MGA News Winter 2001

I love to go shopping, although Mrs Gravis does not always appreciate my kind assistance. She seems to think that some of the items that I thoughtfully slip into the supermarket trolley are, not good for me, expensive, the wrong brand, just a waste of money, or we already have a cupboard full. Of course, one of the things that make it possible for me to go shopping is the wheelchair. I have one, but I know that many Myasthenics are not so lucky. Even when you do have one, transporting a chair or scooter to the shops is not always possible and many bus services are not equipped to take them, especially rural ones. For a long time now, many stores have provided manual chairs for the use of disabled customers, but these require an able-bodied person to push them, taking away an element of independence. Some have a handgrip on each wheel that allows the user to propel the chair, but this is not an option for Myasthenics, after all we suffer from muscle weakness. I know, I tried it once and Tanni Grey-Thompson I am not. I was so exhausted that I spent the afternoon and next day in bed. Many big stores do now have electric scooters, in our area I have used the ones at Tesco and Asda but they, of course, are limited to use in the store.

My trailer is great, but it has to be parked and still involves Mrs Gravis in some manoeuvring when I have an off day. It was last week that I realised that there is an alternative, one open to everyone with mobility problems. We had had difficulty parking the car and trailer and wound up in a car park that we don't usually use. There in front of us was the local Shopmobility centre, which hires out chairs and scooters. Mrs Gravis wondered why we went to all the trouble of trailing my scooter when there some already in town. I went in to make enquiries and came out a paid up member. Both members and visitors may hire machines, but members enjoy a discount.ovided manual chairs for the use of disabled customers, but these require an able-bodied person to push them, taking away an element of independence. Some have a handgrip on each wheel that allows the user to propel the chair, but this is not an option for Myasthenics, after all we suffer from muscle weakness. I know, I tried it once and Tanni Grey-Thompson I am not. I was so exhausted that I spent the afternoon and next day in bed. Many big stores do now have electric scooters, in our area I have used the ones at Tesco and Asda but they, of course, are limited to use in the store.

The next time we were in town I left my machine at home, took a chance and just called in and asked for a scooter. They found me one called a 'Rascal', which Mrs Gravis thought most appropriate. A volunteer showed me how to use it and then I was let loose on the town. We went everywhere; Mrs Gravis was exhausted, which cost me a cup of tea and a bun half way through the expedition. When I returned the machine, I mentioned that I hoped to see them again on Thursday and was told that being market day it would be advisable to book a machine, which I did.

There is no one more fanatical than the recent convert and I had to know more. Which other towns had similar schemes and what was available? There is a National Federation of Shopmobility, who produce a directory covering the whole of the United Kingdom, listing 250 schemes. From this directory I found that many schemes have dedicated parking for users and where the parking is not close to the office, they will, by prior arrangement, meet the user at the car with the equipment. Some schemes will, again by prior arrangement, provide an escort to go with the user to assist them around town.

There is a wide range of equipment available, including manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and scooters. I noticed that our local scheme also had some walking sticks. Most are wholly or partly run by volunteers. Not all schemes make a charge, but those that don't will normally ask for a donation. Shopmobility schemes are usually well publicised locally, libraries, Social Services and the Citizens Advice Bureau can usually help. The National Directory is available from member schemes; I paid £1 for my copy. Copies can also be obtained direct from The National Federation of Shopmobility, 85 High Street Worcester WR1 2ET. If you have access to the Internet, they have a very good website at www.justmobility.co.uk. This gives an up to date list of all the schemes and their facilities

MGA NEWS Winter 2001

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