Otis on the Go

Yesterday our awesome rep from the wheelchair and equipment company we work with for Otis delivered a motorized wheelchair for Otis to try out for a few weeks. He has had a manual chair for about a year now, but has not yet been motivated to propel himself in it. Manual chairs do require a certain amount of strength to use, along with--obviously--willingness to engage the arms and hands. Although we have seen much improvement in this over the past year, Otis still has some sensory issues with using his hands that keep him from wanting to grip the wheels. You can see (in the video linked below) on the power chair that our rep has fitted the joystick with a yellow stress ball that Otis actually IS interested in touching and exploring.

He took the power chair for his first real test drive in the parking lot of our apartment complex yesterday afternoon. As a parent, I couldn't help but wonder if this is what it might feel like to watch a kiddo learn how to ride a bike. I can't even begin to describe the joy it brings us to see this amazing little boy continue to take steps toward independence, big and small. Quality of life truly matters.

Look at him go!

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