite this, everyone is different!)

(an animated GIF of a cane matching the natural walking gait. It turns red when pressure is placed on it.)

When going up and down stairs, there is an ideal standard: You want to use the handrail and the cane at the same time, or prioritize the handrail if it's only on one side. When going up stairs you lead with your good leg and follow with the cane and hurt leg together. When going down stairs you lead with the cane and the bad leg and follow with the good leg!

Realistically though, many people don't move out of the way for cane users to access the railing, many stairs don't have railings, and many are wet, rusty, or generally not ideal to grip.

In these cases, if you have a friend nearby, holding on to them is a good idea. Or, take it one step at a time carefully if you're alone.

Now we come to a very common mistake I see... Using fashion canes for medical use!

(These are 4 broad shapes, but there is INCREDIBLE variation in cane handles. Research heavily what will be best for your character's specific needs!)

The handle is the contact point for all the weight you're putting on your cane, and that pressure is being put onto your hand, wrist, and shoulder. So the shape is very important for long term use!

Knob handles (and very decorative handles) are not used for medical use for this reason. It adds extra stress to the body and can damage your hand to put constant pressure onto these painful shapes.

The weight of a cane is also incredibly important, as a heavier cane will cause wear on your body much faster. When you're using it all day, it gets heavy fast! If your character struggles with weakness, then they won't want a heavy cane if they can help it!

This is also part of why sword canes aren't usually very viable for medical use (along with them usually being knob handles) is that swords are extra weight!

However, a small knife or perhaps a retractable blade hidden within the base might be viable even for weak characters.

Bases have a lot of variability as well, and the modern standard is generally adjustable bases. Adjustable canes are very handy if your character regularly changes shoe height, for instance (gotta keep the height at your hip!)

Canes help on most terrain with their standard base and structure. But for some terrain, you might want a different base, or to forego the cane entirely! This article covers it pretty well.

Many cane users decorate their canes! Stickers are incredibly common, and painting canes is relatively common as well! You'll also see people replacing the standard wrist strap with a personalized one, or even adding a small charm to the ring the strap connects to. (nothing too large, or it gets annoying as the cane is swinging around everywhere)

(my canes, for reference)

If your character uses a cane full time, then they might also have multiple canes that look different aesthetically to match their outfits!

When it comes to practical things outside of the cane, you reasonably only have one hand available while it's being used. Many people will hook their cane onto their arm or let it dangle on the strap (if they have one) while using their cane arm, but it's often significantly less convenient than 2 hands. But, if you need 2 hands, then it's either setting the cane down or letting it hang!

For this reason, optimizing one handed use is ideal! Keeping bags/items on the side of your free hand helps keep your items accessible.

When sitting, the cane either leans against a wall or table, goes under the chair, or hooks onto the back of the chair. (It often falls when hanging off of a chair, in my experience)

When getting up, the user will either use their cane to help them balance/support as they stand, or get up and then grab their cane. This depends on what it's being used for (balance vs pain when walking, for instance!)

That's everything I can think of for now. Thank you for reading my long-but-absolutely-not-comprehensive list of things to keep in mind when writing or drawing a cane user!

Happy disability pride month! Go forth and make more characters use canes!!!

#mobility aid #cane user #writing tips #writing advice #drawing tips #art tutorial #art tips #art reference #art resources #art help #my art #long post

[sunnywalnut]

Local PSA: invisible disability does NOT mean you can live your life like a "normal person" invisible disability meant that if a stranger looks at you in public they wouldn't know what's going on.

Like if a wheelchair user were to decide to run into a corner store to grab a candy bar because they know that their legs can last that long without, the cashier wouldn't know.

Or someone with "mild" scoliosis walking upright through their shoulder leans slightly to the left. Maybe they just have bad posture. The lady in the next isle thinks to herself.

The person with EDS or POTS or whatever sort of condition wearing compression gloves out and about. Perhaps it's a fashion statement?

Or what about the people with intestinal issues? They can look like "normal people" too.

You never know what someone is going through.

You never know what they might need to survive or if they're on the edge of a flare up or even if they are currently going through one just by one look.

I think both disabled and non disabled need to realize this. You're not "no longer disabled" because you can "live without" disability aids. They're there to help you. To make your life easier. If living without a cane is going to make it more likely you'll fall over and hurt yourself, use the cane.

If you need to sit down to do dishes or cut vegetables because you need to save your legs for taking out the trash, sit down.

If you need a shower chair because you don't know if you'll pass out, use the shower chair.

People are going to judge you regardless for multiple reasons out of your control.

I'd rather they judge you while you're being safe.

You don't need to struggle to be "normal."

You can just be you.

However that looks for you.

Use your disability aids.

#disability #disabled #disabilties #this has been a psa #mobility aid #invisible disability #invisible illness

[an--artistic--autistic]

i am unreasonably proud and excited about this

#disability #chronic pain #mobility aid #i am officially running a thing to make my university accessible #i am so ready to fight people over it and I've recruited a bunch of people #we may or may not end up in our local news too #im done with this shit #literally on Friday had to walk around the building bc the elevator broke again and i couldn't do stairs #should take 30 seconds instead took like 10 minutes

[nn-ee-zz]

Mobility aids in fantasy!

#tarot art #character design #fantasy design #character art #mobility aid

[talkethtothehandeth]

This is a reminder that you can still serve cunt while using a mobility aid, hope that helps

#shit post #chronic pain #disabled #mobility aid #mobility aids mean freedom #ambulatory wheelchair user #chronic illness #cripple punk #arthritis #ehlers danlos syndrome #chronically ill

[stellaltumi]

stop villanizing disabled people. stop assuming we're just being lazy. stop assuming we could be trying harder. stop assuming that we'll "feel better" in a few weeks. stop assuming that we have the same energy levels as everyone else. thanks for coming to my ted talk.

#spoonie #chronic illness #invisible disability #disabled #chronic pain #actually disabled #chronically ill #pots #pots syndrome #ehlers danlos syndrome #heds #hypermobility #hypermobile ehlers danlos #joint pain #mobility aid #mobility aids #ableism #autism #actually autistic #mental health #mental illness #physically disabled #physical disability

[cripplemetal]

"you have such long beautiful legs" awww thank you! :3 they're useless

#cripple punk #c punk #chronically ill #cpunk #physical disability #disabled #mobility aid #chronic pain #cane user #using a cane #chronic illness #disabilties #physically disabled

[sneakygreenbean]

personal observations made by a new cane user:

you do not need to be in constant pain to own a cane.

folding canes have a clasp or band to keep them folded. losing the band is a pain in the ass.

you will get dirty looks

it does not matter what age you are. you will get dirty looks.

you have to hold it in the opposite hand as the disabled leg. this is fortunate, as I am right handed, so i hold it in my left hand to support my right leg.

people will try to steal your cane from you.

when standing still, I hold it in my right hand unless i need to do something right handedly. this does not work as well as i thought it would.

being visibly physically disabled is difficult. having a mobility aid will help with pain and movement, but some people don't get them because visible disability is treated with disgust.

if someone meets you for the first time, and you don't have your cane, then they will like you more, but they will not believe you are actually disabled.

if someone meets you for the first time, and you have your cane, they will not treat you the same.

the majority of other cane and mobility aid users I have met are homeless. I live close to a big city.

People do not want to see you being disabled.

you will not hear of the benefits of using a cane from anyone who does not use a cane.

no one will prepare you for the world of being visibly physically disabled. however bad you think we have it is usually not from the disability at all. I can deal with pain and I can deal with an indisposed left hand.

the hardest part of being disabled is the fact that no one will care until you make them care.

the disabled seats on trains are a suggestion

the disabled seats on buses are a suggestion.

you will have a different experience with using a cane than I have had.

your hand will become tired. you are using it as a leg.

your cane is legally a part of your body. this will not stop some people.

you are not your disability. but it will affect you.

i love you

theres always an invisible someone who has it worse. that person will not be affected or offended by your use of a cane. take the damn ibuprofen. put the folded cane in your bag. ask your friends for help. gd knows they need help sometimes too.

you will have to learn that things will be impossible to you. you may not run as fast anymore. you may not become a skater, like you always wanted to be. you may be left behind when everyone else runs ahead.

you deserve better.

your cane handle gets dirty. wash it.

some days pain is worse. some days you will feel it the moment you wake up.

no one deserves pain. the human condition is not to suffer. we deserve better. we deserve to be loved and not tolerated. we deserve to be seen better than from the corners of eyes. we deserve to be heard better than an afterthought at a meeting.

be quick to care for yourself. I love you.

#disability #if you clown on this i will kill you with my teeth. #personal #disabled #cane user #mobility aid #physical disability #this is about physical disability do not derail. i understand that mental disability is treated badly as well. this post isnt about that. #this post is also not about invisible disabilities because i have a very visible disability. #please be patient with me. i am young and new to the use of canes. most of these revelations are shockingly new.

[metaphorically-speaking]

“use mobility aids if they would make life easier” and “people need to be more informed about the damage mobility aids can do to your body” can and should coexist btw

#actually disabled #disability #mobility aid #cripple punk

[p1xelpc]

i love you shower chairs i love you pain meds i love you canes i love you wheelchairs i love you braces i love you crutches i love you nausea meds i love you inhaler i love you weighted blanket i love you ice pack i love you heating pad i love you loose clothing i love you giant water bottle i love you help from other people i love you mobility aides i love you disability aides

#mostly just did ones that apply to me #my physical aides anyway #disabilities #disability #disabled #invisible disability #actually disabled #chronically ill #chronic fatigue #chronic pain #chronic migraine #mobility aid #physically disabled #physical therapy #physical disability #c punk #repitition

[lokilysolbitch]

i've said it already probably but ppl who don't use mobility aids. especially doctors. stop trying to get rid of other ppls mobility aid. stop making that a priority. stop it with the "we gotta get you off that [mobility aid]" "you shouldn't need to be using a [mobility aid]" "let's focus on getting you to where you don't need [mobility aid]" "a [mobility aid]? but have you tried [herb]/[medicine]/ [exercise]/[facebook hack]/[pseudoscience]/[meditation] instead?" "but you look old/cringe/weak/sick". shut up

i don't know why so many of y'all think my end goal is to stop using the thing that helps me. and i KNOW most of y'all wear glasses or contacts but you're not running around trying to find the solution to make you stop needing them. so quit doing it with every other aid just because it reminds you of old or sick people.

especially bc most of y'all don't want to have that reaction when it comes to chronic pain, fatigue or discomfort. i say "my joints hurt" you say "oh well :/". i say "i feel lightheaded all the time" you say "just push through it". i say "my stomach is at least a 7/10 on the pain scale every day" you say "are you sure it's actually that bad? maybe you're exaggerating".

but as soon as i pull out a cane, or a shower chair, or a spinny chair for when im cooking in the kitchen, and i say "finally, im getting really good help!" . that's when you care. and all you want to do is take that away as soon as possible.

you just don't want to fucking see disabled ppl be disabled.

you don't want to have to look at it. you don't want to have to listen to it. you don't want to have to be reminded of it.

but too fucking bad !! i don't care !! im naming and decorating my canes !! they will be the loudest part of my outfits !! the same will go for a rollator if i'll still need one in the future !! i'm going to talk about how i'm disabled regardless of if anyone else can hear me !! because i am !! why should i hide just because YOU don't like it !! close your eyes !!!!!!

#do not come up in here talking about 'oh so you think everyone should just stay sick' #bc i know what i said and it wasn't that #and let's not forget how Chronic Illnesses work #disabilities #disability #disabled #mobility aid #cane user #rollator #actually disabled #handmadeorganicpost #chronic illness #chronic pain #chronically ill