A Powerchair for Noor!

Hey, I'm Noor! You may know me on Twitter as @SnoringDoggo . I'm a community activist, organizer, and writer that works in disability and faith justice  spaces. I'm raising money for a powerchair, to increase my freedom and access to the community.

I've always been a big believer in the idea that mobility aids meant freedom for those who needed it-but I didn't realize how much that statement rang true to my own life until I started needing them.

Mobility Aids and Me

Starting in college, I was hit with severe pain in both my lower legs. The doctors call it chronic neuropathy (pronounced like new-rawr-pathy, which makes me giggle more than it should!) due to fibromyalgia and unspecified, global chronic pain.

That basically means that the nerves in both my lower legs are oversensitive and tire out extremely easily. That's also true of the rest of my nerves, but it's especially concentrated in both my calves. This means that, while I can walk short distances, my legs tire out really quickly.

I also have a condition called POTS. That means that changing positions a lot (e.g. going from standing to sitting, like you have to do on the metro) is a bad idea, because it can make me dizzy or pass out.  A chair would mean very few position changes throughout the day.

I've gone through a number of mobility aids throughout my life, including canes, rollators, and a mobility scooter-and they've all served me well! However, for my primary aid going forward, I need a mobility aid that is strong, good over bumps, has a motor and has full back support-and a power chair fits the bill.

While I am minimally ambulatory , a power chair would make a huge difference in my life, by allowing me to:

- Stay out late, such as at organizing events, without being in pain
- Go to work without having to take days off for being in pain related to moving around
- Travel freely without being in pain or at risk of passing out
- Go places without chronic lower back pain
- Have stability and a lower risk of tripping or falling

What chair are you looking at?

The Pride Jazzy Select 6. It is a midwheel power chair that has a long battery life, is strong over rough terrain, and has stabilizers. It's a great power chair for someone like me who needs something basic, but comprehensive-and it has a great turning radius, too.

Shouldn't insurance pay?

Yes, yes they should! Unfortunately for me, their policy prevents more than one mobility aid prescription over a five year period, even if all parties involved agree that I would do better with a different mobility aid than the one currently prescribed.

What's the cost breakdown?

I'm glad you asked! Here's a list of how the fees shake out.

Power Chair: $3500
Go Fund Me Fees: $101.05 (plus donation fees individually of 30 cents)