Keeping Safe

1. A mirror is fixed to my wheelchair. I can see in my mirror that is on my wheelchair persons who are all around me. It makes me feel safe. It lets me keep an eye on my bag which is at the back of my chair. I use it all the time. When I don’t feel safe, I speed up my driving.


2. Cell phone. I can use my cell phone to get help. I have preprogrammed numbers. I use it a lot to tell the driver where to pick me up. I have programmed some phrases into my voice output device.


3. Camera video. This is in my apartment. It shows me what is happening outside. I can see and hear people at my door. There are people I don’t want to open the door to. It is important to have movement detector lights outside.


4. Billfold chain wallet. My wallet is chained to my wheelchair because I do not want people to take it. I keep my wallet in a second chained purse so that people can’t see it. I also have a chained wallet for my bus tickets and another for loose change. Once, a cashier took my money from me when she was helping me pay for something. I programmed some phrases in my device after that. I have “Please take out my money and let me see you doing it” and “Please count the money in front of me.”


5. Home Alarm. My alarm at home rings if someone tries to come in my house. I phone the police. It would be good to have it linked to the police station but that costs a lot of money.


6. Armrest alarm. I have a panic button built into the armrest of my wheelchair. It activates my home alarm.

Most of all, I watch all around me and I listen carefully.