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What’s the hardest part about adjusting to life in a wheelchair? - Lisa Rosen, MS

What’s the hardest part about adjusting to life in a wheelchair?

Lisa Rosen, MS

Educational Program Manager, Life Center, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Read Bio More Videos by Lisa Rosen
Transcript
You have to plan ahead. A lot of times, we’re in a society where everything’s fast, we microwave things, we jump in our car, we run here. Now you have to be two steps ahead of yourself. You can still run and do, but now you have to think,... Show More

You have to plan ahead. A lot of times, we’re in a society where everything’s fast, we microwave things, we jump in our car, we run here. Now you have to be two steps ahead of yourself. You can still run and do, but now you have to think, “Well, is there a step to get into that restaurant?”—”Is the, the shopping mall, you know, accessible?” So, in addition to accessibility, your body’s changed and your body needs a different routine. And so if you’re out, say you’re young, and you’re out, and all of your friends are at a Cubs game, and it’s time for you to empty your bladder, you know, are you going to go in the middle of the game and go home? That’s where getting to know your body and putting yourself on a schedule, and knowing your limitations, and talking to others to get their tips and tricks, “well, how did they do it?”—Or, “What if the bathroom at the Cubs game is not accessible?” Maybe you can get your wheelchair in it, but you can’t turn it around. So, there’s some little tips and tricks that you can learn from other people in order to overcome those obstacles.

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What’s the hardest part about adjusting to life in a wheelchair?

Lisa Rosen, MS

Educational Program Manager, Life Center, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

More Videos by Lisa Rosen
Transcriptadd

You have to plan ahead. A lot of times, we’re in a society where everything’s fast, we microwave things, we jump in our car, we run here. Now you have to be two steps ahead of yourself. You can still run and do, but now you have to think, “Well, is there a step to get into that restaurant?”—”Is the, the shopping mall, you know, accessible?” So, in addition to accessibility, your body’s changed and your body needs a different routine. And so if you’re out, say you’re young, and you’re out, and all of your friends are at a Cubs game, and it’s time for you to empty your bladder, you know, are you going to go in the middle of the game and go home? That’s where getting to know your body and putting yourself on a schedule, and knowing your limitations, and talking to others to get their tips and tricks, “well, how did they do it?”—Or, “What if the bathroom at the Cubs game is not accessible?” Maybe you can get your wheelchair in it, but you can’t turn it around. So, there’s some little tips and tricks that you can learn from other people in order to overcome those obstacles.

What’s the hardest part about adjusting to life in a wheelchair?
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