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4 Products That Make My Life With a Disability More Independent

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My name is Alyssa Brown. I have a physical disability known as cerebral palsy. Being independent as a person with a disability who also uses a wheelchair has its challenges throughout life; therefore, I decided to share four products I find useful to give me more independence.

1. Loofah on a Stick

Loofah on a stick for showering with a disability.

The first product is a loofah on a stick. This is a regular loofa anyone would use in the shower to wash, but it has a stick on it so people have an easier time reaching and cleaning parts of their bodies while using less energy. I enjoy using the loofah on a stick because it prevents falls while bathing. All of the soap stays on the loofah once put on during the shower, so I don’t have to bend repeatedly to get more body wash. Lastly, one of my hands can always stay on my shower chair to help me balance, while the other washes my body.

Buy a loofah on a stick at Walmart.

For more bathroom ideas, check out 19 Products That Can Make Showering Easier If You Have a Chronic Illness or Disability.

2. Folding Grabber

Grabber / reacher for independence with a disability.

Having multiple grabbers helps with independence as they are used to pick up things that are out of our reach or require us to bend over. Having various grabbers allows for the ability not to search for them in different places as accessibility is already limited in rooms. Foldable grabbers allow for easier access to things we cannot reach in public because they can fit in backpacks.

Buy a folding grabber from Target.

3. Two-in-One Backpack

Convertible backpack

A two-in-one backpack can function as a regular bag and hang on the back of a wheelchair to carry things like a grabber and parking tag. When there are valuables such as a phone, wallet, or keys, the backpack can transform into a cross-body bag so that it goes over a shoulder and stays right next to someone. A cross-body bag allows for the things we need not fall off our lap or get stuck in our chair’s wheels.

Buy a convertible bag from Target.

4. Nike Flyease

Nike flyease disability shoe.

Lastly, my most favorite product is the Nike Flyease shoe. The Nike Flyease shoe resembles a regular tennis shoe but has a zipper in the back so the person can slide their foot straight in without having to fight their body into doing movements it doesn’t feel comfortable doing. The Nike Flyease also doesn’t have laces, so the person does not have to worry about not having the strength or ability to tie a shoe. Zappos also just came out with a shoe line that allows people to buy shoes of different sizes or to buy only one shoe.

Buy Nike Flyease from Zappos.

Originally published: August 24, 2020
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