Got Ice & Snow? Try These AT Solutions
Re-posts from AT3 Center with Courtney Ness Fuchs: “Ice and Snow Won’t Stop Me from Where I Want To Go.” Thanks North Dakota Assistive!
Moving about on all this ice and snow is no easy task. Check out some of the options below to increase your safety this winter using assistive technology.
Add an ice cleat to your shoes
Styles are available that cover either the entire shoe or just the heel. When purchasing, make sure to check that you are buying a size that will fit your foot. Available at a variety of online and local retailers. [Some pop off rather easily. Recommended by AT3 Center News and Tips Editor: kahtoola]
Add an ice pick to your cane
Do you use a cane? Add a retractable ice pick that flips up when you are inside such as this one from Vive Medical. When selecting an ice pick, you will need to check that it is compatible with the diameter of your cane. Ice picks that have foam on the inside will be less likely to scratch your cane.
Consider skis for your walker
If you use a standard walker, you may find it helpful to swap the rubber tips with walker skis. They are, after all, modeled after snow skis! Please be sure to check with your OT/PT/doctor prior to making this swap. You will need to check to make sure that the skis are compatible with your walker. Many walker manufacturers have their own versions available.
Consider wheelblades for your wheelchair
Are you a wheelchair user? While researching for this post, I came across this great article written by a wheelchair user from Minnesota. In it, he details various options and modifications to enable a wheelchair user to get through snow more easily.
How to Get Through Snow in a Wheelchair
One of the options he discusses is wheelblades. Wheelblades were invented by Patrick Mayer, a wheelchair user himself who wants, “maximum mobility and flexibility in all kinds of weather.” Wheelblades are snapped onto the front (small) wheels of the user’s wheelchair allowing them to glide more easily over ice and snow. Check out this video of Patrick using wheelblades:
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/kWnhcvB1guc
[Video shows a man attaching and using wheelblades in the snow and then wheelblades attached to a baby stroller gliding over snow. Captions are not voiced in the video. They are: “These are skis for wheelchairs. Meet wheelblades. They let wheelchairs move easier over snow. One click attaches them to the front wheels. They are made to improve mobility in the winter during snowy and icy conditions. It works on baby strollers as well. They start at $159.” ]