Having to rely on a wheelchair could dissuade you from exploring the outdoors. However, spending some time away from the city could actually help make you feel better overall.

The idea of spending a night away from the comforts of your home could seem daunting. Taking smart precautions and being prepared will make the experience worth all the effort.

Make sure you have the right kind of wheelchair

Before you even consider going into the woods or camping by the lake, check if your wheelchair is up for the challenge. Your wheels should have enough traction for the type of terrain you’ll be up against. Bring a wheel patch kit for good measure. Waterproof the entire wheelchair to avoid rust later on. And make sure your wheelchair brakes do their job.

Based on your needs, activities, and the places you intend to go to, figure out whether a light wheelchair or a heavy, mechanized wheelchair is better. Remember that mechanized wheelchairs run on batteries so you might have to bring a spare battery to be safe.

Make sure people know where you are

This is a basic, general camping rule. If you and your buddies settle in a huge area, there is always a big risk of somebody getting lost. It would be wise to attach some kind of noise maker to your wheelchair so that it would be easy for you to find them and vice versa.

Equip your wheelchair with reflectors. Attach pouches and bags to your wheelchair to make space for basic needs like water, a little food, some money, and a change of clothes.

The buddy system

This is highly recommended for large groups. Everyone has an equal chance of getting left behind. Pick someone reliable and fairly knowledgeable of the outdoors. Brief your buddy on the basic functions of your wheelchair before you even leave for your trip.

If your buddy happens to be a girl, you might even follow up your trip together with a date.

More and more employers are hiring people with disabilities, predominantly because employers have come to realize that disabilities do not hinder brilliant skills and potential. Perhaps you have worked with a person with disabilities before. But if it is your first time to work with people with disabilities, consider the following tips:

Seek more information about your co-worker’s disabilities

The more you know about your co-worker’s disability, the more you will understand what he is going through. The best way to know him is to befriend him and try to talk to him about it. Be aware though that disabled people have varying comfort levels when it comes to opening up about their disabilities. It is always best to be polite when asking. Another good idea is to research about the disability. There are a number of resources available online that would help co-workers understand how people deal with their disabilities and how to better interact with them.

Be sensitive to their needs

Lobby for office equipment and accommodations that cater to the needs of disabled co-employees. Automatic doors and ramped walkways must be available, especially if your co-employer’s mobility is impaired. The employer must also provide modified or adjustable workstations.

Focus on achieving targets

The most important thing to remember is that disabled people are like any other person. The only difference is that they may do things differently. However, you must remember that you all work to achieve the same results. It thus becomes important to look at your disabled co-employee as a member of your team. Focusing on delivering positive results will help you realize that your co-employee’s disability is not really a hindrance. In the end, what is important is that he can do his job well.