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Original poster

Calling other disabled people - What is the best gadgets etc. you have ever bought.

310 replies

PeppermintParty · 10/12/2023 19:26

Inspired by another thread about the best thing you have bought in 2023, I thought it would be good to chat with other disabled people about the best things you have bought to make your life easier.

Mine is my mobility scooter. I was reading on the other thread about no rinse shower caps. I had never heard of them and it made me think about what other things other disabled people had bought to make their life easier.

Was thinking about getting an electric potato peeler and something to pick things up from the floor, but there are probably loads of other stuff I haven't even considered, so would love to hear from other disabled mumsnetters.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
39
thedementedelf · 12/12/2023 13:00

An electric peeler.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 12/12/2023 13:01

Pixiedust1234 · 12/12/2023 11:03

Car cane???? Did you mean this?? (My mind is blown btw)

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5806041

We had one of those for my dad too-game changer for him (and us!)

allthelittleangelsriseupriseup · 12/12/2023 13:03

Earlier this year, we had the 30+years old kitchen ripped out and had a new one put in - we used a local company who had one designer who was a wheelchair user, and who suggested ideas that I had never even considered- all the worktops were lowered so I could cook sitting down, my dishwasher was raised to waist height and my oven has a fold under door. My induction hob is 4 hobs side by side, rather than 2x2, so I don't have to reach across hot pans to reach a pan at the back. I also had my under counter cupboards replaced by drawers.
Cost an arm and a leg but by god it was worth it!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
gotomomo · 12/12/2023 13:07

I'm not disabled but support many elderly due to my work, thought I might get ideas for them but just ordered myself a peeler, genius idea!

Original poster
PeppermintParty · 12/12/2023 13:10

TallulahG · 12/12/2023 12:52

I'm blown away by the car cane. Ordering now!

It makes you wonder how many other things like this there may be that you simply wouldn't think to search for because you didn't know they even existed.

OP posts:
StBrides · 12/12/2023 13:14

PeppermintParty · 12/12/2023 13:10

It makes you wonder how many other things like this there may be that you simply wouldn't think to search for because you didn't know they even existed.

Show quote history

They are brilliant - so simple and unobtrusive, easy to carry if you need to or keep in the door pocket. I think my relative uses it with one of those spinney seat pads that helps sitters turn on the car seat to aid getting in and out

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 12/12/2023 13:19

I think most of us look for a solution only when we have a problem we can’t find a workaround ourselves, or we just suffer in silence. Plus sometimes the ‘solution’ isn’t actually practical - it’s designed to look nice and theoretically solves an issue, but hasn’t been tested by the end user or designed by someone who actually had that problem needing to be solved.
So it’s lovely to find a thread which has actual users of the gadget recommending their found solutions. Too many online reviews appear to be bot produced or written formulaticcaly to bump an item up the sales/advert pages. (Sorry for spelling, hope you get my intended meaning!).
@PeppermintParty

MaidOfSteel · 12/12/2023 13:32

My adjustable bed. I love love love it! Riser/recliner chair. Grabber stick. Shower stool. Electric tin opener.

Sahara123 · 12/12/2023 13:39

An add on power pack for my daughters wheelchair, not cheap but oh why didn’t we do it sooner ! She also has a kind of cosy sleeping bag thing that we zip her into, she gets so cold not being mobile. And a good quality poncho for when it rains.

HairyMaclary · 12/12/2023 13:40

So you have a recommendation for jar opener / ring pull gadget? Ideally all in one? DS at uni would benefit.

MaidOfSteel · 12/12/2023 13:40

I mustn't forget my SmartCrutch. It spreads out the pressure more as you lean on it and I've found it helps me feel steadier. It's easily adjustable to suit. Quite dear, I think, for a crutch, but worth it. And I got it VAT free.
https://smartcrutch.uk/ is one of the sellers.

Home

smartCRUTCH™: Keeping You Upright Comfortably. The modular design of smartCRUTCH™ offers you Comfort, Mobility and Adaptability that conventional crutches can not. Fantastic colours to suite your different moods, character, memories and what the...

https://smartcrutch.uk

TigerRag · 12/12/2023 13:46

A rubber cone thing to open jars
Magican can opener
A J shaped plastic thing to open ring pulled cans

UniMom101 · 12/12/2023 14:15

sashh · 12/12/2023 05:23

I have a table top dishwasher, that works too.

I have a grabber, electric tin opener and a food processor with a wickedly powered motor.

It wasn't bought as a disability aid but my new Japanese knife is fab.

Show quote history

Can I ask how you get on with the tabletop dishwasher please? I am thinking of getting one as I struggle with bending down but I am worried that I wont be able to fit much in one.

I am also hoping to find some cheap way of converting my kitchen base cupboards in to drawers as I am also really struggling with them.

Keepingongoing · 12/12/2023 16:28

@allthelittleangelsriseupriseup
I don’t suppose your kitchen design company is based in Yorkshire or E Midlands by any chance? I desperately need a new kitchen but don’t know where to start finding a company that understands disabled users…

Original poster
PeppermintParty · 12/12/2023 22:13

PeppermintParty · 12/12/2023 08:14

It is fine, but when lowered, it sits about 2 inches higher than the bottom of the bath, so I can't have as good a soak as I used to. If you re thinking of 'splashing out' on one, I would suggest you check with your local council first to see if they will do an assessment to see if they think you need one and if so, if you would qualify for it for free.

Show quote history

@bushtailadventures actually, just checked and it is more like 3 inches.

OP posts:
allthelittleangelsriseupriseup · 12/12/2023 22:26

@Keepingongoing
The company that I used was Counter Interiors, based In York .
Not at all cheap, but they really knew what they were doing.

LollipopViolet · 12/12/2023 22:29

My long mobility cane. Took me ages to accept that yes, I could use one even though I've got a lot of useful vision. It's stopped me rolling ankles stepping off trains, and I walk into people far less when I use it because it's a fairly obvious sign to them that, hey, I don't see well, you may want to give me space! With it, I can go out in unfamiliar places or at night independently, and feel confident. Without it, not so much.

When I was in Florida on holiday, I ordered a custom one to be delivered - it's mostly white still, but the bottom section is fuchsia, and the handle is bright pink, as is the top of the roller ball tip I use. I love it, feels so much less "medical" than the standard one.

ZoomText (although work paid for that) super fancy magnification software for my work laptop - means I'm not getting eye fatigue and headaches all day.

Agree with Passenger Assistance app. Also my railcard!

Ninja DualZone airfryer - so much safer for me than the oven! Once I'd been shown what buttons I needed, and where they were, it was super easy to use independently.

GladioliandSweetPeas · 13/12/2023 00:55

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Pinkpinkpink15 · 13/12/2023 01:33

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@GladioliandSweetPeas

& pedants corner is ➡️

Diggerdriverless · 13/12/2023 03:41

PeppermintParty · 10/12/2023 22:03

I've just thought of something else, I use, but not actually a gadget, but an app on my phone. It is Passenger Assistance by British Rail. I only found out about it by chance, so if it helps someone else if I mention it, that is good. I had to travel by train to a major teaching hospital in another city and with the app, I was able to arrange for staff to help me and my luggage to get on/on the train and at the other end, I was met off the train and myself and my luggage were taken to the taxi rank in a buggy.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Does anyone have any suggestions for a gadget to help with trimming my toenails?

Edited

Monthly/5 weekly chiropodist appointments £20. Nothing fancy but keeps my nails trimmed and feet comfortable.

Spencer0220 · 13/12/2023 04:05

LollipopViolet · 12/12/2023 22:29

My long mobility cane. Took me ages to accept that yes, I could use one even though I've got a lot of useful vision. It's stopped me rolling ankles stepping off trains, and I walk into people far less when I use it because it's a fairly obvious sign to them that, hey, I don't see well, you may want to give me space! With it, I can go out in unfamiliar places or at night independently, and feel confident. Without it, not so much.

When I was in Florida on holiday, I ordered a custom one to be delivered - it's mostly white still, but the bottom section is fuchsia, and the handle is bright pink, as is the top of the roller ball tip I use. I love it, feels so much less "medical" than the standard one.

ZoomText (although work paid for that) super fancy magnification software for my work laptop - means I'm not getting eye fatigue and headaches all day.

Agree with Passenger Assistance app. Also my railcard!

Ninja DualZone airfryer - so much safer for me than the oven! Once I'd been shown what buttons I needed, and where they were, it was super easy to use independently.

To add to this, my husband has started using a symbol cane. (The short white one.)

It took years to figure out that he needed one. He has eyesight in 1 eye, and absolutely appalling balance because of Cerebral Palsy.

Absolute game changer. He walks to Tesco every day now. And he is confident going new places. Locally if people see him waiting to cross the road they pull over and get out to help!

Best £24 ever spent

originaldomesticgodess · 13/12/2023 07:06

Drop front trousers for my wheelchair dependant husband.

Mrsjayy · 13/12/2023 07:09

definitely my scooter I don't use it every day but for long distances and days out it's fab.

My cordless hoover and handheld its like pushing air 😄

beetr00 · 13/12/2023 07:10

@UniMom101

currently recommended on Christmas thread by Needcoffeeimmediately

www.amazon.co.uk/Countertop-Dishwasher-Keenstone-360-Degree-Apartment/dp/B09ZDW8VRC

converting base units to drawers
www.drawerboxes.co.uk/