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Made To Measure Wheelchairs
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Playing wheelchair sport
3 June 2015
Playing a wheelchair sport is life changing – it’s not about getting to the Paralympics (although that could be your aim!) – but about getting active and meeting new people. There are many different sports available and you can use the widget below to find a club near you… Parasport have a good website and aim to make it easier for members of the public to take up disability sport by providing information about sports and sporting opportunities in local areas. Find a club here
Fitness equipment for wheelchair users
5 June 2015
Getting fit or losing weight is not easy – and it’s somewhat a little harder if you are wheelchair users. But it’s not impossible! Did you know what in fact using your arms and upper body increases your heart rate more than using your legs? – what this means is you can actually more more calories using your arms that using your legs! But how do you do this?… We have taken a look at some exercise equipment out there and will be featuring them on The Accessible Planet – first up is the Invictus Active Trainer. WOW – it’s an impressive trainer, it’s essentially a treadmill for a wheelchair which connects to your phone or tablet and records all your data. It’s been developed by wheelchair users who obviously understand wheelchairs and have first hand experience. The video below is defiantly worth a watch…
Bespoke manual wheelchairs active user
6 May 2017
Getting the right wheelchair is essential – what we mean by the “right wheelchair” is what they meets your needs and requirements and enables you to be as active and independent as possible. A wheelchair suitable for you can improve your quality of life, but unfortunately not all OT’s and wheelchair services are good and people end up with the wrong wheelchair for them. Before you speak to an OT, a physio or go along to the wheelchair services appointment speak to wheelchair users, browse the internet and go along to a specialist shop. When we say specialist shop we mean one that specialises in wheelchairs and has wheelchair users who work there – not your run of the mill mobility shop who will often sell you the one with the biggest profit margin. Then go armed with the info you have gathered – you are well within your right to have an opinion and discuss your needs and explain why you think such a type of wheelchair would be suitable for you. If you have extra available money then the best option is to get the wheelchair voucher and go to a specialist, place the order and pay for […]
New website and brand refresh!
16 May 2017
After nearly 5 years being live it was time for a ‘refresh’ – both in terms of how our website worked and the overall design. Although we made slight alternations to The Accessible Planet we needed to invest in a new platform that was easier to view products and services but also easier for people and businesses to join us – the easier it is to find things the better! We feel we have achieve this and the website is looking a lot more improved – we now have a team working continuing on improvements and changes, this is almost daily to ensure we continue to grow, if not at a faster rate than before… For our new website, logo and brand identity we needed to source professional services, many thanks to Garreth at Creativenergy for his work across the whole platform and all areas of design – be sure to reach out to them here.
Blue badge abuse!
5 July 2017
The misuse and abuse of the blue badge and parking in disabled spaces without one is a huge issue – it happens all over the country (is it worse in the UK?) and often means there not enough spaces available for genuine blue badge holders. One way to help combat the problem is educate and highlight – and one way you can do this is via websites such as NoBlueBadge.com – this allows you to anonymously post a photo of the person offending and highlight the issue. Check them out here: www.nobluebadge.com
Wheelchair To Access St Andrew’s West Sands Beach
31 July 2017
Wheelchair To Access St Andrew’s West Sands Beach St Andrew’s West Sand Beach is an iconic spot with plenty of beautiful sceneries to watch. Just taking a stroll along its shore is sure to leave you with great memories and unmatched experiences. Exploring this magnificent West Sand Beach on a wheelchair is now a reality, thanks to a special pony-pulled vehicle. Named the iBex, this vehicle lets the wheelchair users roll onto it and stay seated even as it tackles the multiple terrains at the beach. The pony itself is named Obama. The first trip took place on the 28th of this month. Luckily to those who missed, there’s another trip scheduled for 31st July. On their tour of Scotland, Pony AxeS, a service that runs this great initiative, is scheduled to visit St Andrews on this day again. Other places that have been lucky to host Pony AxeS them include Portobello, Balmedie, and Broughty Ferry. Changing Places Toilets Away from the iBex, there will also be another special facility that will make things even smoother. PAMIS will be fetching to the beach one of its innovative changing places toilets. It’s a special accessible toilet that accommodates those with various […]
How to understand wheelchair tyre sizes!
14 September 2017
Wheelchair tyres come in various sizes to fit different diameter wheels. So, when you are going to purchase a replacement, or a spare tyre, or inner tube, it is important to make sure that you purchase the correct size. All tyres and inner tubes have identification markings, however, these numbers can be confusing unless you know what they stand for. 24 inch = 540 25 inch = 559 26 inch = 590 The three digits are the metric (mm) size number which indicate the wheel diameter. A tyre or inner tube for a 24-inch wheel will bear the numbers 540, for a 25-inch wheel-559, and for a 26-inch wheel-590. Almost all wheelchairs have wheels of one of these three diameters. The other two digits – such as 25-540 – indicates the tyre width. Most wheelchairs use one-inch wide tyres for normal use on standard wheels and 1 inch equals 25mm. Wider tyres are sometimes used to get an improved grip on the road surface or to provide a softer, more comfortable ride. There are many different treads and technological advances now available in wheelchair tyres so be sure to investigate which is the most suitable for your needs and your […]
Ramp or lift for my WAV?
27 September 2017
Wheelchair accessible vehicles can be accessed either by a ramp or by a lift. Each one has advantages and disadvantages that should be considered to help you decide which would be the best choice for your vehicle. Most ramps can be extended manually, this makes them less expensive and they require less maintenance, than a lift. It does mean, however, that the wheelchair user will almost certainly require assistance to deploy them, as they can be heavy and require a certain amount of dexterity. A rear entry wheelchair accessible vehicle with a ramp requires quite a large amount of space behind the vehicle in which to extend the ramp and for the wheelchair user to manoeuvre up it. Longer ramps are less steep and therefore easier to get up, but they require more room. A ramp should not have a slope of more than 13-degrees, and while most electric wheelchairs can make it up this grade of slope, be aware that some cannot. Winches can be installed to assist the entry of both manual and electric wheelchairs, but a winch cannot overcome the problem of an overly steep ramp. Descending from the vehicle involves reversing down the sloping ramp, which […]
UberWAV – wheelchair accessible Uber
27 September 2017
UberWAV is the name of the service offered for wheelchair and mobility scooter users by the private taxi company UBER. To use the service, you will first need to download their free app on your smartphone. Signing in takes just a couple of minutes, and as you register either a credit or debit card or PayPal account for payment you will never have to worry about having cash on hand to pay for the ride. To request a wheelchair accessible vehicle, open the app, and in the ‘where to’ box enter your destination. Next, at the bottom of the screen select the option ’WAV’ and then hit ‘Request WAV.’ The vehicle details and the driver’s photo will then appear, along with a map to follow their progress. The average waiting time is fifteen minutes, and with their door-to-door service, you can wait safely inside until the car arrives. When the vehicle arrives, for your safety, check that the details match those sent to you before getting into the vehicle. The cost of uberWAV is comparable to the rate for their regular service (UberX), and is, on average, 40-percent cheaper than a normal taxi. They operate all day every day, and […]
Able Bodied – playing wheelchair tennis?
27 September 2017
Wheelchair tennis was first showcased in the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and became a Paralympics medal event four years later in Barcelona. In 1998, it became fully integrated into the International Tennis Federation becoming the first disability sport to become part of a world governing body. The sport now enjoys a complete tournament circuit with single and doubles matches, and divisions for athletes with only a lower body disability and for those affected in three or more limbs. Now, the winner of three grand-slam single titles and seventeen doubles in wheelchair tennis, Stephane Houdet, wants the sport to be included as a new Olympic event in the 2024 games in Paris. He wants to make wheelchair tennis the first disability sport to make the transition and allow able-bodied athletes to be included in the competition. As he explained, “It’s about inclusion and taking the sport to the next level.” Wheelchair tennis is the ideal candidate to complete this mission, because once you are sitting and playing in the wheelchair it makes no difference if you have full use of your lower body or not. Special wheelchairs are used with cambered wheels which allow tight spins, and athletes are strapped in […]
Access to work scheme
27 September 2017
The UK Government’s Access to Work scheme ensures that people with a disability or a health condition can receive the assistance they may need to help them to do their job. If you feel that you could do your job easier if some changes were made in your working hours, conditions, equipment or transport possibilities, this scheme may be able to help you. To be eligible for assistance you must be over 16-years of age, and a paid employee living and working in England, Wales or Scotland. You can be self-employed, an apprentice, doing an internship, or on a work experience or trial, but you must not earn not more than £120 a week, work between one and 16-hours and your work coach must be in agreement. If you are a paid employee, you can ask your employer to make reasonable adjustments, such as providing equipment or changing working hours to assist you in successfully executing your job. The Access to Work scheme can assist in assessing what adjustments need to be made and what the employer can reasonably be responsible for. If the employer is unable to make all of the necessary changes, you may be entitled to a […]
Wheelchairs accessible cruise
27 September 2017
A cruise is an excellent holiday option for a wheelchair user, letting you visit multiple places without the hassle. The Disabled Cruise Club is a great way to find out which ships can accommodate disabled people and the destinations that they travel too. The club can also help you with bookings and filling out the mobility questionnaire required by some wheelchair accessible cruise lines to ensure that they can adequately accommodate your needs. Modern cruise ships are constructed with accessibility for all in mind. Wheelchair users will have no problem in accessing the lifts which will take them to all areas of the ship including the sundecks, restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment options. Most wheelchair accessible cruise ship companies offer specially adapted cabins in each location, inside, outside, with a balcony, or a suite. These cabins are designed for full-time wheelchair users and feature wider doorways for easy access. They have about fifty-percent more space than a standard stateroom so you can move about comfortably. They have lowered vanity units and wardrobes, and the bathroom is a wet room with a roll-in shower, a pulldown shower chair and grab rails. Some lines offer the option of hiring a hospital type […]
Wheelchair disabled holidays Dorset
27 September 2017
Dorset is a lovely part of the country, and for wheelchair users, there are a number of different holiday options available. Weymouth has long been a popular family destination with its sandy beach, shallow waters and seaside attractions, and there are several converted caravan options here. These sleep six people, have wheelchair accessible ramps, wide entrances, sliding doors and converted WC/shower room with trapeze lift handles. Poole is a lovely wheelchair friendly town with lots of things to do, and also offers caravans, and the choice of two accessible hotels. A cottage with a sea view on the famous Chesil beach is a lovely self-catering option for up to nine people on the coastal path in Bridport. The charming market town of Blandford Forum on the River Stour is a popular destination for wheelchair disabled holidays in Dorset and offers a choice of four accessible cottages which sleep from three to six people. While in Sturminster Newton you can choose between two lovely converted barns with lots of character and fabulous views and a complete range of facilities, or an accessible cottage which sleeps eight and is set in its own large garden with lovely rural views. In Sherborne, there […]
School Games
27 September 2017
Getting kids interested in sports at an early age not only promotes good health through physical exercise but also teaches many other useful lessons that will stay with a child throughout his life. Participants in the School Games programme are encouraged to aspire to the six School Games values. These are, honesty, respect, passion, determination, teamwork and belief in oneself. The School Games programme believes that by making competitive sport an essential part of school life, young people are given the opportunity to compete against others and so can achieve their own personal best performance, and it also gives them the opportunity to develop leadership skills. The School Games is a government initiated programme which promotes competitive sport to young people of all capabilities. There are currently more than 20,000 schools registered in the four different types of School Games competitions. Level one consists of intra-school competition, level two, local inter-school competition, level three, county finals, and level four the national finals. All competitions follow formats established by the National Governing Body and inclusion for everybody, whatever their ability, is a very important part of the programme. To help schools to extend their provision of competitive sport to children with […]
WHILL powerchair review – wow!
14 January 2018
Maria, 64 from Cobham who lives with mobility challenges, has been able to continue visiting areas of outstanding natural beauty through ownership of a pioneering WHILL powerchair. Maria and her husband Dave live in Cobham, Surrey, and are enjoying retirement. Maria previously worked for a well-known high street retail chain and Dave was a senior international executive for a major logistics company. Following 20 years living in Belgium, they moved back to the UK seven years ago, finally deciding to settle in picturesque Surrey. In 2016 Maria was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) which is an unpredictable neurological condition that affect nerves and can restrict movement. Maria uses a walking frame to remain mobile around her home and before ownership of a WHILL she would need to be pushed outdoors in a manual wheelchair. Now Maria is able to enjoy independent mobility on countryside walks thanks to her revolutionary new powerchair. Find at more – Click Here
Freewheel Wheelchair Attachment
21 June 2018
Fantastic device that easily attaches to the front of your wheelchair. If you have ever experienced the caster wheels ‘digging in’ or making life difficult then the FreeWheel attachment is what you need. Suitable for nearly all manual active wheelchairs Rigid or folding (adaptor needed for folding) Get over grass or gravel with ease Probably the best wheelchair accessory available!* *In our opinion and the 100’s of other users Find at more – Click Here
Sign Cory’s Petition For Seat Rights For Disabled People
17 July 2018
Cory Shaw is a young person, who suffers from several debilitating conditions which make it very painful for her to stand for any length of time. Yet, she holds down a job and commutes daily by train. However, she frequently finds herself having to travel standing or having to ask people to give her their seat. Although she always carries her ‘please give me a seat’ card and wears her badge, people simply do not look up to see if anyone does need them to give up their seat. Incredibly, even when asked to do so, some people actually refuse. Now, Cory wants her, and all disabled people’s rights to be enforced. She is currently petitioning to get Transport for London to launch a new ‘Look Up’ campaign. The new campaign would have pre-recorded announcements which would be played after each stop. The announcement would say ‘Look up, does someone need your seat?’ Most trains and buses already provide upcoming stop information or ‘watch the gap’ safety announcements. Cory hopes that hearing and announcement will spurn people into action to be more considerate of the needs of fellow passengers. The announcements could be especially helpful for people with visual impairments […]
The First Wheelchair User In Space
18 July 2018
Eddie Ndopu describes himself as “unapologetically brilliant, black, queer and disabled” and also as, “a living manifestation of possibility”. This 27 year -old South African campaigner for disabled people’s rights is determined to create a world that is truly open to all, and Eddie has been breaking, or at least bending, the rules since his birth. Now, he has set his sights on being the first wheelchair user in space. Edward was born with spinal muscular atrophy and was not expected to live past the age of five. The degenerative condition which is making his muscles weaker every day means that he needs assistance with all of his daily activities. In spite of that, he is currently setting up an NGO to provide disabled people in South Africa with access to better and safer spaces. Most disabled South Africans never even complete basic education, but Eddie’s own perseverance and determination have let him achieve things that most disabled people could not even dream of. His mother worked tirelessly to make sure that he had the same opportunities as his able-bodied counterparts. Thanks to her force, Eddie won himself a place to study at Oxford University. He became the first African […]
Disability Pride Event A Huge Success
27 September 2018
Last Saturday, July 14th, The Hove Lawns in Brighton welcomed a huge number of people celebrating the town’s second annual Disability Pride event. The event attracted all kinds of people with both visible and invisible disabilities along with their families, friends, carers, and passers-by. Disability Pride events give disabled people the opportunity to celebrate who they are. Last year’s event in Brighton was organised by Jenny Skelton who wanted to raise disability discrimination awareness. She is mum to three adopted disabled children and decided to organise the event after one of her children was asked to leave a local pub due to her impairment. The aim of this year’s event was not only to raise disability awareness by engaging and informing the non-disabled community but also to reduce the isolation that many disabled people feel by including them in a fun-filled day. Jenny states, “I think it is essential that disabled people can have pride in who they are.” Brighton’s Promenade hosted the carnival parade led by the band Unified Rhythm, made up of mostly disabled musicians, and there were talks and speeches by disabled people as well as exhibitions by disabled artists. A great time was had by all. […]
Accessibility To Train Stations Getting Worse
27 September 2018
Using public transport is the right of all citizens. However, for people with disabilities, it seems that their rights are still being ignored. Incredibly, a new rail station, the Brent Cross West Thameslink, in north-west London, a 4.5-billion-pound project which is set to open in 2022, does not have step-free access from the platform onto the train. If the plans are approved, that means that wheelchair users will not be able to get on the train if there is not a member of staff available to put down the ramp for them. Unfortunately, Govia Thameslink Railway, admit that most Thameslink services are operated with just a driver and do not even have any other staff on board who can assist disabled passengers. Furthermore, the company met with protests after recently issuing a guidance which told staff not to attempt to get “persons of reduced mobility” onto a train if there was the possibility of causing a delay in the service!!!!!! Many older train stations do not offer wheelchair access, but instead of putting more money into improvement projects recently released figures reveal that over £80-million has been slashed from the Access for All Scheme over the last 5-years. The government […]
8,000 PIP claimants die within six months of being rejected
9 February 2019
Close to 8,000 people died within six months of their application for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) being rejected since 2013, newly released figures have shown. Labour MP, Madeleine Moon, obtained the figures from the Department for Work and Pensions, which showed people who had been rejected PIP made up 10% of the nearly 74,000 who died within six months of making a claim. However, the DWP has insisted that there is no evidence implying those who died did so for the same reason they were submitted a PIP claim, according to a national newspaper report. Over PIP 3.6m were made between 2013 and 2018. Of these, 73,800 claimants died within six months of their claim being registered. 7,990 had died after having their claims rejected, representing a small proportion. The figures were provided by pensions minister, Sarah Newton, in a written answer to Parliament. Ms Moon, who is MP for Bridgend, said: “These shameful figures reveal how gravely ill people, eligible for benefits, have tragically fallen through the cracks of a failing system as they approach the end of life. “Questions to the DWP have uncovered many cases where terminally ill people have had their PIP applications rejected when applying […]
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