It’s an electric wheelchair that’s controlled by the levers on the sides (so yes, you do need two hands to operate it, just like a manual). It’s only 40 pounds and can be folded down to fit into any trunk. The creators/managers all seem to be wheelchair users. I personally talked to one on the phone who told me the features he uses.
You don’t understand, I’ve been in New York City for almost four months now and it’s been incredible and in that time, I’ve wheeled my manual chair about 300 miles (there are times I’m going up to 40 blocks a day) and I am so sore and so bruised and so tired and it’s going to s n o w soon and even though the city won’t get nearly as much snow as upstate, it’s still not going to be fun, but I’ve always been afraid to get a big, bulky, electric chair because I don’t want to:
A.) Completely give up my autonomy.
B.) Have a 500 pound electric chair run out of power and have to figure out how the heck I’m getting it and me home.
But this chair, this chair, lads…
This chair can get me all the way from my apartment down the island to Times Square and into Amorino for the world’s best waffles/gelato/hot chocolate before it even considers running out of power. And it only takes 3 hours to fully charge AND if for some reason, something happens, it can be folded up and put into any NYC cab and I’m just so, so, excited. NYC is filled with so many hills that I’ll now be able to go up/down without straining myself. I’ll be able to take the M5 down Riverside and still get to the center of the island without heaving and huffing and sweating. I just really, really, hope it all works out!
Note: Absolutely none of this is sponsored. I’m just really excited about this wheelchair. The Amorino part isn’t sponsored either but seriously, you should all go to Amorino at some point in your lives, I should stop going to Amorino because at this point, I go once a week and that is what we call Unhealthy. But I don’t care because life is short and Amorino is good. And so is this wheelchair (hopefully).
[image desc: 5 images of me, a nonbinary indian wheelchair user wearing a flower headdress, claw necklace, and black dress surrounded by flowers, skulls, and fruits. (1) me sitting in my wheelchair looking off into the distance (2) me laying down surrounded by moss, flowers, bones and fruit (3) me holding a pomegranate looking at the camera (4) me sitting on the floor with my arm resting on a draped stool (5) me in my wheelchair holding a skull and pomegranate]
able bodied people’s idea of wheelchair accessibility is laughable at best. listen.
if a wheelchair user has to go around to a back alley to get into your venue–it should not be called accessible
if your venue doesn’t have automatic doors–it should not be called accessible
if your venue’s washrooms are down a narrow hall that is difficult to navigate–it should not be called accessible
if your venue’s floorplan doesn’t factor in space for wheelchairs–it should not be called accessible
if your venue has steps leading in, or at any point inside, and no ramp is readily available–it should not be called accessible
and that’s just 5 points from my foggy brain on wheelchair accessibility. they miss so many things and lose more potential customers than they realize and it’s ridiculous bc it would take 10 seconds of thought, but they can’t even give that.
•If you have several ramps that have steps at the bottom or top of them and none of the wheelchair accessible ramps are marked, don’t you dare call it accessible even if there are other wheelchair ramps (there’s a certain university campus wth several ramps with 2 big steps at the bottom of them that you can’t see from the top) •if the whole ground is designed to discourage skateboarders, it’s gonna be hell for a wheelchair user’s butt. cobbles are bad enough but skateboard deterring bricks are hell. (same university had this everywhere outside) •if you use your wheelchair ramps, elevators, and other accessible areas to put large decorations and in turn they’re blocked off: there’s NO WAY they’re accessible! or if they’re employee only! •if you’re a restaurant and you only have one tiny corner in the back that’s dark and smells and is far from the other tables that’s accessible, you aren’t an accessible restaurant •sidewalks that are not maintained and have 3 inch drops into the road at the bottom of the ramp into the crosswalk. why?
Here’s a few more I’ve dealt with in personal experience.
Lego are asking people to propose new set ideas for production.
“My inspiration for this design came from when my best friend and inspiration for this project who has muscular dystrophy. Both of us were making some minifigures of ourselves and we realized that there was not a wheelchair accessory for his minifigure. I decided to make a wheelchair out of the pieces I have and this is the result. The pack would include a minifigure in a wheelchair, a ramp, and a set of double doors that opened wide enough for the chair to pass through. If this were to become a set, I would donate all the proceeds to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.”
This guy is proposing that lego create an accessibility pack for mini figures. If enough people vote Lego will create this pack:
“We believe wheelchair users should have access to the same styles and trends everyone else has, without ever having to compromise comfort.
Our clothing has signature cuts and styles to fit a seated body shape, falling and draping naturally without interfering with wheelchair mechanics. We use top-quality fabrics that look beautiful and feel luxurious.
Our Easy Zip Back option in coats is just one way that we’re making layering up and staying warm easier than ever. Discreet zippers in the back mean that Easy Zip Back coats separate into two individual pieces.
Our signature ‘L-Shape’ means that IZ coats have the length you need over your lap while looking sleek and clean so you don’t sacrifice your style.”
The IZ Collection goes up to a 2X and has a wide range of masculine and feminine clothes.
They look gorgeous, but be prepared. They are expensive.
Holding the Bowl 