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How to Look Cool on a Heavy Duty Mobility Scooter

If you use a heavy duty mobility scooter and your name is Mick Jagger, you can skip this article. You would probably look cool in a burlap sack, clown shoes, and a top hat. I am not talking to you.

How to Look Cool on a Heavy Duty Mobility Scooter

For the rest of us, using a heavy duty mobility scooter might seem at first like an impediment to coolness. It may feel like your mobility, perhaps the least interesting part of you, limits who you are and how others see you. The grief and frustration that comes with the loss of mobility is real. And yet it does not have to be the final word on your identity. Coolness does not require walking.

Coolness is a commitment to confidence, dignity, and personality. Contrary to what mean middle school girls would have you believe, coolness is not assigned to you by other people. It is a practice of joy, appreciation, and creativity even as our bodies and circumstances change.

Confidence

Confidence in using a heavy duty mobility scooter is two things: choose the right scooter for you, and learn how to use it.

Choosing the right mobility scooter means considering the lifestyle you want to have and finding the best fit of specifications that will support that. Consider the size, terrain, turning radius, comfort, speed, battery life - all covered in other articles here and elsewhere. You are cool because you are going to interesting places, investing in deep relationships, curating engaging activities, and the right heavy duty mobility scooter simply helps you do so.

Once you have the right scooter, become comfortable using it. Contact customer support if you have questions. Find an experienced user to give you tips. Call ahead to new places you're going to make sure you know how to navigate their spaces. Through practice, you'll gain confidence, and nothing is cooler than confidence.

Dignity

Confidence is something you build; dignity is something you claim. Confidence says "I can totally roll down this hallway without crashing into that table." Dignity says, "Even when I crash into the table, I still deserve to be here."

Repeat after me:

  • My worth as a person is not determined by the use or strength or stability of my body.
  • I can take my time.
  • My scooter is not who I am; it's how I get around.
  • When I claim dignity, I lead the way for others to do so, too.

Personality (This is the fun part.)

After you have built confidence and claimed dignity, you can get to the more visible part of coolness. Think of your heavy duty mobility scooter as an accessory. It is not your whole personality but it can express your style and integrate into who you are.

Here are some ways you could think about personalizing your heavy duty mobility scooter:

Neutral Accessory Choosing not to add anything to your heavy duty mobility scooter is itself a great personality choice. The scooter can be the khaki trousers or tan flats to your bold tie or flouncy dress. Leave it as is and let the most interesting parts of you stand out.
Subtle Statement To say that heavy duty mobility scooters don't come in a huge color range is an understatement: basically, they're all black. Consider having yours painted or add a tasteful pattern. Many come with baskets; maybe you have a classy organizer or perfectly-fitting tote bag. You could create your designated scooter umbrella, mug, and go-pack with your chapstick, wallet, and sunglasses case.
Lifestyle Customize your mobility scooter to facilitate the things that give you joy. Birdwatchers, add a hook for your binoculars. If you have kids in your life, have a pouch full of candy. Art aficionados, keep your museum pass on a lanyard in the basket. Writers, get a special notebook and pen just for your scooter.
Flair I am not saying you need an LED-bedazzled scooter shaped like a flamingo (although you totally could; that's a real thing). But think, for example, of fun seasonal decorations, decals or bumper stickers, ribbons or flags, or a crafted basket cover. Does your scooter need a name? Instead of stripes, how about hot rod racing flames? Maybe an old-timey car horn? Flair is about finding the joy and humor in being a mobility scooter user.

Being Cool Has Nothing to Do With Walking.

Using a heavy duty mobility scooter takes courage. It means adapting to change without letting that change define you. It means building confidence, claiming your dignity, and choosing joy. And that's the definition of cool.

How have you made your mobility scooter your own? We'd love to hear your ideas and see your photos.


1 comment

Sara K.
Sara K.

Great writing, very interesting and helpful article!

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