Weather isn't exempt from the rule "No white after Labor Day!"

I love snowmen, skating and salted sidewalks, but I hate getting my wheelchair tires stuck in the snow and having my batteries die because of the frigid cold. Unfortunately, the dreaded white stuff causes many wheelchair dependant individuals to become hermits during the snowy months. Surely there has to be a better way to thaw this snowy situation.

ATTENTION SNOW REMOVAL CREWS! Even those seemingly harmless small piles of snow left on curbs are big obstacles for some of us. Four-horse-powered wheelchairs like mine simply can't handle them. Usually I'll take a run at them, but then I risk getting stuck in a drift. Worse yet, by the time I dislodge myself the stoplight is usually no longer green, causing me to reverse and to possibly get stuck again. Other times I get frustrated because I manage to get through one snow bank - either by maneuvering my wheelchair or with the assistance of a helpful passerby - only to run into another snow pile, virtually trapping me. Just so you know, narrow clearings made with a shovel are also particularly aggravating, as getting through these with a full-sized power wheelchair isn't any easier.

HELP WANTED FROM INVENTORS EVERYWHERE! Electric wheelchairs and scooters are wonderful inventions, except that such technology isn't built for certain North American weather conditions. Solutions to a few of the common problems that electric wheelchairs and other assistive devices face in winter weather include:

• Onboard battery heaters – These would keep wheelchair batteries efficient regardless of the temperature.
• Winter devices made for wheelchairs based on automobile design - such as snow tires , tire chains and larger front wheels - would greatly improve mobility.
• Heated wheels – to melt tracks in the snow may be a far way off, but mounting a simple sort of plow attachment on the front of a wheelchair may eliminate snow obstacles altogether.

In the meantime, some strategies I recommend for minimizing the snow effect are:

• Maximize planning - I never liked planning extensively because I found the lack of spontaneity somewhat unfair. However, leaving things unplanned meant that I would often run into unnecessary difficulty in my wheelchair, for example if I didn't dress warmly and got stuck in a snow drift.
• Minimize effort - Use winter gear that's easy to assemble so that frustration is curtailed and energy can be put toward more important matters.
• Always carry an emergency device – such as a cell phone or pager that will allow you to contact help immediately if you need it. This eliminates the possibility and fear of being stranded.

Despite the snow effect, keep on rolling in the city.

~ Chantal