My husband spends a day in a wheelchair to see what it's like to be paralyzed!
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2023
- I've wanted my husband to spend a day in a wheelchair for as long as I can remember and I finally made it happen! It only took 15 years lol!
I know that he will never really know what it's like to be paralyzed, but I admit it was fun to watch him go about his day and face some of the challenges that I do!
Hope you have as much fun watching this vlog as I had making it!
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I totally relate to your daughter when she said, "what if he falls on his head?" when y'all were outside, I was a safety conscious kid growing up too! 😊
Your husband is awesome for doing this. He was much better at this than i thought he would be. Nobody in my family is willing to do this because of fears of making a fool out of themselves in public. Ive used a spatula before to get things off a shelf
Well just keep harping on your family members for 15 years like I did to my husband and maybe they'll give in lol
When I watched this, I saw a close-up of the sides of your chair. I was wondering if there is any “texture” on the push rims? How do you hold onto them to propel yourself? And what if it is wet outside?
I just carry a reacher with me attached to my chair. And if the reacher fails to get me results, I ask someone for help. No shame in asking for help. Plus, if you ask for help, it also educates store employees and the public in general as to some of the difficulties we face.
Joe wanted to take a reacher and I wouldn't let him lol. How do you carry it on your chair?
@@EmpoweredPara I have it strapped underneath the seat.
Here’s what I’m thinking is for Joe try go on the bus if you guys have any buses in your area
@@mountaincentralelevatorsmore
that is something I would contact a school district who happens to have lifts on their busses to do if that was a possibility! Or even contact the public transportation about using one out of commission for the day. I'm only speaking as someone who takes public transportation and the minimal space for wheelchair users and we just so happen to live right down the road from an apartment complex who has a lot of elderly who are wheelchair dependable and a few younger folks who were in accidents or born like that. Our busses here in the mitten in my area each one is only equipped with one quantum for wheelchair users, which is only enough for one chair on a bus at a time. There's been a few times I purposely made myself late for work when there were 2 wheelchair dependable people at the bus stop to sit with whoever had to wait for the next one, or I would sit there with the bus driver and say "one locks into the quantum while I hold the other's chair while the breaks are applied?" if they were only going a few stops. One man in particular is a Vet who had a severe spinal cord injury overseas, his service pup is an absolute honor to have on the bus next to us when he's out and about wheeling around(he's normally the one I'm making sure doesn't fly all over the place if there's 2, but that's because he likes making it seem he's going to fall😂).
@@EmpoweredPara I have a folding reacher with it's own Velcro strap
Love how every slightly uncomfortable thing Joe is going to have to go through is funny to you, lol! I am not a wheelchair user but do have some mobility issues and the fact my gf and I can find humor in it even if others do not is hilarious....to us, lol!
I definitely found it amusing to see him face the challenges that I have been facing for 24 years!
Roughly 14" BBQ fork is a pretty good reacher. I'm happy you made this video. I would like to get a "wheelchair challenge" started in my school district. Teach some while they are young.
I did this same thing to my wife shortly after we met. The only thing she had difficulty with was crossing a busy intersection.
Joe you absolutely nailed that! Bravo sir. I do understand Brittney's frustration at you making it look so easy, but credit where it’s due, you deserve it.
He was definitely a good sport lol! What could we make him do for part 2!?
@@EmpoweredPara a catheter? 😂
@@FreddotheWheelchairGuy Definitely on the list of things to torture him with. A condom catheter probably lol
Cool video guys😅
My unofficial reacher is a clothes hanger.
Perfect to scoop up clothes with the hook or pull something at the far end of a countertop, just did it yesterday.
Joe did well. I was particularly surprised at his ability to hold a wheelie. Great work both of you!
I'm not in a wheelchair, but I am short, so when I go to the supermarket I take one of those extendable metal back-scratchers with the little hand on the end, to reach things on the higher shelves, or that are right at the back of the shelf. Works for me!
broom stick which sucks when they put glass bottles on the top shelf
I have a reacher that folds up and fits in the pocket I have in my backrest. Also in there is a bungee cord with carabiner clips which is useful for holding bags and shopping baskets. I keep them both on me all the time as they're so useful.
This is great. The only thing is that he has the muscles & balance. Showing this to my wife to see if she will spend a day in my wheelchair.
Brit…. Your husband Joe is such a great guy… I am so happy for the both of you…
I love to see the banter between you and your husband. You two seem well matched. Great video; perhaps your children should try some time in a wheelchair, too.
I bet the kids would have fun trying a day in a wheelchair! I'll ask them! Stay tuned!
@@EmpoweredParaThat would be interesting! Did any of your neighbors have interesting comments after this?
Great video! From previous videos filmed with Joe, I've had the impression that Joe is really a kind person and he appreciates you and the effort you make for your family. I feel this video confirms my impression.
I'm able bodied but I have bad knees and need replacements. I always have one of the reacher tools close by in case something goes under a chair or table.
So, not a criticism, but something I thought of while watching the video, you could have included clips of you doing the cleaning tasks to show the contrast.
And, one big difference between you is he is taller so he has a longer torso. He can easily see into the pan when cooking and more easily reach things.
Love you both and your videos!!!
Denise
What a great suggestion! I hadn't even thought of adding footage of me doing the tasks to compare! I might have to make another version of the video! I really like that idea!
Joe is definitely a kind person and super thoughtful. He's encouraging and occasionally tough of me, but in all the right ways, and when I need a soft place to fall, he's there!
Hi! I had emergency back surgery last Nov. I became paralyzed (totally waist down). I found your videos and I 💜your honesty.
I dated a blind girl for a while and I learned so much and still have a soft spot in my heart for her. She taught me alot about her struggles. She was awsome.
It is so cute how you describe vacuuming “it’s me vs vacuum, I’m on wheels, It’s on wheels, and we are fighting for control”! Such a Brittney-way of describing things!!
I love the fact that you were able to get your Husband to spend a day in your life...I would love for my husband (and kids) to try live with MS for a day..❤❤
brittney that was fantastic to watch you and Joe are amazing together he is 1 hell of a husband..
Unofficial Reacher - I use a broomstick with a screw in the end of it to drag packages on my porch to where I can reach them. Great vid! My wife is going to try the 'day in the life' now.
Yes, I do the same thing and put the basket on the floor if I have to reach something kinda of high to keep the basket from falling off my lap.
If it is really high up, I ask some cute girl to get it for me. 🙂
Love it.
I think more people should be encouraged to try this kind of thing.
It’s not mocking when it’s giving someone perspective. Which in turn gives more understanding to the daily lifestyle of disabled people.
New to this channel, first time watching and this video won me over so had to sub. Wonderful family and looking forward to binge watching to catch up to those whom have been loyal to all of you all this time. My first impressions are very positive and your videos are very motivating. Your children also came across as very supportive, caring and thoughtful and I believe kids need positive affirmation so just wanted to give them some positive feedback as well. Thank you to ALL of you for sending positive NRG into the universe and for accepting new challenges
The compassion your daughter has for her dad though, she didn’t want to make it hard for him and she didn’t want him to get hurt ❤
Great video! I call it an “Oh Shit Handle”. For floors I use a Norwex dust mop to sweep and then suck up the crumbs and dust with my central vac dust pan! It’s a must for me so I hope you get yours fixed! Lastly, I’m probably not explaining this well but it would be nice if grocery shelves were stocked for variety vertically rather than horizontally.
This was absolutely hilarious .I am in a wheelchair myself and it is exactly how you portrayed it. I will be showing this to my family are even my support workers who give me a hard time for wanting to be as independent as possible. The task that I have trouble with besides vacuuming is sweeping and trying not to roll back into the rubbish you have already swept up. My unofficial reqcher is the television remote control 😂
1st) On principal I take the woman's side in any argument (husband/wife, Bf/Gf) just for future reference.
2nd) Kitchen and bathroom can be done in minutes with a spray bottle of ammonia and an old rag.
3rd) The woman I told you about (wheelchair fitting) thinks your husband needs to do a period simulator test.
4th) The food (my favorite invention) looks good, you should do a food video next.
Hehehe, you're wrong. I'm not Canadian nor do I live in Canada and I've seen the series "Push" subtitled in Spanish
List of go to "grabbers", the meat fork and back scratcher, hanger, fore arm crutch, half size broom, yard stick, Pringles can, my service dogs lead, half a curtain rod -the white ones with a bend in it, a stick with a plastic dip covered screw in coat hook -the other end has a plastic dipped large cup hook, celery bunch, soda bottle, a pen.
For me, the package the of T.P. would have been on top of the bag of groceries; lighter weight stuff on top (T.P.), heavier stuff on bottom. I don't like using my teeth. I also use the foot rest (extra wide on my chair) to "carry" a package or bag.
LOL. This was a great video. Others need to do this to get a glimpse into our day.
Yeah, we should all have to spend a day in someone's shoes! There are so many realities that we have no idea about. I think often of what it would be like to be deaf or blind. Spending a day in their shoes would be so hard!
Especially all politicians in office, maybe than we would have a more accessible world.
This is super cool. He probably has a newfound respect for what you do everyday. Even not putting his legs to use he is putting his legs to use. You would never realize how much your legs and core help your balance. Like he could easily pick up a vacuum cleaner from the ground because the average person can lean over and pick it up and your legs push down to lift you up from a leaned over position. It's shocking how much this affects almost every movement you do in a day. Just leaning a little forward to wash your hands you would just fall forward if you put your arms out to wash your hands. If you put your arms out you need to use your head to balance the weight going forward. It's kind of hard to explain but BALANCE was probably the biggest thing I underestimated after I get hurt.
Yeah I agree. Impossible to replicate the lost of balance. I never ever imagined what that would be like losing core support.
Husband of the year he is the GOAT Husband
This video was great thanks to you both, I love the banter between you both when you argue about the stupid things the the hover (vacuum cleaner) me and my wife do that all the time but we never argue in a big way. its always great to get people to try out a day in a wheelchair as it really does show how hard it is, I remember when I was doing physio and she said part of her training was to do a day in a chair just to see what it was like.
When I'm grocery shopping and have something I can't fit in my lap I like to use my foot plate and the velcro strap behind my legs. Especially things like toilet paper and a gallon of milk rest really well and are stable but easy to reach.
. My store the kitchen utensils aisle is at the beginning. Often I'll pick up a wooden spoon and stick it in the side of my bag om my lap. If I need a reacher I just grab that spoon and start poking and pushing. When I get to the checkout I usually just tell them I don't need it anymore but I do have quite a spectacular collection of wooden spoons. 😂
I’m in a wheelchair and I’m so grateful that you’re getting your husband to do this just to see how he does everything in a wheelchair.
That’s what I’ve been raised up with by calling it the HOLY SH*T handle.
My friend's are already planning a part 2 so they can kick Joe's ass more lol. Apparently I was too easy on him!
@@EmpoweredParaToo easy on him?? Man, you made him vacuum! And you wouldn’t let him use a grocery cart! I can’t imagine Joe agreeing to a Part 2…
It truly is an art to getting through life as a wheelchair user.
I remember asking for this a while back. I’m glad he’s done it.
Hi Britney & Joe, I'm not in a wheelchair but I do have a physical disability (Spina Bifida) & I'm also quite short. So my "unofficial reacher" is a tall water bottle for higher up light switches. Lights switches in my house are all on the lights themselves on the ceiling, they're toggle switches.
2 words….. “Cordless Vac”. So glad I took the advice from another wheelchair user UA-camr. So much easier no more cords caught in wheels!😊
Yeah I'm gonna a get one. I've had enought of cords!
There is nothing wrong with asking for help…and I respect him emensley for not parking in a handicap spot for the sake of making a video…God bless Joe 🥰 And I love his understanding when saying that he doesn’t technically have a body that has been compromised so when she says he is annoyingly good he had such a good answer and a great heart I’m sure
He has a good heart for sure!
You`re such a cute family. And I love the concept.
Love the tape around his legs! Gave me a good laugh :) Well done!
My dad was a wheelchair user for seven years because of a heart condition. If he were alive to see this he would relate to the bumpy parking lots and challenges of cooking in a wheelchair.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Brittney, that side-lift of the Dyson onto your lap was impressive! Almost as impressive as Joe transferring at the top of the stairs from the basement lift into his chair - I was thinkin’ he was going to tumble down the stairs, and that would have been really bad!
I understand you want him to see what you have to do and i think its awesome it will help him understand you more
I'm very proud he did this I been this name Bella will walk again on UA-cam she been paralyzed for 2 years and she never got got license before she got paralyzed but her personality is awesome I never meet anyone like her please watch and like thank you
Good video, and thanks to Joe for simulating being in a wheelchair.
LOVE this.. I should have taken notes on the way through so I can comment on everything that I saw to comment on. But what I will say is I love how you tackle challenges head-on while challenging others to see a different perspective. You definitely are the empowered.
BUT my
The unofficial Reacher? O h my, the possibilities are endless!
If I'm home I'll use practically any thing; a knife, tongues, a shoe, broom, I've also used my curling iron to hook things I've dropped under my table..
But my favourite Reacher while at the grocery store, is literally other people I have no problems asking for help if I can't reach what I need.
BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION!!
How is it that you don't use gloves when you wheel around? Especially going down hills! Don't you burn your hands?
Anyway THANKS for the inspirational content ❤
Oops Tong's not tongues LOL😂
Awww @ daddy wearing helmet incase he falls on his head. Nice family
It's the reason why I have my removal armrests. I mainly use them to reach things on the top shelf when shopping. Makes like so much easier.
They were handy for that when I had them on!
I`m happy that we can see more what kind of problems is out there, I`m not a wheelchair user, but I like to see how others do things. For one to help others (maybe get ideas to get it easier) and for second, maybe we can help to let stuff become easier for everyone. And everyone can end up in a wheelchair with a broken leg or something, so for a short or longer periode, it`s helpful.
I wish you can make more parts of this where you show how you are doing stuff around in the house and so, and what have helped to get more indipendent
I have videos of me cleaning, doing laundry, and cooking:) They're just older ones.
I’ve always said that people that can walk should spend a day in a chair to see what we go through on a daily basis pain from being in a chair all day and things like that
They can never really know what it's like, but at least they'd get a small dose of our reality!
@@EmpoweredPara exactly and I’ve also said not only do they need to spend time in a chair but they also bed to ask people to take them places to see what it’s like for those who don’t drive due to their handicap ive
Always said it makes me feel like a child that if someone doesn’t want to take me I don’t get to go because in my
Town we have no ride sharing
I am really really really impressed well done Joe the hoovering I like your idea bring it upstairs on your lap
Really cool your husband did this! Loved the vacuum scene. What a good sport! 😊
He's a pretty good sport for sure 👌!
Awesome video Brittney! And especially Joe! Please thank him for being a good sport about this. Yes, I would assume that he has learned a lot of the skills being with you all these years. I am A-B, but not tall, so I tend to throw other grocery items at items on high shelves to knock them down to me. His summary of pre-planning and allowing for extra time IMHO is key. Question: how do you get your family members not help you when it is something you can do yourself even if the activity takes you more time or more effort? I’m having trouble with that one. Lately I’ve been offering to help my wife who is disabled and then she chews me out. Whoops, one other thing - did he have trouble remembering to constantly put on, and release his brakes? I think that is something that would be hard to remember to do.
It's hard to get people not to help when they can do it faster. Takes a while for them to get used to watching you struggle. I think it's harder for the able bodied people to watch than it is for the person with the disability to actually do the task. Setting boundaries on a repetitive basis is what has worked for me
@@EmpoweredParaThank you. Setting boundaries on a repetitive basis sounds better than my wife’s current method of constantly saying “no” and punching me lol!
Well, I just love both of you now!
Your husband is a husband and you are beautiful. God bless you guys.
in my pricechopper grocery store you can go to the front desk and ask for a person to walk around with you with a cart then they put grocerys on the thing ma geg for you
Your husband is a sweetheart. Your daughter is so cute.
I’m a decorator and to make things easier, I use two hoses on my vacuum. If you did this, you wouldn’t have to take the Dyson into the bathroom. Just drag the hose. For shopping you should carry something like a back scratcher to reach high shelves.
Unofficial reacher - anything that allows me to get what I need. Shoes, tongs, cleaning bottles, wooden spoons
Unofficial reachers.
Luckily, I am also blind and😅 so I use my white cane all of the time as a reacher. I also use my extended shoehorn to reach things. But I usually use whatever it is that I can find in my general area and just improvise from there!
Hi this was really cool. This was the first time your channel came into my youtube feed. I'm a COTA(certified occupational therapy assistant) and when I was going to college, all the students had to go out into the community using an assistive device(ie crutches,wheelchair,cane). We then had to write a paper about our experience. Kinda similar to this video. This video would be a great teaching tool for OT students. I kept saying out loud he needs a reacher! Couldn't help it. (-: Thanks again for posting and have a great day!
Interesting video of you challenging your husband to do things in a wheelchair. I used to help out in boys organization at church. One activity I did with the boys was to let them experience what it was like to be handicapped. Blind, deaf, wheelchair bound and doing things with one hand. The goal was to get them to understand the physically handicapped. I have cerebral palsy affecting the right side of my body. Growing up going through school I always had someone who thought it would be fun to pick on me. Getting back to boys organization, I wanted these boys to see and experience things from a different perspective. It’s easy for people to look down on those who are handicapped and I wanted the boys to understand that it’s not right. I only wish I could have hands on people who are blind, deaf, wheelchair bound and so on because it would have brought everything to life for the boys. I only had a wheelchair, blindfold and earmuffs to deaden the sound. I showed them how I could tie my shoes with one hand.
Great episode! I love you both.
Yeah ……. you pair present as a couple of genuinely fantastic human beings.
To flesh that out a bit ……I’m 65 and have been exposed to some of the worst aspects of human nature, resulting in me not having a lot of regard for our species in general. I’m somewhat jaded and cynical and often feel that humanity is a blight on the planet, however CERTAIN people impress me beyond compare. Consequently, there’s not a whole lot of folk that I regard any more than acquaintances, however, despite the fact that I live in the antipodes and we would never be likely to meet, I think my admiration and regard for how you present yourselves that I could easily consider y’all much closer than someone I might bump into.
I absolutely know that you need no validation from some silly old truckie out here in the bush, however it is always worthwhile to positively acknowledge qualities in people ……it costs nothing, but can brighten a day.
Thank you for doing this! I personally think a lot more abled body people should spend a day, or more, in a wheelchair. Especially architects, city planners, city leaders, business owners, business managers and even doctors. You know, the people who have a direct impact on the quality of a wheelchair users life.
I have 4 dogs, so I use a small wheeled shopvac to vacuum our house and get tangled up in the power cord and vacuum hose all the time. I have some tummy muscles, but both my shoulders are damaged, so I use a SmartDrive with the new speed control dial. This makes hills a lot easier. I also have a roll in ramp minivan with the 6 way power seats, which makes getting in and out much easier…if I can find a parking spot with 8 feet on the passenger side and I don’t get blocked in. I use a shopping cart when I go grocery shopping. My wheelchair has a 4 inch dump, so I’ve found that I can transfer from the back of the seat to the front of the seat to reach a lot of the items on the upper shelves (why do the stores always put the good stuff on the upper shelves?).
Yes! Every city planner needs to spend time in a wheelchair! I'm so skeptical about smart drives because they sometimes ram my friends into things lol, but they definitely help save your shoulders.
@@EmpoweredPara I’ve went through the various SmartDrive controls, the original watch and the google watch, the Switchcontrol and now the speed control dial. I never trusted the watches as they didn’t always detect my taps and relied on Bluetooth which can be effected by other Bluetooth signals in the area. However, the Switchcontrol and Speed control dial are directly connected to the SmartDrive via a cable that connects to the charging port. I’ve never had an issue stopping the SmartDrive using the Switchcontrol or the speed control dial. And, although I don’t like the size of the dial on the speed control, of all the controls I like it the best. Because you can change the speed of the SmartDrive without having to stop and start over again, you just turn the dial to go a little faster or slower.
I don’t think I could do half the things I do without the assistance of the SmartDrive.
@DanOnWheels yeah the new controls are definitely more reliable. Someday i'll get one!
Awesome to see.... well done :D I have two chairs and my wheely walker - which - I only use in the house, and to get to the car - provided Im having a good day - otherwise its chair. My 'home' chair is the one named "Beauty" - shes pretty, shes great for indoors, shopping, appointments, is electric, spins pretty well on itself etc... I can charge it in the garage, house or in the car while travelling if I want to via the 12v charger.
My other chair, "The Beast" is a ripper, 4wd, good for mudding, out at the stables with my horse (I've had my ENTIRE life with horses - I am 50 in 17 days, my remaining horse is 19 in 10 days and I will have had him 18 1/2 years. He is a Partbred Cleveland Bay Stallion - 3/4 CB, 1/4 TB, and the most handsome fellow on the planet... lol He is my reason for breathing, which is pretty lucky cos there is a stupid 3 1/2 yr junky lung crud going on after a bout of gross pneumonia back in March 2020...ick. Just cant shake it.
LOVE both my chairs to the moon and back.... Most of the time in the house I use the walker like a chair as the legs are NOT cooperative which is not so cool. sigh.... but oh well, I would rather have a few steps here and there, and transfer from bed to chair or manage to use the walker as a support to get to the lounge or the loo or shower on occasion than have NOTHING at all :/
That was interesting to do and thanks you to Joe for spending his day doing this. Do you ever seek out something in the store that you dont intend to purchase to use as an unofficial reacher and then take it back? I am able bodied (and 6'3) and have done that more than once to reach/push items off high shelves in the big box hardware stores.
a cane is perfect in many cases.
Thank you for this vid. I use a grabber to get things off a shelf. But, I have dropped it on the floor. I have to get the belt off my robe, loop it around the end of my grabber to lift the handle high enough to reach it.
For vacuum cordless or a wireless self powered robot vacuum possibly eliminate some hassles especially self parking and recharge
I let my friend borrow my spare wheelchair in middle school he bet me he could use it all week in school how I have to he went 3 days lost the bet but earned my respect for trying it and not just talking about it
Great job Joe 👌👏👏😃
This was super interesting to see from his perspective. My unofficial reachers include clothing hangers, forks/spoons, the broom handle. I can also detach the handles from my wheelchair. They are long because they’re adjustable in case whoever is with me needs to push. They make perfect hooks.
I used to use my wheelchair armrests when I kept them on. Perfect hook!
Joe?! You're cool just for doing that! Welcome to the crippled life for even just a day.
Brittney..... Thanks for showing that..... Bless y'all and keep up the awesome work at PUSH. God bless!
If something’s down too low for me, my service dog will grab it for me (she’s very good with distinguishing colours, knows box vs packet, to move to the left or right, up or down from something and knows the words for some foods/brands that I buy often) I’ll tell her the ‘find’ cue and she’ll start searching the shelves by using her nose and eyes to point at something (don’t worry she’ll only touch/sniff the correct packet she is picking up once I’ve confirmed that’s the right one!) I’ll then give her directions like ‘purple box’ and clarify ‘try again look over (over is her cue for left)’ and she’ll move over a product or skip over multiple products if they are in a packet for example when she knows she’s searching for a box. Then when she focuses and stares at the correct product I’ll tell her ‘yes get it’ to confirm that’s what I want her to pick up. She then touches her nose right in front of the product to confirm that we’re talking about the same thing and when I confirm with ‘get it’s again she’ll pick it up and either give it to me or place it in my basket with the cue (basket).
In our early training days I ended up buying a LOT of items I didn’t want or need to buy because she’d grab the wrong thing and I’m not returning it to the shelf with dog slobber on it lol! 😂
I also have a little periscopic target stick that I can touch items with and she’ll know that’s the one I need - I usually use it when there’s lots of the same/similar items (think like the shampoo and conditioner isle where most bottles are the same size, shape and usually a white bottle and the shampoo and matching conditioner usually has virtually the same labelling and design except for saying shampoo or conditioner in microscopic writing).
For higher up items, I usually make use of the gaps in the steel shelving units (all our grocery stores here have shelving with 5 inch by 2 inch grating plates that make up the shelves) - I just move products or boxes to the sides of the shelf directly under what I want to get to and use my hands to push up between the gaps to push what I want forwards onto the rim of the shelf and then give it one last shove off and get ready to catch the falling object. My hand eye co-ordination has certainly improved from my early days - where I was always fumbling catching things and boxes and all sorts would end up at my feet or on the ground, fortunately this was actually extremely helpful when my Service Dog was in training because it taught her to literally ignore missiles falling from the sky, the loud noises of things randomly hitting the ground around her and gave her plenty of practise at her most used (and according to her, most exciting) task - picking up items off the ground for me that I’ve dropped!
It’s funny because now if anyone drops something in a store near her she is convinced that it MUST be her job to pick it up and hand it to me, often I have to remind her ‘nope, not ours’ when that happens 😂
When I’m using my WC (I’m an ambulatory user) if I drop something (which happens more often than not) people will rush to pick stuff up for me and I love that they are being so thoughtful and kind but my pup literally does a mad tail wag and sometimes tappy paws when I drop something because she knows it’s time to do her most favourite thing and when people get stuff off the ground for me, her tail stops wagging and does a little droop because she knows there’s nothing to get anymore 😭 Often times I sneakily ‘accidentally’ drop it agin once the person is out of sight, just so she has the joy of getting it for me.
I’ve learnt that nowadays, if I drop something I have to say something to whoever’s reaching for it quick, I’ll usually say ‘oh it’s okay! My pup will get that for me, it’s a pretty cool trick, let me show you!’ And that way they don’t feel awkward or rejected and god does my pup love an audience so you can be sure she’ll practically prance over to whatever it is and drop it perfectly in my basket or lap before sitting wagging her tail like mad and grinning like ‘where is my applause?’ 🤦♀️😂
0:00 Intro
0:26 Task list
3:48 Disclaimer re making light of disability/appropriation/etc
4:49 The wheelchair that Joe will be in
5:39 Preparing for first challenge
8:08 Challenge #1 - Vacuuming
11:37 Challenge #2 - Bathroom break
14:10 Challenge #3 - Wheeling outside
18:13 Challenge #4 - Vehicle transfer
20:14 Challenge #5 - Grocery shopping
27:24 Challenge #6 - Cooking
30:24 Takwaways by Joe/Outro
that's very brave of him 🙂
Ive used plunger, broom handles, you name it ive done it lol. Not apposed to asking for help though.
I can sympathize, with me being epileptic there are days I feel I need to be in a wheelchair for the day. Fatigue plus balance issues can be a problem for me . For much I’d use one on a daily basis to try and conserve what energy I have on a daily basis anymore.
Good for you Joe
Yeah he was a good sport!
Beautiful and wholesome video. Btw I have a cousin that literally looks exactly like your daughter. I am mind blown how similar they look!!!😮
Interesting!
@29:00 or thereabouts Joe says it’s not such an eye opener for him after 15 years ,which stands to reason, but it’s a bloody …..almost an epiphany for me.
You know, he’s a really good ol’ boy …..damn ….almost an Aussie!!!!!!😂😂😂😂😂😂
I loved this video so much!!! 😂 I have used a hair brush and a roll of tissue paper.
When I watched this video, I marvelled at how much he could get in the basket on his lap. And I wondered what if someone wanted to do a fuller grocery shopping trip. I searched and saw a video in England where they had shopping carts that attach to the front of a wheelchair, just like your Electric Scooter attaches on your video. So I went to the Head Office of the grocery chain where I still carry some influence. All they would offer is the electric scooter with a small basket on the front that at least some of their stores already have. And no secure place to keep the shopper’s wheelchair. They didn’t want to even talk about considering anything else. I don’t think that really helps this issue any. I failed. I don’t like failing. I’ll try another approach.
We have these in my local store, as a WC user I personally hate them! They’re sooo heavy and awkward to move/steer, I find you end up overestimating how much you can buy/carry because most stores don’t allow you to leave the store with those carts (to put stuff in you car) so you end up having so many bags and not enough lap/wheelchair space to fit all your groceries. Plus I always have the indignity of having to ask a member of staff for one and literally every single time they either have no idea what I’m talking about even though I literally point to it when I ask, but then I have to wait around for them to empty cleaning supplies, stock or similar out of it before I can use it, which adds a lot of time and awkwardness to a ‘simple grocery trip’. If you are advocating for WC compatible cart in your local centres I would highly recommend seeing if there’s a plastic/lightweight option - as I’ve found (and heard lots of other WC users say) that the metal ones are so heavy they’re not worth the energy it takes to wheel with them on a manual chair (and they’re not compatible with electric chairs) and so you can’t really put more than one baskets worth of stuff in the whole trolley anyways as after that it’s too heavy to push anyways.
Tongs are fabulous reachers.
Spatula is my go to reacher in the kitchen
I think hubby (still not sure if his name is Joe or Joel) is probably a pretty competitive bloke normally and he just ain’t gonna let the tasks beat him. I don’t think he’s necessarily competing with you, rather the tasks.
Hah..such a fun video. Next time you should make Joe take public transport oooor go to your trailer thingy in the woods!!
Wooden spoons are helpful. I have taken their broom from its display to use the handle. Anything to get the job done.
lol yeah random grocery store items are fair game when we need a reacher! The broom is brilliant!
This is the best idea so cool good luck
A dressing aid is what I use as a teacher.
You guys made one of my favorite meals. Dorito nachos. Great video.
While handling wheel real down and reassemble may been easier it's still a Hassel that makes simple take longer and depending on weather messier especially if dressed up nice
I've thrown a potato to knock something off a top shelf lol.. (Phil)
Now that's a good strategy lol.
After three-quarters of a day in a wheelchair… “Can I have a beer… 😂😂
Yup we call it a holy ish handle too. Canada thing??
Honestly couldn’t live without my stick vacuum - the pups shed constantly and I find myself having to vacuum all the time - honestly could not vacuum before my stick vacuum, the regular vacuums were too heavy, being on the ground meant the power buttons were all down low and bending over to turn it on/off and adjust stuff would make me dizzy enough that half the time I’d have to quit then and there. With my Autism the sound of a regular vacuum was so loud and overstimulating that I would find myself constantly irritated, annoyed and close to a meltdown like 5 minutes in - afterwards all I’d want to do would be sit in complete silence in a dark room and I would be so unregulated and feel exhausted from not only the physical act of vacuuming but mentally too. Also the cords! Always in the way, too long, too short, need to move it from powerpoint to powerpoint bending down to do so which would flare my dizziness and disautonomia.
Getting my stick vacuum was a game changer, easy to manoeuvre and light enough that my wrists, back and joints weren’t in pain and meant I could vacuum for much longer. When I originally got it, I brought it liking the idea of no cords but truly it has had so many other disability friendly features.
I love the smaller collection chamber because it keeps the vacuum light and basically forces me to take breaks instead of overdoing it, the power buttons are close to your hand and not on the ground, the charger for it is also wall mountable to so no need to pull something heavy out of a cupboard and then waste more energy trying to get it back in when you’re done (which takes valuable energy for someone with chronic fatigue), the motor (and overall vacuum) being smaller means it’s less noisy and sensory friendly, I use this thing to clean out my car, vacuum dirty stuff like entry mats, dog beds etc. outside without having to bring those heavy/not very portable and dusty things into the house, it’s so small I’ve even taken it on holiday! (I have a Service Dog, and she sheds like a shepherd so I always try to leave non-pet friendly places as clean as possible after we stay by vacuuming). It’s super easy to start and restart it without worrying that you’ll blow the motor - like a traditional bag vacuum, which has been a game changer for my sensory needs - you don’t have a loud vacuum on constantly for as long as it takes to vacuum because you can stop it while moving rooms, changing positions etc. which allows me to vacuum for longer because I’m less overwhelmed by a constant noise. With Asthma that tries to kill me if there’s dust, emptying the contained chamber into the bin has less dust rising in the air - I used to have to pay someone to empty my old bag vacuum because the plume of dust was visible like a foot in the air every time it was emptied and would send me into an asthma flare for days. Not to mention how much easier to manoeuvre a stick vacuum from a chair, you’re not constantly fighting with something else on wheels, on the ground which isn’t designed to work from any position other than standing. With the ‘stick’ part of the stick vacuum being rigid, it doesn’t matter what angle you are on including sitting in a chair because the solid hose isn’t going to kink and flop around goofing up the suction like with a traditional vacuum.
Sorry for the long spiel but getting a stick vacuum is honestly one of the best things I’ve spent money on, accessibility wise and I feel like not enough people who could benefit from one know they have some really great disability friendly features 😅