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disabled-dragoon · 2 years

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Disability Aids: Where to buy

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about disability, sensory and mobility aids and where to buy one, so I’ve decided to just collect a global list of everywhere that I can find! I try and update this monthly. If there’s one you want me to add on or change, just say!

Links and information under the cut!

Updated: 12/10/2023

Disclaimer: Any link marked with (*) cannot deliver outside of their country of base/international shipping policies are unclear at the current moment of writing.

Follow this link to find a list of databases that have information on disability aids around the world.

Global:

The Active Hands Company: Based in the UK but operating globally, this company deals exclusively in grip aids that can help and be used by people with various disabilities- including limb differences, cerebral palsy, arthritis, brachial plexus injuries, stroke survivors, multiple sclerosis, nerve and spinal injuries, TBIs and much more. You can find their FAQ page here if you would like more information. They do ship internationally, but please be aware that they are currently warning of a potential delay to orders due to postal strikes. Some products they do include: angled knives, gym/sports grips, zip grips, cutlery grips, anti-spill aids, magnetic laces, openers, small item grippers, specialised mugs and hand splints, to name but a small few.

Handicare: I’m putting this one here as they have a global office, offering their services in 40+ companies, as well as offices in Belgium, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, UK, USA, and Spain, with their HQ located in Sweden. Their aim is to “provide solutions and support to increase the independence of the physically challenged or elderly people. They offer accessibility products (i.e. stairlifts and their installation), patient handling and care equipment, and vehicle accessibility solutions.

Invacare: This company is located in Ohio but has offices all over the globe so I’m putting it here. There’s a tool on this website that will direct you to the closest office/country to you. Products they offer include independent living aids i.e. shower and bathing aids, comfort aids i.e. bedding and furnishings, manual mobility aids, powered mobility aids, and patient transfer aids.

Karma: I believe this company is originally Taiwan based, but I am putting it here because of their extensive global service network, including supplying to the NHS! They offer a range of powered and manual chairs, as well as accessories, and have a tool on their site that allows you to locate your nearest seller.

Kuschall: I can’t find where exactly this company is situated, and all social media links take me to Invacare Europe so for this purpose I’m assuming they are at least partners. There is a tool to let you change to your country’s nearest site, and dealership locator. This site deals in specialised wheelchairs. They have a visualiser tool which I really like, which lets you see the wheelchair that you chose and refine its features i.e. handle colour, frame colour etc. etc.

Medline: This is a global institution dealing in delivering hospital grade supplies to patients around the world. Some products include: hospital grip/slipper socks, fall prevention equipment, skin health, maternity equipment, face masks and wound care! There’s a tool on the website as well that will link you to the site for/closest to your country.

MEYRA: **TW for flashing and eye strain** There is an option on this site to change the page language. Headquartered in Germany, MEYRA operates as a wheelchair manufacturer and rehabilitation aid supplier across 70 countries, and offers a range of manual wheelchairs, active and sport chairs, electric wheelchairs, children’s manual wheelchairs, Netti brand rehabilitation wheelchairs, as well as other rehab products and seating and ramp solutions. There are options on this site to change page language and font size.

Performance Health: To clarify, I’m not entirely sure on the overall delivery policies of this company, but they appear to have offices in America, Australia, Canada, France and the UK (there is a tool on the site to switch between each respective country). They sell podiatry, daily living, mobility, orthopaedic and therapy aids- e.g. braces, fall prevention, hot and cold therapy, tape, exercise tubing, mats, compression products, insoles, incontinence products, wheelchair, crutches and ramps, to name a few. You can search by category or brand.

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Australia:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)ActivTec: This is an equipment maintenance service, suggested by @hell-on-sticks. Last update they helpfully added:

“Adding to this that if you're in Australia, ActivTec is a national company that does disability and mobility equipment repair that can be done both privately or through the NDIS. They've got offices all over the place - mostly east coast, I guess you can't be disabled outside Perth on the west coast or something /s - but it's always a good idea to know where you'll go if your aid or equipment breaks.”

You can find the company’s FAQ page here for more information.

Gilani Engineering: Based in New South Wales and offering a range of mobility and living aids, disability vehicle and home modifications, Gilani also offers installation on select products, and international shipping. Their product lists are too extensive to list entirely, but items include: wheelchairs (including paediatrics), powerchairs and scooters, wheelchair ramps (and installation) and accessories, bathroom, bedroom and living aids, patient transfer aids, home lift and grab rail installation. They also sell a large array of vehicle modifications- such as dual pedal systems for driving instructors, steering lollipops, alternate braking and accelerating systems, access solutions and boot hoists, to name a few.

Incontinence Products: Caringbah based and supplying “washable, reusable and disposable incontinence products and continence aids”, this company aims to market towards men, women and children at an affordable price. They do deliver internationally! You can find shipping information here. Some products they offer include: diapers and diaper bags, wipes, clothing protectors, onesies and body suits, swimwear, beds and mattresses, chair, floor and mattress protectors, beamers, gloves, face masks, and many others.

(*)SwitchSticks Australia: A company specialising in luxury and engraved canes, as well as the seat cane (a cane that can be turned into a stool when needed) and accessories. The international shipping policies of this company are unclear.

TabTimer: “TabTimer™ is an Australian Company dedicated to supplying devices to help people and their carers keep medicines, nutrition, hydration, toileting and regular personal care tasks on-time using assistive technology and assisted listening reminder devices.“ -TabTimer, About. This company offers timing and medication aids, including diabetes equipment, pill organisers, talking watchers, help and SOS buttons, alarms and alerters, large clocks and talking reminders, to name a few. They deliver internationally.

Canada:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)Access Abilities: Claiming to be award winning and with stores in Oakville and Etobicoke, this company offers mobility equipment purchasing, rental and repair services. They also offer free in home assessment services, home delivery and set up, and aid in helping to find funding for equipment. According to the company, products they stock include “mobility scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, lift and recline chairs, stair lifts, CPAP and more. We stock the best brands, such as Pride, Invacare, Tena, Bruno and Maple Leaf Wheelchair.” -Access Abilities, Products. International delivery policies are unclear.

(*)Action Medical: The following text is from the “Service” page of the website:

We provide a full range of services on all the equipment we provide to you, and even the equipment you've purchased elsewhere. Services range from basic repairs and tune-ups of existing equipment such as walkers or lifts, to installations and set-up of new equipment in your home, such as grab bars, platform lifts, ramping systems, etc. We can even help you with home and vehicle adaptations to make your lift more accessible. Contact us for more information.

You can find the company product list here. International delivery policies are unclear.

Canes Canada: Thank you to @sugarsh0ts for the recommendation! This company ships “anywhere across North America”, and says that international deliveries may be subject to a holding policy, but you can contact them with any questions. They offer to deliver your canes uncut, or cut them for you if you send your measurements (and offer information on how to properly measure a cane!). A few examples of canes they offer include: standard canes, hiking canes, novelty canes, seat canes, folding canes, men’s canes, women’s canes, animal handle canes, extra tall canes, collector canes and umbrella canes, and many many more, including forearm crutches and accessories like cane holders! You can also browse by price, and there are separate sections to search by colour, handle style and material style!

FlappyHappy: A stim toy business for “autistic children, teens and adults”. You can find their tumblr here and a list of products here. I quite like that you can search for specific types of stim toy i.e. chewables or fidgets or tangles etc. They do offer international shipping; you can find more information on shipping here. If you need discreet packaging, you can ask for it.

(*)Independent Living: “Independent Living is a business dedicated to personal freedom and mobility. We have been a supplier of mobility aids and personal care products to the elderly and persons with disabilities since February of 1988.” -Independent Living, About. There is no pricing or delivery information on this website as I believe you have to contact them directly with any enquiries (their contact details are here, and the enquiry form is here), or visit their store, located in Regina, Saskatchewan.

(*)LifeSupply: LifeSupply sells to “patients, caregivers and medical professionals” within Canada, offering an extensive range of products that include but are not limited to: mobility aids, maternity equipment, IV equipment, acupuncture, catheters, baby and child care, incontinence care, veterinary and pet supplies, personal care equipment, orthopaedic equipment, respiratory care, and beauty and skincare products, to name a few. I’m unsure, but I think this company can deliver some products outside of Canada, and delivery prices would depend on the delivery weight. You can find more information here.

(*)The Mobility Market USA: A partner of The Mobility Market UK, this is essentially the same concept- second hand mobility aids sold and bought by mostly disabled people- but it delivers across the US and Canada instead. Again, you need to make an account to buy and sell items, and it is my understanding that you have to contact the sellers directly (there should be information on the advertisements) if you wish to make a purchase. There is an option to translate this website into other languages (besides English) if you require it.

(*)Senior Store: Though they can also deliver to the US, I’m not entirely sure on the international shipping policies of this company. The products they offer are too extensive to list individually, but the categories they fall in are: Covid 19 related products, lift chairs and recliners, bathroom safety, mobility, bedroom and livingroom, personal aids, incontinence products, kitchen & dining, pillows and seating, therapy products, bariatric products, foot, hand & elbow, alarms, special clothing, special phones & alarms and leisure products, They also offer rental on some products i.e. those of hospital grade.

Sidestix: Though they only (at the moment of writing) seem to offer two types of forearm crutches, they do offer a vast array of crutch accessories as well as this thing they call Fingrips which appears to be specialised handles, mainly for cycling. They ship internationally and have stores based in Canada, New Zealand, USA and Australia.

France:

(All links in French in case translator needed)

(*)CENOMY: A French supplier of AAC and communication equipment, and a redistributor of Liberator UK. You can find their products here, as well as a wider catalogue/shop here. As well as communication equipment, they also offer sensory aids- both in terms of sensory devices and objects to create a sensory environment. Other items offered include eye tracker and eye control equipment, supports, adaptors and alarms, touch tablets, software and environment controls. The site crashed before I could find information on international delivery policies.

Hop’Toys: This company does deliver outside of France, however they do not deliver in the DOM-TOM or outside of the EU; for further delivery information and prices please see this link. They mainly deal in sensory aids, learning and education aids, and communication equipment (as a distributor of Liberator UK). They also offer items in relation to specific disabilities, such as Alzheimers, adhd, sensory issues, visual impairments and hearing impairments. Items offered included weighted bedding and clothing, school aids, daily and eating aids, sensory and motor games, occupational and speech therapy aids, and skill development aids (including behaviour management, social skills, facial expressions etc.).

Senior Boutique: I couldn’t find much in terms of delivery information, but they claim to deliver all over France, and services in Belgium allow for international delivery, but please check this with them. They distribute a wide variety of disability and healthcare aids including hobby aids (i.e. gardening aids), daily living support (bathroom aids, eating aids, comfort aids etc.), clothing, mobility aids (including the Ta-Da Seat Cane) and incontinence aids, amongst a wide variety of others.

Germany/Deutschland:

(*)Mein Hilfsmittel: Parts of this site are in German and may need to be translated if you are unfamiliar. This company rents manual and electric wheelchairs, mobility scooters, rollators, stair climbers and oxygen generators across Germany. You can find a list of the products they rent here, information on renting here, and contact details here.

(*)Prenkte Romich: A distributor of Liberator UK and seller of AAC equipment across Deutschland, Austria and Switzerland; they do not ship to other countries. You can find shipping information here. This page is in German so will need to be translated if you are unfamiliar.

Ossenberg: “One of the leading German manufacturers of forearm crutches, walking sticks and orthopedic aids.”- Ossenberg, About Us. There is an option to read this page in either Deutsch or English, so if you are unfamiliar with either it may need translating. To buy as a private customer, please follow this link. Personally, I like that certain products (like wrist straps, forearm crutches, walking sticks etc.) have their weights, basic sizes and materials stated in their product titles. On international shipping they say: “Of course we also ship our products abroad. However, the shipping costs vary depending on the country and region.”

Italy:

AllMobility: This company was founded by two disabled people. They created and now distribute the “Buffalo 150″ transfer board, selling it in 15 countries abroad. Disability aids that this company sell include: ergonomic aids, transfer and mobilisation aids, hygiene aids, daily living aids, positioning aids, and paediatric aids. I can’t find information on pricing on this site, it’s my understanding that you have to request the information from the company. Also, while they distribute all across Europe, I believe you have to contact them to find out if/how they can ship to your country. There is an option to change the language of the site between English and Italian.

(*)Bodytech: This page is in Italian so may need to be translated if you are unfamiliar. This company specialises in products such as ergonomic chairs, wheelchairs, cushioning and positioning aids. I cannot find information on international delivery, or pricing. It is my understanding that you must contact the company for a quote.

(*)Cambratech: This page is in Italian so may need to be translated if unfamiliar. Cambratech is a company that specialises in the creation of disability aids for people who are visually impaired. Their aid catalogue includes items such as sticks and stick accessories, alarms and clocks, tools, reading and writing aids, home and daily living aids, technology aids and sport and hobby aids. I don’t think this company offers delivery outside of Italy.

Japan:

Rakuten Ichiba: Naturally, this page is in Japanese so may need to be translated if you’re not familiar. I think this company offers international delivery- you can find delivery information here. The range of items they offer is extensive, including, but not limited to: braille (signs, guiders, paper etc.), contact lenses, medication management and assistance devices, communication aids, mobility aids, incontinence aids, treatment machines, body measuring devices (glucose monitors, weight monitors etc.), sanitary aids, first aid equipment, face masks, medical clothing, and much much more.

Malaysia:

(*)HomeCare Shop: I’m not sure on the international policies of this company, but you can find a list of store locations here. They sell items related to continence care, PPE, nursing care, orthopaedic support (including sport support), personal care equipment, foot care, nutrition and supplements, and mobility aids. There are also specific sections on their site in relation to being bedridden, childcare, stroke care, diabetes care, beauty and health, fall prevention, back pain and body pain solution, elderly care, post-surgery care, hypertension and sports injuries.

(*)Pinang Medical Supplies: The operator of HomeCare Shop, they work to supply medical and disability equipment to hospitals and clinics, with the HomeCare Shop geared towards the public. I am not entirely sure on the international delivery policies of this company, but they have 20+ stores across the nation (click here for store locations) and stock a significant number of global brands (click here for a list).

New Zealand:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)Creative Living: **Potential warning for eye strain**. This company provides a range of products to ensure better kitchen and bathroom accessibility. I can’t find anything regarding delivery policies, but they are the sole provider in New Zealand of the UK based companies, “Nicholls and Clarke” and “Impey Showers”. There is no pricing information, though I think this is because you have to contact them about your specific needs in regard to product fitting. Their contact information is here.

(*)Mobility Centre: This company is a not for profit organisation that aims to deliver “a range of products from small daily living aids through to mobility scooters and wheelchairs” to allow customers to live an “independent and active lifestyle”. Options on the site allow you to shop by category (bedroom and seating equipment, braces, supports & rehabilitation, crutches and walking sticks, daily living & kitchen aids, grab rails and ramps, incontinence products, mobility scooters and power chairs, toileting and bathroom equipment, walkers & walking frames, and wheelchairs), or by condition/disability. You can also rent and/or hire some equipment from here. They only deliver within New Zealand, and do not deliver overseas or to PO boxes.

(*)Northable: Northable allows for the sale and hire of disability equipment, such as: mobility aids, daily living aids, home and bedroom aids, continence aids, and bathroom and toileting aids. They claim to be committed to ensuring “that we are providing you with the correct information and equipment suited for your individual needs.” -Northable, About Us. You can find contact information here.

Orthotic House: A company that “helps bridge the gap” of disabled and specialised footwear, including socks. They have men’s, women’s, children’s and unisex footwear ranges, and claim to be able to ship anywhere in the world, though the shipping rates on their website are created with Australia and New Zealand in mind. You can find shipping information here. There is an option on the website to change the pricing according to Australian, Canadian, British, New Zealand and US currency standards.

South Africa:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

(*)CareChamp: There are a couple of instances of heavy italics on this site, in case you struggle with that. Based in Cape Town, CareChamp aims to “set the highest standard of home care in South Africa”, providing comfortable care and services to clients across South Africa. As well as selling mobility aids, they also offer rental services on certain products, and home care services with trained nurses. They also aim to set up a college in the future. I do not believe this company delivers internationally. You can find their FAQ page here.

(*)Medop cc: “Leading manual and electric wheelchair suppliers in South Africa” -Medop cc, Homepage. Delivery policies of this company are unclear however, they have offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town that allow for operation across South Africa, as well as operating through dealer networks in Botswana and Namibia. And, though their speciality lies in the supply of quality manual and electric wheelchairs, Medop does also provide personal care equipment, such as canes, crutches and rollators, bathroom aids, patient lifts, pressure care, hospital beds, and much more. Personally, I like the FAQ page that gives quite extensive advice on choosing the right wheelchair.

(*)Prima Care: Prima Care supplies medical and mobility equipment across South Africa, with offices and showrooms in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. They also hire and rental services, and I do not believe they offer their services outside of South Africa. You can find rental information here, and product information here. For further information and contact details, see here.

(*)Pro Mobility: Originally dealing in adapted vehicles and hoists, the founders of this company opened their first concept shop in Cape Town in 2021! It is, and I quote, “a welcoming, wheelchair friendly space for any person with a disability or impaired mobility to come and see all the available items”. I don’t believe they ship internationally, and I think you have to contact them or visit the showroom if you’re interested in purchasing/renting their equipment. You can find their contact information here.

Spain:

(*)Eneso: I’m not entirely sure on the delivery policies of this company, and if you are not familiar with English and/or Spanish, this page may need translating. Eneso offers a range of sensory equipment, communication equipment, learning resources, adapted toys and activities (for children and older) and computer aids (including switches, buttons and mounts). They also offer items in relation to creating sensory environments.

INDESmed: This company is based in Madrid but claim to deliver all over the world. There is a handy tool on their website that lets you see if they have a store in your country as well. They offer a range of crutches, walking sticks, walkers, walking boots, compression socks and reading glasses, with a few accessories for each- like ice shoes for canes!

KMINA: Please be aware that this page may need to be translated if you visit it. I believe this company does ship internationally as they appear to have an active Amazon shop, as well as bases in Spain (to ship to Europe) and America. They provide an email on their website to arrange other shipping where possible as well. This company mainly deals in crutches, walkers, accessories and bathroom aids. It looks like you have to buy each crutch individually (if you’re wanting a pair) but I am not sure.

Taiwan:

Kymco: **Potential TW for flashing lights when you click the link***. This is a company headquartered in Taiwan but they do have global offices. A motorcycle and ATV distributor that offers a range specialising in mobility scooters and powerchairs, I can’t find any price information but I believer there is an enquiry option for any item you are interested in.

(*)Step2Gold: Had an anon recently direct me to this company. They deal in a specialised seat cane called the Ta-Da chair. It seems to be more streamline than the average seat cane and is opened via a twist function, but the price is quite steep. They do not sell directly to individuals, but they do have distributors of the Ta-Da Chair in North America, Europe, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Greater China, and Australia. They also have a distributor map (which you can find here) that allows you to pick your nearest distributor. Here is another link to a post with a few other distributors.

Thailand:

(*)Freedom Move: There’s an option on the site to change the language from Thai to English, but it may need to be translated if you do not speak either language. Also the prices for products were given as Baht so if you are unfamiliar you may need to use a currency converter. Freedom Move sell four main products/brands: the Ta-Da Chair, the EVOSS cushion (a specialised support cushion, that supposedly aids pressure distribution when sitting and promotes circulation), the HurryCane cane, and an electric scooter. But I also noticed neck and shoulder supports as well as a portable massager. You can find the products here. I am unsure on international delivery policy.

(*)Kaigo Sensei: I don’t know if this company delivers internationally. They sell electric wheelchairs- light and reclining, patient transfer chairs and the Ta-Da Chair. You can find their products here, and shipping information here. Parts of this page may need translated.

UK:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

Ability Superstore: A large UK distributor of mobility aids ranging from sensory items, pet care, mobility aids, kitchen aids (i.e. preparation boards, baking equipment, specialised utensils), bathing aids, toilet aids, clothing and grooming aids, skincare aids, hobby aids, accessible games and leisure items, and exercise equipment to name but a few. I think they deliver outside of the UK, but if you are ordering from outside of the UK (or from certain postcodes which you can find here), you will have to contact them for a quote.

(*)Age Co: This is an organisation owned and operated by Age UK, a registered UK charity that aims to help and provide a better quality of life for older people i.e. by combatting loneliness, dealing with the cost of living crisis, protecting against covid etc. Age Co claims that 100% of their profits go towards Age UK. Products that they offer include: car insurance, motor breakdown cover and care, funeral plans, legal services, stairlifts, homelifts, bathing equipment, incontinence aids and personal alarms. I cannot find any information on delivery outside of the UK.

(*)Aidapt: A UK based distributor of mobility and daily living aids. I’m not sure if they deliver overseas, and unfortunately it appears you have to make an account and login to see the prices, but their product range is extensive. Items they offer include, but are not limited to: mobility aids (crutches, canes, manual wheelchairs, rollators, ramps and accessories), adapted cutlery, gardening equipment, reclining living and lounge chairs, bathing, hygiene and bedroom aids, handlebars and rails, daily living aids (trays, footrests, cushions etc.) and many many others.

Careco: A UK based company that offers a variety of living and mobility aids, from mobility scooters to stair lifts, to car boot hoists to transfer aids. They also offer a range of refurbished mobility aids in different styles, for cheaper than you would expect. They do claim to deliver to an international client base, but please contact them with questions/for a quote.

Cool Crutches: As the name suggests, this is a UK company that, much like Neo-Walk, offers an incredibly colourful array of walking sticks and canes, as well as offering replacement parts! They are suitable, according to the FAQ page, for anyone between 5′ and 6′5″, and are height adjustable. The colours and patterns are varied (and there is even an option to design your own!), but the prices are quite steep. They do offer international delivery! You can find their delivery page here, which also contains a list of prices for delivery. Thank you to @disconnectivetissue for directing me to this one.

(*)CompleteCare Shop: This company delivers to both mainland and non-mainland UK, with delivery charges available on the website, however they are unfortunately not able to deliver internationally. I recently bought a rollator from here that came quite quickly and in excellent condition. They offer a large collection of mobility aids- rollators, walkers, wheelchairs, scooters etc.- and other disability aids for all aspects of life, including bedroom aids, daily living aids (seats and hygiene products, for example), kitchen aids, medical equipment (like crutches, rehabilitation equipment, hearing aids etc. ) and even disability aids for children. An enquiry form can be found on the site if you have any questions.

Disability Horizons: Disability Horizons was a lifestyle magazine ran by a selection of disabled writers, for the disabled community, exploring issues and stories relating to disability, that unfortunately closed in April of this year (2023). They also run a shop, sourcing and distributing a range of disability aids from across the UK, and they can arrange overseas shipping! Products offered include: adaptive clothing and t-shirts, art and cards, home aids, kitchen aids, books, mobility aids, living aids, wheelchair aids, bathroom aids, vitamins and car aids. You can find a link to the online magazine site here. The shop is still running, though may be rebranded in the coming months.

The Dyslexia Shop: This shop is UK based but it does deliver internationally! They do an incredibly amount of learning resources for neurodivergent people, but specifically people with dyslexia and dyscalculia, including, but not limited to, tinted paper and notepads, different types of specialised grip pens, overlays, educational games, sensory toys, teaching aids and software. And they also offer an incredible range of books, both childrens books i.e. teaching about disability, featuring disabled characters etc., and non-fictional books on the topics of dyslexia, ADHD, autism, dyscalculia, disability education etc.

(*)Essential Aids: They sell a vast array of disability, mobility, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, work and leisure aids, as well as offering a range of childrens disability aids, sensory aids and NHS aids as well. They have aids that help in hobby areas (i.e. writing, gardening, sewing) and exercising, they sell comfort aids and warmth aids. They have outdoor aids as well, like ramps and hand rails, which is just fantastic. I do not know if they deliver internationally but you can contact them to check, and they use Royal Mail services.

Feet Feet: A company dealing in “orthotic insoles to treat every major foot condition”, this site is organised so that you can sort by specific condition, product or seek advice regarding an ailment. Products offered include bunion correctors/splints, foot massagers, assistive sock aids, support braces, insoles, risers, lifts, shoe cushioning/padding and callus cutters and much more.They do deliver internationally! (I think) You can find delivery information here.

(*)HealthAndCare: Unfortunately this company cannot deliver outside of the UK at the moment, but all mainland UK deliveries are free, and the majority of products can also be delivered to Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and offshore UK islands! Their product range is extensive. They offer a large array of braces and supports- from back supports to shoe insoles- general health and pain relief items, daily living aids (including but not limited to: hearing aids, bathroom aids, mobility aids, kitchen aids and medication storage), sports and rehabilitation equipment, education equipment, and even safety training!

(*)Healthcare PRO: So I’ve had a look and they don’t deliver overseas, but they do deliver to both mainland and offshore UK! Here you can find more delivery information. Healthcare PRO offers a range of health, living and mobility including telephone aids, reading and writing aids, walking aids, wheelchairs, bathroom aids, eating aids, bedroom equipment, hobby aids, games, alarms, reachers, monitors and sensory equipments etc, a long with a vast array of other items in all categories. They also offer a selection of childrens aids as well.

(*)Incontinence Choice: This is a UK company that specialises in incontinence products. They offer a range of items, including incontinence pads of varying sizes, bed and chair protection, adult nappies, washable and disposable incontinence pants, as well as a range of both female and male incontinence products. They also offer products from some specific brands, such as Age Co, TENA, Vivactive and Always, and have a discreet delivery process. Unfortunately they only offer shipping to mainland UK and certain non-mainland territories. There is no option for international delivery at this time, and there is a notice on the website that delivery services have been impacted by the Royal Mail strikes, but they are working around it. Here you can find more information on delivery, including the non-mainland territories they deliver to and prices.

Liberator: A UK supplier of extensive AAC equipment including switches, joysticks, apps and software, learning aids, adapted stylus’, controls, adaptors, cases, eye tracking and control software, pointers, and accessible computer equipment, as some examples. They have a large web of international redistributors which you can find here. They also offer training regarding some software and devices that they sell. You can find information regarding funding and assessment here. They also offer sensory aids.

(*)Manage @ Home: A company that deals in disability aids for a variety of every day activities, including mobility aids, eating aids, leisure aids, door handles and bathroom aids, amongst others. Currently they deliver to UK mainland, as well as UK islands and Northern Ireland, though if ordering from the latter two you are advised to contact the company about delivery. I’m not sure what their international shipping policies are or if they ship outside of the UK.

(*)The Mobility Aids Centre: I’m waiting to hear back about international delivery information but I’ll update when I do. They have a showroom in Peterborough, England if you wish to visit them in person. The Centre claims to pride themselves on offering mobility aids that “is more than just wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking aids, bathroom equipment and small living aids”, providing things such as pushchairs, standing frames and bespoke wheelchairs as well. They also offer things like sensory loss aids, peddle exercisers, therapy equipment, medication aids, fall aids and specialised furniture, to name a few.

(*)The Mobility Market: I found the link to this on the website for Scope, a well known, registered disability charity in the UK, and I’ve had a little look around. It’s essentially like ebay for mobility aids; it’s people selling their mobility aids to others in need. There is no definitive amount of aids on here so if you’re looking for something specific, i.e. like a cane, it might not be there the first time you check. Objects are second/third hand, and, depending on how much the seller lists them for, can still be quite expensive, though noticeably less so than some other providers. You can also list your own mobility aids as well, but to both buy and sell you need to make an account. I do not know what shipping policies are like- I imagine it depends on the seller- but they do have a partner site that operates across the US and Canada.

MobilityPlus+: A UK based company that claims to ship worldwide. They deal in electric wheelchairs, rollators and accessories, and also include shipping costs for international shipping on their website if you are not from mainland UK. From personal experience, they’ve been excellent when it comes to replacement parts for my chair though obviously I don’t speak for everyone.

Mobility Smart: This company can arrange to deliver outside of the UK but to do so you have to call them. They have instructions for this on their website, as well as information on finding your country dialing code and a currency converter. If you’re in the UK, they have a showroom! As well as mobility aids, they offer items in categories such as paediatric care equipment, daily living aids, driving aids, continence aids, bathroom aids, ramps, specialised footwear and medical equipment, amongst others.I have been informed that there tends to be a markup with this company when it comes to continence aids, in comparison to stores like Age Co or Incontinence Choice, so please be aware of that.

Not Your Grandma’s: Do you find yourself wanting colourful compression socks but can’t find any designs you like? Do you struggle to find designs that fit? Maybe your disability has left you feeling overwhelmed and you’re just looking for advice. Well! This company (suggested by @cripplecore, so thank you for that) may just be what you’re looking for! They specialise in colourful compression socks, but also offer some disability stationary and accessories. Their founder also has a blog/handbook and podcast relating to all things disability, and is looking to release a range of larger sized products, and offer a waiting list for those interested. Personally, I think this site looks incredibly cute! (They also offer international shipping!). I have ordered from here and think it’s great, if not a but pricey.

Neo-Walk: You may have seen this company on Dragons Den. They offer an array of colourful and customisable walking sticks and accessories, as well as offering a 10% student discount (using a code that can be found on their FAQ page and with proof of student ID)! They also offer international shipping.

(*)Podiatry World: Podiatry supplies equipment for foot and leg care, and products they offer “arch supports, bunion protectors, gel socks and straps, impressions, instruments and packs, foams and felts, rotary tools (burs), treatment chairs, pain relief products, and much more.” You can find a list of their products here. I’m not sure on international delivery policies.

(*)Quingo Scooters: Quingo mobility pride themselves on their five wheel mobility scooters, which they claim to offer more stability and manoeuvrability than regular three and four wheel scooters. They offer a few different models, ranging in price, as well as a motorised wheelchair, accessories for all models, payment plans, and the option to test drive before you buy! I can’t find any information on international delivery, but they claim to deliver anywhere in mainland UK, and they have a “sister distributor” in the US by the name of Comfygo.

(*)RNIB: Or, the Royal National Institute of Blind People. An organisation in the UK dedicated to ensuring and providing accessibility for those who are blind, partially sighted, or otherwise visually impaired. I took this quote from the site directly: “We have a wide range of products for both adults and children who have sight loss or a vision impairment. All our devices and tools are designed to help you do more at home, work or at school.You’ll also find a range of book titles in audio, braille and large print, and leaflets on eye conditions and living with sight loss.“ This link will bring you to the organisations website (with information on dealing with sight loss, eye health, the aims of the organisation etc etc.), and this link will bring you to an interesting piece on their work in making video gaming more accessible!

(*)Sensory Direct: I’ve checked an unfortunately this company is unable to ship to PO boxes, or overseas unless you hold a trading account with them. You can find information on delivery, i.e. prices, locations etc. here. This company deals specifically in sensory aids, with tools on their website allowing you to sort by age category, condition and environment. They offer a vast array of items including, but not limited to, weighted blankets, sensory toys, classroom kits, educational aids, weighted clothing, puzzles, toys, games, chewys, seating, lighting etc. etc. They also sell products to aid with the development of skills, such as life skills, social skills, fine and gross motor skills, creative skills and sleeping.

Single Handed: @parafoxicalk introduced me to this company through this video, showing a member of the company reviewing a grip toggle, so you may have seen them doing the rounds! Single Handed aim to design carry technology of the “highest quality”, “for able-bodied and less able people alike”, allowing for “easier use [carrying] for those with balance, shaking, or disabilities which make carrying a traditional tray more difficult, dangerous or even impossible in some cases.” They’re eco-conscious in their designs, deliver internationally, and deal in anti-tip trays, grip toggles, glass collectors, and large double handed mugs.

(*)Skiggle: This is another site I found, courtesy of Scope. Skiggle is a registered disability charity, providing help to disabled people (adults, young people and children), their families and their carers by offering a place to rehome surplus disability aids. It’s like a more relaxed version of The Mobility Marketplace, in that it is a sellers community of disabled people, in which you can post ads selling your items, or ads asking for certain items. The majority of items that I have seen are free/relatively cheap, but there are certain items that may be priced (i.e. car seats, mobility scooters) and the site reviews these on a case-by-case basis. I quite like the look of this one to be honest. Here’s the FAQ page if you have any questions regarding the marketplace.

Smartcrutch: Thank you to @some-weird-queer-writer for pointing this one out to me. I have been informed that they are also available in America, Canada and potentially Australia, but there is a notice on the site to contact them if you have any questions so you can find that information here. I’ve dug a bit further and it appears they do deliver overseas. This site offers an array of colourful forearm crutches, in sizes XS, S, M and L (extra small, small, medium and large), as well as “spares” (a range of spare crutch parts i.e. pivot screws, ice shoes, replacement feet and straps). Prices on the XS crutches range between £74.99-£114.98, whilst prices on all other sizes range between £131.99-£227.98. I believe there is also the option to buy either a single crutch or a pair.

The Stick & Cane Shop: Walking sticks and accessories with a twist. Like a stick for all occassions type of deal, this company specialises in sticks for walking, for formal/fancy dress, for country walking, for collecting, and for doubling as an umbrella. They also offer accessories and adjustable sticks.

(*)WalkingSticks: At the time of writing this, this site cannot deliver outside of the UK due to courier issues, however if you are able to benefit from it it seems amazing. Despite the name, they sell everything from canes, to crutches, to walkers, to even mobility aid accessories. And you can search by specific requirements, features and prices!

(*)Whizz-Kidz: “The UK’s leading charity for young wheelchair users.” This company is a bit different to the others in that it is a charity and you, specifically, don’t buy the equipment; there is an application process instead, a waiting list and then they may or may not provide the equipment for the young person (under the age of 18) in question. Here is information on the application process (FAQs, eligibility criteria etc.), and here is a link to wheelchair training workshops that they offer for people aged 2 to 25 years old, including workplace training, school training and sports. They are a charity so there is an option to donate as well, and they also offer youth group services, support for families and siblings, and work placement/employment opportunities.

USA:

(All links in English in case translator needed)

1800Wheelchair: Thank you to @cesium-sheep for directing me to this. They said, quote, “It was a mediocre experience and their branding is very senior-focused but they have a huge selection of all kinds of mobility aids.” I’ve had a look at that seems to be the case; they offer a vast array of wheelchairs included lightweight, heavy duty, beach, commercial, transport and bathroom wheelchairs, as well as accessories i.e. bags, cushions etc. As well as scooters, lifts, walkers, bathroom safety aids and accessories (including shower stools, hand held showers etc.), furniture, pediatric aids (wheelchairs, furniture, bathroom care), accessories and parts. As well as distributors across America and UK, it appears they also have distributors in both France and Canada!

Advantage Medical: A supplier of rehab and physical therapy equipment, including hand therapy, mobility aids, exercise equipment, patient transfer equipment, tapes, daily living, CBD, PPE and much more. They can arrange for international delivery “nearly anywhere in the world”, though customs and duties are the responsibility of the customer. Here you can find more information on shipping.

(*)Comfygo Mobility: A “sister distributor” of Quingo Scooters, that deals in mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs and accessories for each. They offer a slightly wider ranger than their sister company, and also offer repayment schemes when purchasing. I’m not sure on their international delivery policy, but apparently, as well as their own stores, they may be found on Amazon, Ebay and sometimes Walmart.

(*)Comfy Splints: Exactly what it says- they sell adult and paediatric splints for the hand, elbow, knee, ankle and foot, with the goal of making them as comfortable as possible. I can’t find any explicit information on international delivery, although they are partnered with companies that do deliver globally, like Medline and Rehabmart, so I may be wrong. They have contact information listed here if you have questions.

Fettermans: A US based company that offers free shipping to continental US, Fettermans is also partnered with Amazon, Walkeasy and Sidestix. They deal in crutches (for adults and children), crutch hand grips and other accessories!

(*)HealthSmart International: HealthSmart provides a range of crutches, canes, walkers and wheelchairs (as well as accessories) as well as a number of other disability aids, including, but not limited to, blood pressure monitors, physical therapy aids, bedroom and bathroom aids, and professional medical equipment. They claim to deliver some products internationally, however upon further digging the website also says they are currently only shipping within the United States, so please contact them if you have any questions regarding this.

(*)ICS: This company deals in orthotic shoes, socks and insoles for those with diabetes, AFOs (ankle foot orthotics), arthritis, partial foot amputations, and general foot issues- promising a comfortable and “perfect” fit. They also offer a specialist fitting service, that I think allows you to find the perfect size and shoe for you. Shoes for both men and women are offered across a variety of brands, and when searching for shoes you can filter by gender, foot width, boot height, brand and shoe size. I can’t find any information in regards to international delivery.

(*)Mobility Warehouse: They mainly deal in mobility equipment- powerchairs, scooters, rollators and living chairs- but also offer a range of bath safety aids, mastectomy care, diabetic shoes, compression socks and hospital beds in store as well. They also offer replacements, repairs and servicing of the equipment you buy from them should you run into issue. International shipping policies of this company are unclear.

Pride Mobility Corporation: As well as the US and Latin America, this company has bases across the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, Middle East, Slovakia, Slovenia and Canada. They also offer a tool on the website to find your nearest dealer. They offer a wide range of mobility and power chairs, lift chairs and mobility scooters, as well as rehab equipment.

Rehabmart: I think this company ship internationally. It is founded and operated by qualified occupational and physical therapists, and sells a range of medical, mobility and rehabilitation equipment. They claim to sell over 18000 products, and there is an alphabetised list of the categories they deal in.

Sensory Tool House: They do deliver outside of North America! However some of their products may not allow them to so it’s best to check your order. They have an online chat function and typically get back to you within a day or two.This company offers a range of “products and services [to] specifically support those who are neurodivergent and/or have a disability”, as well as offering community events at some of their locations (i.e. sensory play and sensory rooms), teacher, student and carer resources, training (in workplace and educational environments), and the ability to create a wishlist/gift registry. At the moment of writing, they appear to offer 850+ products, ranging from such things as educational products, toys, guides, utensil supports, folding chairs and weighted bedding, to name just a few.

Therapy Shoppe: “If you're looking for innovative sensory products, fidget tools, educational toys, occupational therapy tools, autism or special needs toys for learning, play, self-regulation, sensory integration, handwriting, motor skills development, fidgeting, and much more... you've come to the right place!” -Therapy Shoppe. This is a US based company that deals in the supply of sensory products. You can find delivery information here, including shipping charges. They do deliver outside of the continental US, but there is a minimum delivery fee and prices are based on overall order weight. Again, refer to the delivery information for more details.

(*)SwitchSticks US: A partner of SwitchSticks Australia and HealthSmart International. They specialise in walking sticks, quad sticks and seat canes. International shipping policies are unclear.

WalkEasy: A partner of Fettermans Crutches, they work with crutches, canes, parts and accessories, and it is my understanding that they deliver internationally as well. Their selection seems to be somewhat varied, ranging from platform crutches to cane holders for walls, and they offer replacement parts for most of the items they stock.

TheWrightStuff: If you’re ordering from outside of the US they offer contact information to get a quote, which you can find here. They only offer English speaking customer service at the time of writing. Again, thank you to @cesium-sheep for the recommendation. As well as mobility aids (wheelchairs, walkers, ramps, etc.), this company also offers more generalised disability aids including, but not limited, to gardening and exercise equipment, writing aids, utensil grips, adaptive reading aids (i.e. magnifiers, lights), adjustable tables, gas cap removers, bedding, comfort accessories, bathroom aids and dressing aids, to name a few.

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cripplecharacters · 1 year

Text

Writing Intellectually Disabled Characters

[large text: writing intellectually disabled characters]

Something that very rarely comes up in disability media representation are intellectually disabled characters. There is very little positive representation in media in general (and basically none in media meant specifically for adults or in YA). I hope this post can maybe help someone interested in writing disabled characters understand the topic better and create something nice. This is just a collection of thoughts of only one person with mild ID (me) and I don't claim to speak for the whole community as its just my view. This post is meant to explain how some parts of ID work and make people aware of what ID is.

This post is absolutely not meant for self diagnosis (I promise you would realize before seeing a Tumblr post about it. it's a major disorder that gets most people thrown into special education).

Before: What is (and isn't) intellectual disability?

ID is a single, life-long neurodevelopment condition that affects IQ and causes problems with reasoning, problem‑solving, remembering and planning things, abstract thinking and learning. There is often delay or absence of development milestones like walking (and other kinds of movement), language and self care skills (eating, going to the bathroom, washing, getting dressed etc). Different people will struggle with different things to different degrees. I am, for example, still fully unable to do certain movements and had a lot of delay in self-care, but I had significantly less language-related delay than most of people with ID I know. Usually the more severe a person's ID is the more delay they will have.

Intellectual disability is one single condition and it doesn't make sense to call it "intellectual disabilities" (plural) or "an intellectual disability". It would be like saying "they have a Down Syndrome" or "he has autisms". The correct way would be "she has intellectual disability" or "ze is intellectually disabled".

Around 1-3% of people in the world have intellectual disability and most have mild ID (as opposed to moderate, severe, or profound). It can exist on its own without any identifiable condition or it can be a part of syndrome. There is over a thousand (ranging from very common to extremely rare) conditions that can cause ID but some of the most common are;

Down Syndrome,

Fragile X Syndrome,

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome,

Autism,

Edwards Syndrome,

DiGeorge Syndrome,

Microcephaly.

Not every condition always causes ID and you can have one of the above conditions without having ID as long as it's not necessary diagnostic criteria to be met. For example around 30% of autistic people have ID, meaning that the rest 70% doesn't. It just means that it's comorbid often enough to be counted as a major cause but still, autistic ≠ intellectually disabled most of the time.

A lot of things that cause intellectual disability also come with facial differences, epilepsy, mobility-related disabilities, sensory disabilities, and limb differences. A lot, but not all, intellectually disabled people go to special education schools.

Intellectual disability isn't the same as brain damage. Brain damage can occur at any point of a person's life while ID always starts in or before childhood.

"Can My Character Be [Blank]?"

[large text: "Can my character be [blank]?"]

The difficulty with writing characters with intellectual disability is that unlike some other things you can give your character, ID will very directly impacts how your character thinks and behaves - you can't make the whole character and then just slap the ID label on them.

Intellectually disabled people are extremely diverse in terms of personality, ability, verbality, mobility... And you need to consider those things early because deciding that your character is nonverbal and unable to use AAC might be an issue if you're already in the middle of writing a dialogue scene.

For broader context, a person with ID might be fully verbal - though they would still probably struggle with grammar, what some words mean, or with general understanding of spoken/written language to some degree. Or they could also be non-verbal. While some non-verbal ID people use AAC, it's not something that works for everyone and some people rely on completely language-less communication only. There is also the middle ground of people who are able to speak, but only in short sentences, or in a way that's not fully understandable to people who don't know them. Some might speak in second or third person.

Depending on the severity of your character's disability they will need help with different tasks. For example, I'm mildly affected and only need help with "complex" tasks like shopping or taxes or appointments, but someone who is profoundly affected will probably need 24/7 care. It's not infantilization to have your character receive the help that they need. Disabled people who get help with bathing or eating aren't "being treated like children", they just have higher support needs than me or you. In the same vein, your character isn't "mentally two years old" or "essentially a toddler", they are a twenty-, or sixteen-, or fourty five-year old who has intellectual disability. Mental age isn't real. Intellectually disabled people can drink, have sex, smoke, swear, and a bunch of other things. A thirty year old disabled person is an adult, not a child!

An important thing is that a person with ID has generally bad understanding of cause-and-effect and might not make connections between things that people without ID just instinctively understand. For example, someone could see that their coat is in a different place than they left it, but wouldn't be able to deduce that then it means that someone else moved it or it wouldn’t even occur to them as a thing that was caused by something. I think every (or at least most) ID person struggles with this to some extent. The more severe someone's disability is the less they will be able to connect usually (for example someone with profound ID might not be able to understand the connection between the light switch and the light turning off and on).

People with mild intellectual disability have the least severe problems in functioning and some are able to live independently, have a job, have kids, stuff like that.

What Tropes Should You Avoid?

[large text: what tropes should you avoid?]

The comic relief/punching bag;

The predator/stalker;

The "you could change this character into a sick dog and there wouldn't be much difference";

...and a lot more but these are the most prevalent in my experience.

Most ID characters are either grossly villainized (more often if they have also physical disabilities or facial differences) or extremely dehumanized or ridiculed, or all of the above. It's rarely actually *mentioned* for a character to be intellectually disabled, but negative "representation" usually is very clear that this who they're attempting to portray. The portrayal of a whole group of people as primarily either violent predators, pitiful tragedies or nothing more than a joke is damaging and you probably shouldn't do that. It's been done too many times already.

When those tropes aren't used the ID character is still usually at the very most a side character to the main (usually abled) character. They don't have hobbies, favorite foods, movies or music they like, love interests, friends or pets of their own and are very lucky if the author bothered to give them a last name. Of course it's not a requirement to have all of these but when there is *no* characterization in majority of disabled characters, it shows. They also usually die in some tragic way, often sacrificing themselves for the main character or just disappear in some off-the-screen circumstances. Either way, they aren't really characters, they're more like cardboard cutouts of what a character should be - the audience has no way to care for them because the author has put no care into making the character interesting or likable at all. Usually their whole and only personality and character trait is that they have intellectual disability and it's often based on what the author thinks ID is without actually doing any research.

What Terms to Use and Not Use

[large text: What Terms to Use and Not Use]

Words like: "intellectually disabled" or "with/have intellectual disability" are terms used by people with ID and generally OK to use from how much I know. I believe more people use the latter (person first language) for themselves but i know people who use both. I use the first more often but I don't mind the second. Some people have strong preference with one over the other and that needs to be respected.

Terms like:

"cursed with intellectual disability"

"mentally [R-slur]"

"moron"

"idiot"

"feeble-minded"

"imbecile"

is considered at least derogatory by most people and I don't recommend using it in your writing. The last 5 terms directly come from outdated medical terminology specifically regarding ID and aren't just "rude", they're ableist and historically connected to eugenics in the most direct way they could be. To me personally they're highly offensive and I wouldn't want to read something that referred to its character with ID with those terms.

(Note: there are, in real life, people with ID that refer to themselves with the above... but this is still just a writing guide. Unless you belong to the group i just mentioned I would advise against writing that, especially if this post is your entire research so far.)

Things I Want to See More of in Characters with Intellectual Disability

[large text: Things I Want to See More of in Characters with Intellectual Disability]

[format borrowed from WWC]

I want to see more characters with intellectual disability that...

aren’t only white boys.

are LGBT+.

are adults.

are allowed to be angry without being demonized, and sad without being infantilized.

are not described as "mentally X years old".

are respected by others.

aren't "secretly smart" or “emotionally smart”.

are able to live independently with some help.

aren't able to live independently at all and aren't mocked for that.

are in romantic relationships or have crushes (interabled... or not!).

are non-verbal or semi-verbal.

use mobility aids and/or AAC.

have hobbies they enjoy.

have caregivers.

have disabilities related to their ID.

have disabilities completely unrelated to their ID.

have friends and family who like and support them.

go on cool adventures.

are in different genres: fantasy, romComs, action, slice of life... all of them.

have their own storylines.

aren't treated as disposable.

don't die or disappear at the first possible opportunity.

...and I want to see stories that have multiple intellectually disabled characters.

I hope that this list will give someone inspiration to go and make their first OC with intellectual disability ! This is just a basic overview to motivate writers to do their own research rather than a “all-knowing post explaining everything regarding ID”. I definitely don't know everything especially about the parts of ID that I just don't experience (or not as much as others). This is only meant to be an introduction for people who don't really know what ID is or where to even start.

Talk to people with intellectual disability (you can send ask here but there are also a lot of other people on Tumblr who have ID and I know at least some have previously answered asks as well if you want someone else's opinion!), watch/read interviews with people who have ID (to start - link1, link2, both have captions) and try to rethink what you think about intellectual disability. Because it's really not that rare like a lot of people seem to think. Please listen to us when we speak.

Good luck writing and thank you for reading :-) (smile emoji)

mod Sasza

#mod sasza #writing intellectually disabled characters #neurodivergency #terminology #long post #writing advice #writing disabled characters #writeblr #writing reference #writing disability #writing tips #writing resources #writing help #intellectual disability representation

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