I don't know and can't imagine who or why they would say he will get back enough movement to use a standard joystick. That is malpractice in a minor form. If they give him things he can't use, tell them not to leave useless crap around your house. Now that they have had their laugh, call them and insist they return immediately. Tell them it is urgent that they see your husband using his chair. Do not let them leave without a written letter that they will make the chair usable for your husband. A lot of DME's are actually incompetant when it comes to severe handicapps. I think you should begin by calling your doctor and get him involved in this "miracle chair". Maybe he can find out what they know about his returning function? I know that here in Ohio, if you sign for the wrong chair, that is what your stuck with for 5 years. You must research the chairs and insist on a chair that tilts in space and reclines as well as functioning from a chin switch or a sip n puff. I think it is unfair and cruel at best to tell you both he will get return of function enough to use a joystick. I'd like to know the name of this DME and make sure others have a chance to avoid them. If you are in the Cincinnati, OH area, use Care Medical and The Brace Shoppe. Never sign for anything your not 100% happy with. They can't get paid until they make it right, if you don't sign, the chair clutters their place, not yours.
Best Wishes, john ________________________________ From: Cyndi Davis <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 3:47:58 PM Subject: [QUAD-L] Fw: mobility - driving your own power chair --- On Fri, 4/17/09, Cyndi Davis <[email protected]> wrote: From: Cyndi Davis <[email protected]> Subject: mobility - driving your own power chair To: [email protected] Date: Friday, April 17, 2009, 7:30 PM Hi! How do you all drive your power chairs? My husband is a c5,6 quad, 1 yr. post. He has limited use of some shoulder muscles, but not enough control of his arm to work the joystick on his power chair. A friend suggested getting some kind of head control: sip & puff, chin control or head control. When we had the OT do an evaluation, she said he should get enough use back to drive with his arm. She suggested a "T" shaped joystick. We just saw a "U" shaped piece on another quad's joystick (someone made his 29 yrs ago). He sets his wrist in the opening and goes where he wants to. The children and I drive my husband around for now (our 2yr. old boy loves driving his Dad's chair - but he runs into everything! so I don't allow him to. He only drives when my back is turned!). It would be nice for my husband to have some independance. Any suggestions? Thanks! [email protected]
