I started out using my wheelchair for extreme distances only, but when my Partner injured her back I started using my chair more often (when she has a back flair up, I often needed to get to her FAST and couldn't do so on foot). I am trying to start using my chair a bit less now.
If you're interested, I sometimes use weightlifting gloves to help prevent callouses. They are cheaper than gloves designed specifically designed for wheelchair use. You can get them in many sporting goods stores.
I agree - a wheelchair can be a bit tricky to get used to as they will start turning/moving from even the slightest incline. You'll get used to it though.
As far as vocabullary goes, we all get away with a bit more sillyness when we are talking about ourselves, but I tend to stay with specific words/phrases when talking about people with disabilities in general or when talk to people I don't know well (or large groups of people). A lot of it depends on my mood at the moment too. I often tend tosave my silly words for people who know and appreciate my sense of humor. :-)
Because I also walk a bit, I guess that I sometimes try to distingush walking vs. wheeling too. Unfortunately I can't come up with too many phrases (other than the ones in my last reply) that don't sound incredibly cheesy - LOL.I don't often tend to worry about (distinguishing) wording if my mode of movement isn't important to the story though. - That's just my take on things.
As far a the "person first" language in general conversation, I find that although wordy, it tends to teach people about societal attitudes -- and sometimes teaches them a thing or 2 about attitudes they grew up with and might not have even realized it.
It bugs me when people see me as a lot more dependant than I am - or when they see me as a medical classification first and a person second. Some medical professionals are "famous" for this. They get so used to simply keeping us alive that they sometimes forget about dignity or privacy.
And by focusing on the fact that I am a person first (who happens to have a disability), it often lossens people up a bit... such as people who are afraid they might "break" me if they aren't SUPER cautious.
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If you're interested, I sometimes use weightlifting gloves to help prevent callouses. They are cheaper than gloves designed specifically designed for wheelchair use. You can get them in many sporting goods stores.
I agree - a wheelchair can be a bit tricky to get used to as they will start turning/moving from even the slightest incline. You'll get used to it though.
As far as vocabullary goes, we all get away with a bit more sillyness when we are talking about ourselves, but I tend to stay with specific words/phrases when talking about people with disabilities in general or when talk to people I don't know well (or large groups of people). A lot of it depends on my mood at the moment too. I often tend tosave my silly words for people who know and appreciate my sense of humor. :-)
Because I also walk a bit, I guess that I sometimes try to distingush walking vs. wheeling too. Unfortunately I can't come up with too many phrases (other than the ones in my last reply) that don't sound incredibly cheesy - LOL.I don't often tend to worry about (distinguishing) wording if my mode of movement isn't important to the story though. - That's just my take on things.
As far a the "person first" language in general conversation, I find that although wordy, it tends to teach people about societal attitudes -- and sometimes teaches them a thing or 2 about attitudes they grew up with and might not have even realized it.
It bugs me when people see me as a lot more dependant than I am - or when they see me as a medical classification first and a person second. Some medical professionals are "famous" for this. They get so used to simply keeping us alive that they sometimes forget about dignity or privacy.
And by focusing on the fact that I am a person first (who happens to have a disability), it often lossens people up a bit... such as people who are afraid they might "break" me if they aren't SUPER cautious.