Little Conveniences
A while back, I wrote about individual and unique life hacks. These are often just little things we might do to make life easier for ourselves. These things aren’t usually screamed from the rooftops. They are mostly picked up by observing others and thinking “that’s a good idea!” and sharing it with a few people.
All of those popular life hack videos that we all think are so cool, are full of things some people have known for generations. Not everyone knows these things but with the help of social media, we are able to share these tips with so many and help make life a little easier for others.
I wanted to share that again along with a few additional recommendations and suggestions.
I wanted to do this before Christmas because it might give people a few gift ideas. Things that might come in handy for someone who has a disability or just needs a little help. Kind of like Oprah’s favorite things but for people with disabilities and also budget conscious.
This is one of my most requested links with people who have already read it but want to revisit it for reference to something. So I want to put a direct link to this and will add to it as I find new and interesting things. Please feel free to add anything!
There are hundreds of expensive machines and devices to make our lives easier but only a very, very small percentage of the disabled community can afford any of those things. I think these businesses are doing it wrong but what do I know?
I think it’s funny when I hear arguments about people with disabilities contributing to society more because there are so many things available to help us to make it possible. That screams of a serious lack of intelligence and is rarely involving the thoughts and feelings of someone that it’s actually about. I don’t think that people should argue with anyone on a subject that they don’t really understand. Things people with a disability have to deal with on a daily basis. That’s like bringing a deck of cards to a gunfight. Those are usually the people most annoyed with a disabled person in daily life. These are often the same people who help make it so hard for a disabled person to do anything, get places, be reliable to people, etc…..
It’s kinda like spitting in a fan
Here is that list, some I had to really think about because they have just become a regular part of life that you stop thinking about. I’m sure there is so much I missed:
Spillnot
I saw this thing that’s called the spillnot!
My friends really gave it such a thorough review and even tested it out!
My amazing friend wrote this awesome article about it. Here is a link to that newsletter. She has a few other great articles on there that are definitely worth the read!
https://www.siloinc.org/newsletter
The first time that I saw this device was on a Facebook video and I was seriously impressed! I’m hoping that the company will make adjustments to the strap to make it easier to attach to wheelchairs, walkers, etc…… But I also hope that they don’t raise the price to “disability prices”.
I find that similar things more than double or triple in price if it’s sold to the disability market. That’s so shameful! So I think it’s so helpful to share these tips.
This is the first video I saw of the spillnot:
Here is another interesting video:
Fitness Watch
A fitness watch is always great because even if the person never exercises, it’s helpful for anyone to track their vital signs. It can help see early warning signs of a health issue or recording information for your doctor. Some even email a designated list (parents, kids, A doctor, 911, neighbor, etc…..) It would alert people of any emergencies and can avoid so many tragedies.
Wheelchair Maintenance
This isn’t something you can buy but it’s something nice you can do for someone in a wheelchair. Chair maintenance. I do regular surface cleaning, wash my seat cover, wipe everything down with antibacterial wipes, etc….. Don’t forget the handles that so many people touch. Germs don’t just stay there and you don’t want to turn your chair into a germ spreader. Every few months I take my wheels off. I clean everything and spray some silicone wd-40 on the axles to keep everything moving smoothly. The little front wheels pick up every bit of hair, thread and you wouldn’t believe what else. I go to so many disgusting places so it builds up fast. Those tumbleweaves are everywhere 
Virtual reality
Any virtual reality headset or game console like the Wii. They are so interactive and have yoga, boxing, fishing, golf, sports, etc….. I feel like this uses people’s competitive nature for good! Even if someone has to sit or use a walker, any movement is better than none. I love when I see people being active. Activity creates endorphins that make you feel good, improves your health (physical and mental) and helps so many other things! Plus it’s better than sitting on the couch and binge watching a show for hours. What does that do for you besides getting to know fictional characters? My favorite show could be on but I’d turn it off without hesitation for a friend just saying hello. People are more important to me than anything else in this world!
Instead of complaining about something that is definitely here to stay, embrace technology and make it work for you instead of always working for it. Reminds me of the movie “Wall-E”. It can improve people’s lives so much but it’s my opinion that we don’t utilize it properly very often.
I love going out and I do even when I don’t feel like it. Although it’s so important to talk about it, I think it’s very important to “be about it”. I do it because I want to make it normal to see people in wheelchairs. So people in wheelchairs feel empowered to do it themselves, so a relative or friend tells someone else who is in a wheelchair that it’s ok to go out alone because they see it all the time. Children are my biggest motivation! I love children. One of my big heartaches was seeing children scared of me because all differences aren’t taught to children. We are taught that it’s rude to stare or ask questions. I think that’s partly wrong! It is rude to stare IF you don’t ask questions or engage. Teach your children that we aren’t monsters. Ask questions. Say hello. I try to wave at every child I see. Some of my favorites are the toddlers who smile and wave without that learned fear. That pure joy to see you. Maybe that’ll be a good memory to make them question things in the future. Even some of the most misunderstood and hardened hearts soften when with a child. When many people become disabled, we think we are now the monsters that we learned to fear and have to try to convince people we are not. We know how deeply ingrained those feelings are and how detrimental those thoughts are because when most people become disabled, we have to spend years learning not to be scared of ourselves and learn that life isn’t over. That’s how deep those thoughts run. There are so many opportunities available to you! If we learned all of this, the transition might have been a little easier.
I am well known for throwing so many bags on my chair and carrying everything. Ya know how you try to carry everything in from the car at once? That didn’t go away. Now I need my hands free to wheel my chair so I just throw everything on the back. What can I say? I do what I gotta do. I strap each bag to both handles so everything is evenly distributed. If it’s not, the bags will rub against the wheel and that’s a bigger deal than some might think. It can get caught in the wheels and stop your chair or those wheels will quickly rub a hole in that bag. That has destroyed so many brand new things. I made the mistake of thinking…..ah it’s not far. I ended up with a new, white shirt with a big muddy hole in it.
Food Shopping Scanner
My supermarket has this device that I love. It has made my life exponentially easier. I go to another store that also has groceries but purposely wait to go to this supermarket for big shopping because of this device. It’s a personal scanner. So I’m able to scan and bag as I shop. Then I just need to give the scanner to the cashier. I used to hate having to put everything up on the counter. The end was never fun, trying to pay, grab a huge receipt, put my cards away, try not to drop money, close my bag, try to rearrange these full bags and reach behind me with these heavy bags (nothing fits as good as when you have the time to arrange everything) all while the next person in line is very eager to check out. For anyone wanting to go food shopping alone (sometimes it’s the simple things that you miss) I absolutely recommend this! This, believe it or not, has made a HUGE difference in my life!
Retractable Keychain
Now to another small and inexpensive thing that really helps me so much! I got a retractable keychain that comes with attachments for your phone, ID tag or you could even attach a pouch to hold any important papers you might need that day. I attach it to my bag and it’s so helpful that I can just release it after I use it. It’s hard to juggle everything and one less thing is always helpful!
Magnetic Door Holder
My doors are quite heavy but when you are carrying a bunch of stuff, even a feather light door can be a headache. I found these magnetic door holders that have the screw installation and a double sided adhesive installation for people who rent. They are also helpful for inner doors that don’t stay completely open. I have a door like that and always have to reach back and hold it open because my wheel usually gets caught on it. I plan to try these in the near future and will update everyone. I found them on Amazon. I think it’s very irresponsible to recommend a specific one when I haven’t tried it but here are some pictures:
Safety Alarm
Being more vulnerable, I am able to be confident because I do have a few safety items. One that I think is very helpful is this device I have attached to my keychain. When the device is removed from the holder, it lets out a very loud siren to get everyone looking that way or maybe frighten away an angry animal. It has a bonus light (steady or strobe) that comes in handy. Mine is rechargeable with the same charger for my phone but it holds a charge for months. Being a street criminal in this age of technology and cameras everywhere, isn’t very smart.
Grippy socks
I can’t stress enough how important these are! They can help prevent falls. No fall has ever caused zero damage, whether it’s physical or mental.
AIRFRYER
My cousin gave me an airfryer and it’s one of the most helpful things ever!
It’s convenient, fast, usually better than the oven, etc…..
I’m shaky so I try to avoid the stove or oven. As most people know, microwave food isn’t always good and often inedible but I had to rely mostly on the microwave because I don’t have a personal chef hahahaha. I’ll bake but it’s difficult positioning my chair to open the oven and still be able to reach. I make tea and occasionally Jello shots on the stovetop but I use the back burner and am extra careful because I knock things over and when I lose my balance, I instinctively just grab anything without it mattering if it’s boiling hot or not. My reactions have been altered so my natural instincts take over until my brain catches up. Just making tea, I use a pot holder and hold it at arms distance. It’s not that I’m scared, I just know that if I feel a drop of hot water, my natural instincts would just throw the teapot into the wall. I’d end up with a hole in the wall, boiling water everywhere, maybe a broken teapot, burns or worse. An air fryer is not only great for the extreme convenience but whatever you cook is always delicious! Usually better than if cooked in the oven. It’s also healthier and allows me to make real food instead of microwave dinners full of preservatives.
CUPHOLDER
Wheelchair companies charge so much for cup holders so I went and purchased a bottle holder for a bicycle. It’s velcro so it easily transfers to another chair, walker, etc…..
Unlike most holders specific for wheelchairs or holders with fixed brackets, it’s much easier to attach to most “odd” areas and the velcro is long which is much more accommodating. Most importantly, it’s much cheaper. I also prefer the open air holders that are easier to clean. I feel like the other type is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.
MAGNETIC CHARGERS
One of the very helpful things I own is my magnetic charger set. These would come in handy for anyone who is unsteady, has vision issues, has arthritis, any mobility issues, etc…..just about anyone.
I’m including pictures but not a link because although I haven’t had any issues with the set that I have, there is nothing extra special about them that warrants recommending. I know there are a lot of different types and prices. Just search for “magnetic chargers”
The set I purchased came with five charging wires and a container of “plugs” for several different types of charging ports.
Not only is it so convenient but the charging “plugs” are inserted and stay there. A lot of my phones were in good working order but stopped charging. With constant use, the delicate charging ports break easily and it renders a fine, expensive phone useless.
This helps everyone. Even if there are things in your hands, you are holding a baby, cooking, painting, etc….. if you get them close enough, the magnet draws them together.
If you’re out and need to use another charger, just remove the charging “plug”. It is very small so be careful not to misplace it.
My first set lasted years. The new set wasn’t compatible with pieces of the first set. So if you need a bigger set for a big family, they do sell them in bigger bundles. The most recent set, I messaged the company to make sure another set would be compatible and they were so I purchased another.
I like that I can have one charger in a room and that same charger works on all of my different devices regardless of what type of charger it needs. A drawback is that I feel like it does charge a lot slower than a standard charger but the benefits make it worth it.
KNIVES
I am shaky so using knives can land me in the hospital getting stitched up or missing a finger. So I often use these knives that are made of nylon. They are very inexpensive. I got my set for under $10.
There are definitely many times that require a metal knife but others don’t. I’m just trying to raise the odds “May the odds be ever in your favor” 😂
Again, I’m including pictures of different sets but not a link because although I haven’t had any issues with the set that I have, there’s nothing about them that warrants recommending them. I know there are a lot of different types and prices. Some are prettier or come with other items like choppers or peelers. Some even come with cut resistant gloves. Just search for “nylon knives”
These come in handy for anyone who is unsteady, has arthritis, has seizures, etc…..
“Bumpers”
The pool noodles from a dollar store have really come in handy for me on several occasions.
I like exercising and purchased a second hand exercise tower. The pads for the situp bar ripped up so the guy threw them out. I got a pool noodle, measured what size I needed and cut 2. They fit perfectly.
I do this exercise at night with my walker where I stand, do a few standing exercises then get onto the floor and sit. And repeat this many times over.
My elbows were developing big, bruised bumps so, once again, I got a pool noodle, measured it, cut 2 and cut it open on one side to be able to put it on. I put the cut side facing out, otherwise my arms would just keep knocking it off. Then I put them on so I could see the exact places they needed to be cut to accommodate the folding mechanism and then cut that part while they were on. No more bruises!
I also used a couple to make my Halloween costume one year. I turned my chair into an electric chair and dressed as a convict. Holding a sign that said “freedom of speech”. That right has been drastically silenced because everyone has become so sensitive about everything.
“CABLE”
I haven’t had cable for years. For tv, I use Pluto free tv. It has anything I could ever want to watch between the very extensive programming and the equally extensive on demand programming. Download Pluto tv. There are several different apps available but I like this one because it has so many options. You can also control Pluto tv through your phone and that is great!
I also have a few streaming services. One being Amazon video. Even though I don’t like them for many reasons, they do offer a discount on prime membership for people who get SSI, disability, food stamps, etc….. I do hope that people become more aware of this.
HANDHELD SHOWER HEAD AND GRAB BARS
This is a lifesaver for me. The smaller, standard shower head was very hard to reach and turn so you get waterboarded if you are unable to move well 😂
The handheld shower is easier to move by maneuvering the tubing hanging down and holding it for certain things comes in handy.
They do sell separate holders to place an existing handheld shower lower and they also sell those awesome handheld showers that slide up and down on a bar. Some have double shower heads and some come with two separate holders. I often have to hand wash clothes or certain household items and the handheld shower is very helpful then also.
Here are a few examples of the sliding shower heads:
The suction grab bars are very convenient as well:
I have a shower chair but rarely use it. Sometimes I definitely need it for a few minutes. Certain things are really so helpful but I don’t like using “help” unless I have to. No matter how difficult something is, I think it gets easier if you always do it. Use it or you lose it.
I’m rarely in my chair at home either. I have strategically placed things a certain way so there’s somewhere to grab everywhere. So getting around anywhere in my house without a walker is possible when I need to. Some of my acrobatics would probably make my physical therapists faint but most also know that although it’s not the desired way, I’m always very careful. Plus most people know I’m very stubborn and telling me not to do something rarely works.
Anyone who relies on social security or disability knows that it’s a seriously tight budget. So I like saving where I can but I always loved finding savings and deals. Those clearance signs always called to me 😂 People just waste so much money daily and that’s what our children learn so it’s becoming a regular way of life.
I hear women talking about a certain brand name purse, shoes, clothes, jewelry, etc….. I’ve just never found value in “things” like that. I value people in my life and memories.
They see it as bragging but I see it as sad. How do you justify any of that when people are starving, homeless, freezing, etc…..and sad because that kind of thing actually makes some people happy.
Now if you told me that you got something “normal” at half price, then I’m interested and impressed. I don’t like labels on people either. People label me often. I love being the exception and I love others who are too. The different, broken, lost, alone, quirky, not afraid to be different, etc….. People can empathize and care but there’s nothing like the feeling that you get from sharing similar heartaches with someone.
