Q Needs A Wheelchair

Product Description

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Supporters

Q is a disabled poor trans sex worker who has needed a new wheelchair for a long time and is now asking for help to buy one that is not a danger to use.

Q is deeply embedded (and loved!) in local and international networks of mutual aid and shows up constantly for its communities, time and time again, and has a deep foundation of strong solidarity with others resisting the colonial capitalist forces that want so many of us dead or forgotten.

Q frequently ensures that other people in its communities have the mobility aids and other assistive tech that they need, by passing on tech it no longer uses or has replaced. In the event that Q dies or its needs change, this new chair is guaranteed to be passed on to another person who needs it.

Q’s current chair – a manual second-hand titanium wheelchair – was bent at the frame & axle by cops during a land defence arrest, and it’s been wheeling around on that now for about four years.

Additionally, the front caster wheels, which were already on their last legs (so to speak), recently sustained damage when a Helpful Abled(TM) pushed it without consent into a closing hospital elevator, creating what could be described as a car-compactor but for a wheelchair.

Basically, the current one’s a nightmare, was not suited to Q’s body to start with, and actively harmful to use now, and a new one is needed that properly supports Q’s back, hips, shoulders, and general wonky body. This requires a custom-fit, lightweight everyday manual wheelchair with features like a supportive cushion and backrest, and durable rigid frame.

It might be more accurate to ask what’s *not* up with Q’s body, but here’s the short version:

Q’s used a chair for nearly a decade. It’s got a large number of autoimmune conditions including Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), as well as incurable metastatic cancer and a frankly impressive and overwhelming number of genetic conditions that affect it on a widespread systemic level, affecting everything from the nervous system to major organs. It’s had several heart attacks and both minor and major strokes, and receives medical treatments at the hospital several times a week.

As you can imagine, this all affects Q’s mobility pretty drastically, and means any chair it uses will need some specific customisations to support it when wheeling around its house and community. Custom manual wheelchairs can run anywhere from $6k-$30k+ depending on the level of customisation needed. The initial cost for a fitting specialist will be $175, which will guide the process for selecting the right wheelchair and supportive features; while we don’t have exact amounts yet, we know a wheelchair that will best serve Q will be at least $15k, with a stretch goal of $35k (this is closer to the cost we’re anticipating).

Q is looking at a lightweight frame and motor-assisted wheels, both of which would take a lot of pressure off its damaged shoulders. It also needs this specific power-assist attachment linked here which is unfortunately more expensive than others on the market. They’ve used another less costly product in the past that has, instead of helping, in fact further damaged Q’s body due to several of the aforementioned genetic conditions that impact joint stability. The motor-assisted wheels will allow Q the most access to its communities and solidarity efforts while also protecting its joints with features such as an assisted braking system which compensates in areas with increased cross-slopes, for example. (An explanation of cross slope and its impact on wheelchair users can be found here—link.)

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So this is where you come in! Please give what you can and share this around, especially if you have community outside of the usual impoverished queercrip crews perpetually handing the same $5 back and forth trying to keep each other alive! Your support is deeply appreciated.

Here are other ways you can donate with fewer fees, and we’ll give updates on the full amount raised as we go:

Paypal: paypal.me/ChilliwackFreeFridge (please specify in the note that you’re sending money for Q’s wheelchair!)

Canadian e-transfer: [email protected] (Q’s housemate who is helping with fund logistics)

(This is written by Q’s partner Charlie and everything disclosed here is done so with Q’s explicit permission!)

Anonymous

2 years ago

$50

Hannah Liu

2 years ago

$30

Rosanna Wong

2 years ago

$99

Anonymous

2 years ago

$300

Anonymous

3 years ago

$22

Terrence Adams

3 years ago

$20

Anonymous

3 years ago

$10

Anonymous

3 years ago

$30

Anonymous

3 years ago

$20

Sarah Fraser

3 years ago

$5

Charlie Broder

3 years ago

$10

L&R Gtsma

3 years ago

$200

Anonymous

3 years ago

$150

Alan, Tasha Mijinke

3 years ago

$101

Martha Parker

3 years ago

$50

Anonymous

3 years ago

$50

Emma Owens

3 years ago

$10

Anonymous

3 years ago

$20

Anonymous

3 years ago

$50

Mercedes Lafonde

3 years ago

$25

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