I would think the biggest issue to overcome would be the sleeping arrangements. Could the person get themselves into and out of something like a campbed? Or up a couple of steps into the sleeping area of a trailer tent? IMV it's do'able but requires thought and planning.
Hi, i have a 8 year old son who camps with us ,he uses a wheelchair,althought he can walk a little,he really enjoys camping,we always check with the campsite if they have disabled bathroom/shower and they provide a key for you to use although sometimes you do have to pay a deposit for the key, some sites use the radar key so if you all ready have a radar key you will be fine.we alaways ask if its possible to pitch near to the showers etc.
Has for sleeping we use two single blow up airbeds placed on top of each other for height as this helps our son getting in and out of bed,as one on its own is to low down for him as he has difficulty getting up from floor,and he does find this easy and comfy,.
It is do'able my wife does it , but I need to be around her all the time ,
example- getting up in the night to go to the toilet takes the 2 of us as it does at home
(a) to lift her up off the airbed (b) to hold her so she doesn't fall on the way to the porta potti.
Make sure you pick a tent that doesn't have a lip on the doorway , or that the lip is flexiable enough to fold down as the wheelchair goes over it , otherwise the chair will pull the tent so taut it will rip it
We use a zimmer frame for my wife to hold on to as she lowers and raises herself off the porta potti (I got one off freecycle and cut the wheels off it).
We regularly meet an adult couple and he is severely disabled. They camp in a trailer tent. I can't speak for how they do it but obviously enjoy it as the trailer tent is seasonally parked.
My OH has to occasionally use her wheelchair, so as we have a FC I got a solid set of 3 shallow steps with a side handle, it does fold down and packs away easily. No probs as have the toilet within the Pathfinder for night time, or if really ill we set up the Aero triple height air bed in the awning inner. these are the same height as a normal divan bed and can be hard or soft depending on preference of user. There is always a way round most problems. we have found other campers with similar difficulties and some amazing remedies just by using your imagination and a little ingenuity.
Hi, i have a 8 year old son who camps with us ,he uses a wheelchair,althought he can walk a little,he really enjoys camping,we always check with the campsite if they have disabled bathroom/shower and they provide a key for you to use although sometimes you do have to pay a deposit for the key, some sites use the radar key so if you all ready have a radar key you will be fine.we alaways ask if its possible to pitch near to the showers etc.
Has for sleeping we use two single blow up airbeds placed on top of each other for height as this helps our son getting in and out of bed,as one on its own is to low down for him as he has difficulty getting up from floor,and he does find this easy and comfy,.
I hope these couple of tips help
Happy Camping
Angie try the Intex airbeds these are about 18in high and very comfortable i have arthritis in my spine and they are very good indeed
------------- I Think Therefore I Am I Think? eh? If all is not lost where is it?
Just for info - most of the Vango tents have fold down door thresholds (but check first as not all do). Outwell tents generally have raised, step-over thresholds as they have zip round flymesh on the doors. Our Vango Columbia 600 has all door thresholds dropable, even the flymesh door does as the door is constructed as one piece (including flymesh) with an inner zip-off solid panel to reveal the flymesh. The inner tents of most tents have raised bucket thresholds though.
Some of the frame/pyramid tents I've seen on this site have flatable inner tent thresholds and threshold-less outer doors.
That's all really helpful, thank you! The wheelchair user is my sister. We were just on holiday visting her - hence my late replies, sorry! - and she really liked my tent and it has inspired her to give it a go. I mentioned Vangos to her since I know their doors fold flat for access, and I mentioned the double height airbeds, but getting a zimmer frame for pulling herself up off the bed is a great idea thank you! It would also be useful for getting over the threshhold of the bedroom pods. She's also adamant she's getting ehu and a heater, because she feels the cold so much. Any other advice would be very gratefully received and passed on. Thank you all!
I think that the biggest issue is going to be getting around the campsite, unless you've got one of those powered 4wd wheelchairs it might be a bit of a struggle.
It's worth checking things out with the site, more and more of them are making the shower and toilets better accessable for the disabled camper, and I must admit I would like to see even more of them improve access as they make site improvements, camping is all about inclusion, not having or allowing barriers to remain.
------------- Steve
Look into my eyes, not around my eyes but into my eyes