Disabled not Thick!

FIAMMA CARAVANSTORE AWNING
by DK42

Camperstop 2010 Book
by aircool

Blaye Aire

France

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Westcell · Rally-er

Hello all

I'm disabled but I don't harp on about it.

I think the important thing that people like me want is to simply blend in and not to be fussed over. However that doesn't mean to say to be ignored.

When we go to a pub or shopping and my wife is asked if I would like to use this table or could he manage to get here or would he like to try this or that.

Errrrr is it just ignorance or embarrassment.

All disabled people can and do normal things. It is just that the way we go about doing them is often slightly different. For example steps where a ramp is used or a door where wider access is used (an alernative route I say).

But please oh please try to refrain from asking our partners or worse case our 6 year old child if Daddy has sugar in his tea. It's my kids who are embarrassed that people think Dad's a bit thick because he's in a wheelchair.

You have to laugh tho... You do get some funny looks when I'm flying through the isles in Tesco with my 6 year old on the left arm of the wheelchair and my 4 year old on the right arm..... all of us exclaiming WHEEEEEEEE!.

Seriously tho Avondale have made a purpose made adaptation of I think it was an Argente or maybe one of their other models... And on the basis of it being 100 percent practical for wheelchair users it is full marks, it also looks like any other model of Argente from the outside.

We have made a few small mods to our Wyoming but nothing too obvious. Specifically geared around my own disability. These caravans are as big as they get (legally) and when I'm towing it with the Discovery, no one would know that my legs don't work as they were designed to. I don't even use a motor mover. We have a towball on the front of the Discovery and use low ratio to position the van on a sixpence.

I'm not particularly thick just slightly wobbly in the mobility department.

I do love our caravan and the opportunity to visit the countryside and seaside with the advantage of having our own comforts and necessary equipment with us which would be impossible if we had to stay in a hotel or guest house.

See you all out there - Phil

Cool

cfadmindave · Head Honcho

Hi Phil and welcome to CF

Interesting comments you make, I am amazed at this particular one in this day and age

Westcell · Rally-er

Cheers Headhoncho

Mods without the fear of going against warranty rules.

First of all the shelf over the bed which is required. I have put photos of said shelf on this site. You will see that even on series 6 wyoming this shelf is missing on the aisle side of the fixed bed. (Why? I have absolutely no idea).. I have to sleep on this side as I have attachments which I have to plug into which hang from this side of the bed as you cannot get access to the underside on the other side of the bed because of it's tight proximity to the wall.

I contacted Bailey but have had no success in them supplying this shelf or even a reply from the dealer but hey --- I made one from an Ikea Lazy Susan which fitted perfectly.

Cork sticky pads for where all the doors may bang into opposing surfaces.

Bed guards from Tesco Direct to stop the kids falling out of bed

A mirrored system to allow me to see the valves for onboard tank filling

fire extinguisher just inside the door screwed to the divide at easy height for access.

An onboard washing machine and spindryer for use when on CLs (and yes I won't go into details but we do need it.

An old bread basket (bakery type) with it's sides cut off used as an anti slip entry pad by the door of the awning (just outside) to stop muddy puddling with whells from wheelchair and no doubt little feet.

That's as much as I can remember now... Oh and one of those things which you see park wardens with to pick up fag ends to pull the awning along the top rail from a wheelchair location..... actually Mary uses it for all sorts of other reason including keeping me in check!

Thats it 4 now

Phil

rollers · Weekender

hi phil & family
i take my hat off to you, like you im disabled with a bad back and i dont like people fussing me, i like to do things my own way. my wife is also dis abled needs a replacement knee as she is only 55 years young the surgeons will not do anything till she is 60 yet she is in pain with it 24/7 but like me she will not let anyone help her . at least i can walk with difficuty but we enjoy our carravaning but need the motor mover to move the van in and out otherwise will would have to give up carravaning good luck to you bob & chris

Visualize · Rally-er

Well Done and i totally agree with everything you said, im disabled with rheumatoid arthritis, wheelchair is in the shed, but i bought myself a little mobility scooter on which i wizz (well try to at 4mph lol) round the campsite on and i use my crutches other times, the chair gave me that feeling that no one would look me in the eye when talking the would make eye contact with my hubby and i was kind of left out because i was in the chair, it was if i didnt exist.

jimw · Part Timer

Lennie · Newbie

I to am disabled and we get away every weekend, van is on permanent pitch so no towing (suits me) I find everyone very helpful and will help me should I need it, my biggest gripe is when a new weekender arrives and you have to listen to all their aches and pains and how they spent a couple of days in a wheelchair through a splinter. I have been on crutches and wheelchair for 20 years and just get on with it, I don't want to waste my weekend moaning. I'll save that for the forum Ha Ha

Langy01 · Rally-er

Hello All

I'm not disabled, but it is nice to hear that so many of you get away regularly and have done modifications where required to make your life easier.

As a non disabled person it can be hard sometimes when you do meet someone in a wheelchair if you have no friends or relatives in this situation. I know from experience that just becuse your in a wheelchair you can do things just as well as a normal abled person, just with some things you have to do them differently. My mother used to take disabled children to school many years ago and when I was about 10 I was amazed to see what they could do.

I think that what I am trying to say is that where we (us non disabled people) are around a disabled person (for where we are not used to it) we are often not really sure how to deal with it. Yes it is wrong because in most cases you can speak and do things just like any other person.

In our defence I will say at least people do have the decency to ask if you require any help. I think I would rather that than be ignored and just left to it. I know that I have received help in putting up the awning in windy conditions from other ralliers and I'm fully abled, so I was happy with the offer of help.

Caravanners (especially ralliers) are often very keen to help people whatever their age, sex, race or physical ability.

So I do understand your points as I can see this from both sides.

I hope you all have many happy Caravanning years ahead of you and keep up the good work and posting about how ignorant some people can be. At least if one person gets the message then you have achieved an improvement.

Paul

diesel_dog · Weekender

I love to see post's like this, we bought our van for my mum as she's disabled, ok admittadly it was cheap at £200 but it mean's i can modify it without worrying about warranty etc, i don't know about yourselves but my mum loves the fact it's got seat's on either side that make a bed, apparently it make's it easier for her, she's on crutche's but does use a wheel chair.

Denboy · Rally-er

Hi Phil ,
Our youngest grandson , 3 years old is disabled, can't walk and may never but is as bright as a button.
Messages such as yours give us great hope and inspiration and we look forward to helping him get on with his life in the same spirit.
Many thanks and good luck .

Denboy

rob1468 · Newbie

hi all ,
Im new to the forum just joined tonight , I too am disabled , been diagnosed with a spinal disease which gets worse (deteriorates) in time , at the moment i have a walking stick aid for short distances and a wheelchair for any other distances , we have just bought our second caravan today picking it up saturday needless to say i will struggle but i will do what needs to be done just takes longer , I also am unsteady on my feet so fall over quite regular ok if i fall on my left side as thats dead from shoulder down to my toes , This will be the first time caravaning as disabled so i have a lot to learn and discover short cuts or easier ways to do things , but for the kids sake will continue to caravan untill i phisically cant do it any more , Hopefully an operation thats planned will stop the deterioration and help me to continue my holidays im too young at 41 to give up yet lol Wink

blobsta · Moderator