Grocery Shopping in a Wheelchair || Daniellability

Grocery stores can be a big challenge as a wheelchair user, but being independent is important!
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📱 INSTAGRAM: @daniellability
Intro created by Eric Licht: / @ericlicht
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If you're reading this, go ahead and leave a comment below to let me know what else you would like to see on this channel! I love hearing feedback.
Love 💓
Danielle

[@chancescoolchannel2014]

As a mom of 3 boys with cerebral palsy, I am thankful for your content! I'm blessed to be mobile but had a triple ankle fusion and am non-wieghtbearing for a few months. I'll have to do my other foot in the future too, and I've been so depressed lately from not being able to get around as well. My wheelchair is only a transport type but I move it around using my good foot. Doing daily tasks and cooking have been the hardest but your videos inspire me. Thank you!

[@tomlee252]

The delivery services whether groceries or take out, are a good thing, but I think they need to add a discount for disabled/seniors, because we don't always have the choice/convenience of just hoping in a car and back in minutes, in general, it's a chore, especially now with the pandemic, it's also not safe, also, grocery/retailers should offer an assistant, you can always opt out, but it would be nice, also, most people don't know that the cooler doors can be opened and clicked to stay open, that's how the load food into it

[@katrinathompson7984]

Wow! Thank u so much for something I never thought about. I know placing the glass doors really helps with the electric Bill's which in turn raises prices but I fight with them and just know I'm going to break one someday. I never thought of the doors locking open. I use a power chair and it gets away from me, lol, I'm actually terrible with it. Not a day goes by that I don't get injured or tear up something with it. I'm new to it but seem to be getting worse instead of better. Thanks for the info!

[@karengreenier4328]

I usually use a strong bag with a flat bottom to put my groceries in on my foot rest.and a foldable reacher to reach high things. That system works well for me. Keep wheeling . 👍🏻

[@deniece0821]

Oh thank you so much! I recently fractured my femur and knee and had to have it surgically repaired. For the the being, I'm gonna be in a WC. I've been doing okay adjusting but like I said, I'm brand new at this. I've always been extremely independent and DETEST asking for help...to my own detriment sometimes. 🥴I haven't attempted grocery shopping yet but will be going next week sometime. I've been rattling my brain trying to figure out how I'm going to do it. I'm in a manual WC and I could try to use the stores power chair but then where would I put my WC in the meantime? Also I ride the bus, so that will be an adjustment too. Not so much riding the bus bc it's fully accessible and has an electric for down ramp for entry. My worry is the distance between bus stops and to and from my apt. It's about 3 blocks just to the bus stop. I obviously can stop and rest of my arms tire. I'm more concerned about any hazards I may run into. No curb ramp, huge cracks/bumps in the sidewalk, vehicles in the way, getting hit, etc. Thanks again!

[@lesleyfaulkner6611]

What I do is get a bungee cord wrap it round my waist and attach it to the basket so I don’t have to hold onto it - so far it works xx

[@joannesanford7845]

I was going to suggest the same thing. Even cotton webbing, like belt material with hooks sewn on each end. I have degenerative disk disease and I'm getting very close to having to use a wheelchair so I'm doing a lot of thinking about these things and watching channels like yours. Thanks for your suggestions.

[@deniece0821]

Brilliant! I think you solved my problem! Thank you!

[@vikkilondon8765]

I came across your video as I was thinking of how I can shop in a wheelchair. I can't thank you enough for posting this.

[@marylightfoot4817]

Just found ur video. Thank you. Learned a lot. Went grocery shopping in my chair for the first time. A work in progress for me.. 🙂

[@ericlicht]

Crazy to see all the little things you don’t normally think about right down to the placement of the veggie bags!

[@daniellability]

I'm glad I could provide some insight!

[@pdroww]

Very helpful to see how it is done! I learned some new skills

[@daniellability]

Great! I’m glad it was helpful to you

[@video198712]

I can relate to alot of your videos, I have cerebral Palsy since birth so I've been on crutches my whole life. I know what you mean about some of the doors in the freezer section of the grocery store can be tricky. Plus getting the plastic bags for produce can be tricky as well. I agree, I don't have a problem with letting people reach something for me either.

[@nicolas_-_-_]

Hello! Thank you so much! I like that kind of videos.

[@coririggs9195]

you are way better than me at this...i always end up in a crowd or being cut off and my groceries fall or i crash into something and those things fall

[@yellowrose126]

Yet another comment! :D... my chair has these two things (let's call them bars I guess) that fold down on either side of my legs so that it creates a forklift kind of feature... it allows me to balance boxes on it in front of my legs and not on my lap, so I can easily carry them in from the porch when I get deliveries... I was thinking that if you had those kinds of attachments on either side of the footrests then you could balance the grocery basket on them in front of your legs, which would enable you to be hands free so you could use both your hands at the same time for wheeling!... I wish I could upload a drawing of what I'm talking about because I'm not sure I painted enough of an imaginative picture! :/

[@daniellability]

I actually know exactly what you're talking about and used to have them. I loved them and used them all the time, but my legs were starting to get little sores because when the "forks" weren't out they were folded up in such a way that they were pressed against my legs. So I had to remove them :(

[@cathryndonnelly2711]

Oh bummer!... Maybe a wider chair is needed?! When mine are folded up they are vertical against the bars on either side of my legs and don't touch them... I can't picture what yours looked like...

[@deniece0821]

I doubt you ladies will see this since it's such an old post but figured I'd give it a shot. Sorry for my ignorance but I'm new to this. I badly fractured my leg and knee and had to have it surgically repaired. I'm in a WC for the time being and so far I'm doing okay getting used to things. It's definitely a challenge and it's opened my eyes to so many things. Just the other day I went to my doctor's office for the first time. They have a nice long ramp to get in and out. However, some dummy backed into their parking space and their bumper was literally blocking HALF the width of the ramp! I had to scootch way over as far as I could to get through. My right wheel slipped off the side and I thought I was about to bite it. Thankfully a gentleman came along and helped me get straightened out. I was so pissed at whomever owned that car at the time that it's a good thing they didn't come out. I probably would've cussed them out. After I calmed down about it, I thought the person just made an innocent mistake. So I took a picture of the situation, posted to it FB and Insta as an example and respectfully asked people to be more mindful of how and where they park! Anyhoo, what you're talking about on the WC that you put the shopping basket on...are you talking about the removable footrests? I haven't attempted the grocery store yet but I'm gonna have to. Trying to figure out how to "carry" a basket. It's painful to let my leg/foot dangle/hang but I could probably tolerate it long enough to try to balance a basket on the foot rests.

[@110311DONTWANTCHANNE]

for a quick trip, get a gym bag and sling it over your shoulder. if you need a cart, you can ask an employee to push it for you as a disability accommodation under ADA. as an alternate a backpack worn in front

[@emeraldkimble7602]

The walk from bus stop longer than parking lot I did it like lical Walmart

[@deniece0821]

How do you manage to move yourself along so well whilst balancing a basket on your lap? I see that you're using one hand to hold the basket while pushing with the other and you alternate. I'll probably be zig-zagging all over the place if I try that. Folks in the store will think I'm drunk. 😂

[@joyciebevers1551]

Danielle, love your personality. Very enjoyable video.

[@daniellability]

Thank you!

[@tess.horine]

That was very nice of the woman to help you. :)

[@kelliedale99]

Really great video. My only question is what did you do with the basket? Just leave it next to the car? I know it's a little thing but I get caught up in details. Thank you for really showing what it's like.

[@daniellability]

I always take it to the cart corral or back inside😀

[@gypsyexplorer13]

Amazing video, very informative..... thanks

[@daniellability]

Thanks!! I’m glad you found it helpful 😀

[@yellowrose126]

It takes me forever to take apart my chair and get it in my car! I think I need a lighter one... But parting with my equipment is very difficult for me... it's like exchanging a limb! :(

[@daniellability]

I totally know what you mean! That's how I feel every time I get a new wheelchair. But having a lightweight chair is life changing! It's so much easier to be independent.

[@yellowrose126]

I've had my chair for 13 years! It's the only chair I've ever had... I had to get it when I started getting older and lazier! :D Maybe one day I'll talk myself into getting a lighter one. They aren't cheap though! :/ I kind of want one with wheels that can come with different colored spokes on the wheels! :)

[@k8for]

Sei bellissima !!

[@ETBrothers]

This was a great and informative video! It was really interesting to see what it was like from your perspective :) Editing-wise you've got some stuff you can consider to change. For instance I found the video to be a bit long. Where the shots are very similar to each other they could be cut down or speeded up. At the same time it was nice that it was long, so we got to see what it was like in real time for all of it. Subbed anyway and looking forward for more

[@daniellability]

Thanks so much for the feedback and for subscribing. Have a great day!

[@yellowrose126]

Is it not easy for you to get into one of the motorized carts with the baskets on the front that they usually have at the store? My fear is going to the store with my crutches and braces without my wheelchair and there won't be a cart available! I would have to go all the way home to get my chair. :( My mom does my shopping for me and when she delivers it she writes down the amount of the bill and after a few trips I write her a big fat check to pay her back! :)

[@daniellability]

I live with my sister and she typically does our grocery shopping, unless we just need a few things. Using the motorized carts isn't really an option because I wouldn't have a place to leave my wheelchair.

[@yellowrose126]

Oh yes I did think of that after I left the comment... They should have something resembling a bike rack with locks, but for wheelchairs maybe! :D

[@CHEFDALLION]

Love your Channel I was just wondering how come you don't have electric wheelchair I would think it would make it a lot easier shopping.

[@daniellability]

Thanks so much for watching! I don't use an electric wheelchair because I want to be as mobile as possible and get as much movement/exercise as I can since I'm capable of wheeling myself. Plus, a manual chair is easier to get in and out of a car and to travel with.

[@karengreenier4328]

They are usually to heavy / don’t disassemble to put in a car ,if they fit at all

[@naseebullah648]

Name of those Companies and organisations which hire and offer jobs to skilled disabled wheelchair user.Regards

[@cathryndonnelly2711]

Did someone have to go with you a few times before you were comfortable going on your own, or did you just start doing it?

[@daniellability]

I started going on my own when I was in college, because there wasn't really another option (this was before the days of grocery delivery). Now I only go if I just need a few things. Usually my sister does our grocery shopping (we live together), or we have them delivered.

[@lauriedettelback1179]

I go and do the grocery shopping and my wheelchair all the time. I also use a motor scooter that I inherited from my parents to go to Trader Joe’s around the corner and go grocery shopping there. In that case, I use the Trader Joe’s grocery bags on the floor of the scooter and just throw the food into that. Then, I can just hand the bags up to the cashier. I like doing that because sometimes that’s the only reason I can get out of my house! But thank you so much for doing this video. I liked how you sat on the edge of the refrigerated section to reach the items on the top shelf.

[@herdd]

This is really great. A powerful insight into your life. Thanks for being open and sharing it with us!