Disability Community - Blog Posts

In case anyone finds it helpful because mobility aids are horrifically expensive and inaccessible…

And for those people who have access to mobility devices but might benefit from a second chair they can abuse without risking expensive damage…

Erik Kondo has made a website, Open Source Innovations, that details plans for DIY wheelchairs. These wheelchairs can be made from common materials like wood, plastic, and pvc. They are lightweight and can be custom fit to the user allowing from the same degree of movement you would get from a custom chair. And they are durable and easily repairable. (he has been stress testing his latest design by dropping it down stairs, dropping it out of a car, launching it across a driveway, and throwing it off a deck). Its 12lbs and I think he said its was in the $200 ish range for parts.

He also is working on cheap, open source, accessible designs for beach chairs, off road chairs, motorized attachments (think smart drive), and so on. Plus he skateboards in his wheelchair. Cool dude, helpful info, pass it on.

please know that being disabled does not make you incapable of being ableist .

have faced ableism from other disabled people . who thought they know more about my experience with my disabilities than I do . or who thought that me being disabled is some how " threatening " them being disabled too , as if can not both be disabled .

have had other disabled people make rude comments about my disabilities . when I said that what they said was ableist , they question me , say " but I disabled " .

yes , you also disabled , but can still be ableist / say ableist things .

you not immune to say rude things / make mistake . that is ok . you just need admit when you make mistake or say rude things or be ableist . accept it happen some time and learn from it . otherwise , still being ableist .

ignoring disabled people when they tell you being ableist is being more ableist . listen to disabled people , including when you are disabled too .