Wheels

       So last month we went to this place that does accessible vehicles.   We were so excited to start this process of Jarrad being able to drive!  We had already weathered some disappointment because we knew that we were going to have to get a van for him.  We were hoping to be able to get a lower costing sedan but due to his heterotopic ossification, he needed to have a ramp to roll up on.  Hence - another van.  2 vans.  It just seemed like another blow to our independence.
    So we arrive at this place.  We means - the engineer from Voc. Rehab, the counselor from Voc.  Rehab.  The driving therapist (DT) and her therapy student.  The DT  made a comment that she hoped that Jarrad would be able to get up the ramp.  All I could think of was "Why not? I mean the ramp at the back of our house is steeper than this thing and this is only 3 feet long; not 12 feet.  Easy peasy."
     Yes, he could have pushed up the ramp no problem IF the ramp were wide enough.  The ramp width 29+ inches.  Jarrad's wheel width?  30.
   Now, Jarrad's wheels are at 27 inches at the top.  His wheels are canted.  That means that his wheels aren't straight up and down.  They are at a slight angle.  Very slight.  Why the angle?  A better, easier push.  Less effort on his part.  Now that his arms are his legs, that is important.  He has an Invacare Top End Reveal Wheelchair.  Starting price: 1,800.

Look at the wheels and you will see what I mean

And that doesn't include the cushion.  Just like a car, wheelchairs come with options. Just like a car, options cost extra.  Some insurances have a "cap" on what they will pay for like 1,500.  I am not sure what our cap was and quite frankly, don't care.  I told Jarrad to get what he wanted as this was essential to his health and happiness.  Now, he got a standard color and picked one of the 2 standard arms - standard everything pretty much till it came to the hand grips (or what I call, push wheels).  See the smaller "wheel"?  That is what paras use to push the chair.  He got a "cover" that connects the 2 "wheels"  that again is supposed to help with pushing and with his carpel tunnel.
     Now I will get to the point.  You would think that this ramp to the van would come wider - it definitely could - there was space for it.  Jarrad has a standard size chair.  Apparently, for most folks the push wheel goes on the outside of the ramp but because of his covers, that wasn't going to happen.  And, we are told, that the ramps don't come wider.
     Really? 
     Crap.  
     So the DT suggests taking the cant out or taking off the covers.  I am getting frustrated because these are things that make life easier on him.  THEN she suggests that maybe we would be better off with a power chair.
     WHATTTTTT????
    That was just crushing to us.  It just felt like a step backwards that we would need a power chair.  We know that sometime in the future it will probably be something we have to consider.  But not right now.
     It was just a bad day for us.  We were very discouraged.  We did have some things to consider and Jarrad started doing some research and found out - that there ARE vans with wider ramps.  Really, why do folks say things like "No, this is your only option."  Are they trying to discourage us?  Or are they just clueless?  I am going with clueless because last week Jarrad was talking to our ex-wheelchair rep.  Ex because he was laid off when his company was bought by a larger one - still, he is in the modification business and we see him regularly and are doing business with his new company.
     Anyway, Jarrad was telling him about our adventures in minivan shopping when he looks at Jarrad's chair and says, "If we got you the other (standard) arm, the wheels could come in on the axle 2 inches.
     WHATTTTT????
     You mean, we could keep the cant and the covers, AND make his chair smaller so he has more flexibility in manuevering?
    Why, yes.  Yes, we can. 
     Since then, I have had time to think about this and have come to the conclusion that there is so much information out there that I think therapists and other health professionals can't know everything.  Other things have priority (such as skin integrity ie pressure sores, strength training and general "this is how you do this" kind of stuff, overall health issues . . . ).  That is why it is important to do your own research and see other practices because you learn different techniques. 
    And never lose hope because someone out there has gone through something very similar and there is a solution to it.