ITS BROKEN; Disability strikes again… Paws wheelchair Power assist won’t work!

[@Dulcimerist]

Earlier today I was watching a livestream from Disney World, and I saw a dog that looked exactly like yours, and it was being pushed around in a stroller/pram! It was so adorable, just relaxing and looking around during the ride! Hoping you can get your equipment difficulties all get resolved soon. Thanks for the video! :)

[@SmallandStrong66]

Aww so cute!! I don’t think Ralph would sit in one for very long though 😂

[@Hoocheleven]

Yup...11 months for wheelchair to be delivered! Then this PAWS thing doesn't clamp to the tapered legs (old wheelchair didn't have tapers). Wheelchair great....SmartDrive great! BUT...perhaps PAWS are best left to Ralph!!🐾🐶The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman will likely be on the case!

[@lukemiller8538]

Amazing video by the way and I really enjoyed watching it as well and I hope you got your disability equipment sorted out and I didn't know you have got a Nintendo switch by the way Ellie

[@incurablyawesome2024]

Oh nooooo. Ugh, how frustrating. Like having EDS isn't hard enough!! I started to think about getting the SmartDrive for my chair, but it's so expensive! My chair is customized and by Permobil. I have issues with my feeding tube too. It really puts a strain on mental health. Sending you strength and positive vibes. ❤

[@SmallandStrong66]

I got my smart drive through access to work which made it a bit cheaper than if I’d bought it myself. There is always something to drag us down which is so frustrating! We aren’t in it alone though!

[@rhetoricalrune]

Mate there's nothing worse than broken equipment. I really appreciate you sharing your whole frustrating journey with wheelchair services; it's very helpful as someone waiting to be evaluated. Trying to fit contacting suppliers around a work schedule sounds a nightmare and hopefully something gets sorted for you soon

[@SmallandStrong66]

It’s literally never worked for me and this wheelchair! I’ve spent months trying to sort it and it’s still going on! I hope you have a smoother time than me

[@rhetoricalrune]

Thank you! I'm hoping it's not much more of a wait but I'm fully expecting it will be lol. I'm in a slightly cobbled together chair I got off eBay in the meantime which has been seeing me around well enough for right now.

[@BrianBlood]

Have you ever considered a Freewheel to lift the front? I’ve had one for 16 years, cobbles and gravel or grass, it’s dead simple so it always works. I plan to get a smart drive to go with it in the next few months

[@rhetoricalrune]

Really glad to hear you've had good experiences with the freewheel! I prefer a smaller profile than I can get with a front mounted power add on so I've been looking into this as I'm in an area with a good amount of cobble. It looks like a good option and I'm glad to hear the experience of someone else

[@SmallandStrong66]

I’ve been really thinking about it! I’m not sure if I’d be able to try one in the uk but I think it would be really helpful!

[@ecologist_to_be]

Ridiculous how the PAWs isn't working as I imagine it isn't a cheap piece of equipment!

[@SmallandStrong66]

No it wasn’t cheap!! And I still haven’t heard from the company I bought it from! Working on it though 🤞🏼

[@christomasjames6620]

Hey Ellie so sorry you're going through this at the moment, it can been super hard sometimes just to get people to understand. we shouldn't have to fight this hard to get basic things to work. is your one the same as a Batec? as I have a Batec on my old wheel chair that I use when we go out with the kids and also have my power chair for day to day stuff. but I had to fight so hard just to get the funding I was very close to giving up but I stuck with it had has been worth it so far. also I this its great you can get the word out their about this and hopefully someone might see this video and it may help.

[@SmallandStrong66]

It’s the same concept as a BATEC but different brand. I will never buy one from this brand again so I’m going to have a look at the batec and maybe street jet. It’s so frustrating because I NEED the equipment but they can’t make it work!

[@christomasjames6620]

@@SmallandStrong66 you may be able to get a Batec or similar 2nd hand if u need too. yeah I need either my power chair or Batec to get out the house so when tmy batec dies into are what I will do as they cost so much money which I hate that we have to pay more for everything just because we are disabled doesn't seem right. hope all the auditions go well. do u have any other friend with disability or are their any groups u could join if u wanted as it really help me to chat to other who understand what its like. thats why ur videos are great as it get the word out about how hard it is

[@rhetoricalrune]

I've heard a lot of good things about the Batec and the tri-ride; that brand may be worth a look as well.

[@oLimitedEdition]

WCS is awful now, I got a poorly measured up active wheelchair I was supposed to have a Jayback mold for my back but they didn't want to spend more money so they gave me a bit of foam instead we argued and they just threatened just to give me a basic wheelchair instead. Going to pay for private somewhere like RGK but just curious did you get power assist device on the WCS or did you pay for it yourself?

[@SmallandStrong66]

An RGK wheelchair is the dream!! I think wheelchair services can give you a voucher towards buying privately but I’ve never tried it. The power assists were ordered through wheelchair services but I paid privately. My WCS have the nhs section and then another section for parts you pay privately for but it’s all under the same umbrella.

[@oLimitedEdition]

@@SmallandStrong66 Thanks for the reply, in hindsight I should've got a voucher but I cant wait another 5 years for the renewal. Its annoying how expensive accessible items are