7 items for wheelchair users' independence that won't break the bank

bespoken loves nothing better than a mind blowing futuristic bit of technology that is going to blast through barriers and level the playing field for people with disabilities. There are countless fantastic innovations being developed every week for improved mobility and independence and God willing every last one of them will end up on bespoken. Simply put, we think they’re awesome. However we are conscious of one little problem…

We’re often dealing with things that are so scientifically advanced that they won’t be available commercially for at least another few years, or they are so expensive that your average person would have to mortgage their house just to consider buying it.

It’s brilliant that there are really cool gadgets out there to help people’s independence and we look forward to the day when anyone can purchase them over the counter with whatever loose change they have in their pocket.

In the meantime though, we thought we’d share a short list of useful items that are more within the price range of the average wheelchair using shopper.

Trabasack – Up first it’s our old friend the Trabasack. A handy purpose designed travel bag

for wheelchair users. It’s made for easy access and convenience and depending on the model you go for, it has a flat surface for things like; writing on, eating off (if you’re on the move).

The Trabasack has several different models that seem to range in price from £25.95 to £64.95.

Self-levelling cup holder – Time is money, which is why many people choose to drink their morning coffee on the go. But if you need both hands to direct your manual wheelchair then handling a cup of boiling hot coffee at the same time is tricky not to say dangerous.

This device looks like it could be easily fitted to most manual wheelchairs and would allow the user to safely enjoy their morning coffee whilst on the move. It’s designed to move with the bumps and turns in the road to prevent any spillage.

The Self-levelling cup holder can be purchased online for $29.50 (£19.20).

Travel John - One of the more unconventional items on this list but I have it on good authority that it can be a godsend for a wheelchair user if no suitably accessible toilets are around in the vicinity. Obviously discretion is required but the user can relieve themselves safely and hygienically in this little bag which will react with the liquid to harden it, preventing unfortunate leakage. Ideal for any kind of travel.

Travel john can be found online for £5.99 ($9.20) for a pack of three.

G-Loves – I was motivated to include these on this list because of a review I read of them online written by a wheelchair user that praised to the heavens. Although initially intended for women to exercise in the gym without damaging their hands they have been adopted by some wheelchair users as a means of avoiding callouses, friction burns and blisters as a result of wheeling their chair forward all day. There are other similar gloves on the market for wheelchair users but the advantage of G-Loves, I’m told, is the range of designs you can get them in.

The official website for G-Loves seems to offer them for an average price of $45.00 (£29.29)

Morph Wheels, foldable wheels – Morph wheels addresses the problem of travel by having the wheels fold up so they can be placed in a piece of hand luggage and stored in the overhead locker of a plane. Assuming the main body of the chair folds up well enough you can essentially keep you chair near you throughout the whole journey rather than leave it up to a stranger to take care of it. Can also fit in the boot of a small car.

Admittedly I am stretching the term “affordable” a bit here. Morph Wheels costs $950.00 (about £620.00) which makes it the most expensive item on this list. Nonetheless I feel it remains a realistic purchase for many people so decided to include it.

Sledge for disabled children – No parent wants to see their child left out and feel isolated. The parents of one young girl had this little number made for their severely disabled daughter who previously couldn’t enjoy playing in the snow like other children her age. Specially designed for extra safety for a child with limited mobility whilst offering the same kind of fun a regular sledge affords.

Again, this item is quite a bit more expensive than your bog standard sledge at £250.00, but as I’m often reminded the small bonuses make a huge difference to the quality of life.

Handybar – Driving a car is an important symbol of independence for a lot of people. If a person has some mobility issues however, their ability to get in and out of a car may be jeopardised. Handybar is a simple adaptation to a car that helps people get in and out of the driver’s seat, and potentially transfer into a wheelchair or mobility scooter, thus preserving some independence. It’s very simple to install and has a universal fit.

Handybar can be purchased online for around £20.00

Is there anything missing from this list? Have you used any of the items on it? Pop in a comment below.

7 items for wheelchair users' independence that won't break the bank

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