dds wheelchair SUCKS - what are the options?

[ReallyReally]

I need to call her OT about the wheelchair

it is clanky and black and says 'invasomething' across the back of it

also it is really hard to push, I am barely above 5 foot and I still have to bend over to push it

I want to see if I can get vouchers towards a wheelchair, and put more money in ourselves to get something better than the horrific NHS ones.

I want a zippy one so we can go on family walks - are there any nice websites? I saw someone a while ago in a really funky one from Norway. I want to go to her OT and say look, this is nice, this doesn't weigh A BLOODY TON, I am sick of not going for nice long walks or doing nice things because the wheelchair is too cumbersome and CRAP.

[ReallyReally]

I don't know - it looks similar, but less clanky and hideous than ours

Our is invacare, like the blade

are they all this bad? Are they all clanky hideous things that you have to bend over to push? When you can buy all kinds of funky foldable comfy buggies to push around perfectly lightweight babies who don't give a monkeys what they're sitting in

massive great heavy kids who are interested in fashion however get this crap

[anonandlikeit]

We've got the invacare bladeplus, & ds2 loves it..although he is only 6 & not really developed a sense of style yet.
His has the small wheels so lokks like an old ladies pushchair according to ds1's mate!
IKWYM about bending to push it, i'm 5'6" & was thinking of asking for some handle extensions so that I don't get backache.

I have removed the antitip bar things at the back & that has made it a bit easier to push.

[ReallyReally]

is the blade plus one you can go out for walks in etc?

ours is just perfect for walking around indoor shopping malls and er, that's it

[ReallyReally]

good grief a google shows that we have something scarily like the Blade Plus

really can people nip out and about for family days out with this clanky old mare of a thing?

[ReallyReally]

yes yes anti-tip bars came straight off

[lou33]

you can get higher handles for the blade plus, i have them for pushing ds2

[meltedmarsbars]

If nhs won't oblige you can try WhizzKidz charity who provide wheelchairs?

[anonandlikeit]

reallytired, ds2 does walk so he isn't entirely dependant on his w/chair...
As for all terrain I must confess to being a lazy moo, so no off roading for us!!
I do manage it OK in the woods but only if we stick to the paths & i have to remember to make sure he is strapped in for when we hit those tree roots.

[Mitchell81]

Our invacare is also crap on any surface besides shopping malls. Even pavements can cause problems if they are uneven. You have my sympathy. We use other SN pushchairs aswell as the wheelchair.