Why can’t my new wheelchair help me dance?

I recently got a new wheelchair! Thanks to the good folks at Numotion, I’m happy with the upgrades, including a new seat cushion, a phone holder, and headlights.

My friends have been asking me what it’s like to be in a new chair, and I’d say it feels like getting new shoes, a new car, and an iPhone upgrade all at once. I’m getting used to a lot of new, but I think it was a good choice, and once I master it, it’ll ultimately make my life easier.

I’ve lived with SMA my whole life and got my first wheelchair when I was 6 years old, because by then, I couldn’t travel far or fast with my walker. I believe this chair is my seventh, and I remember them all by color and name. (Yes, I’ve named all my chairs. If you’re curious, this new one is named Gladys the Squidgy.)

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Connie’s first wheelchair, circa December 1989. (Courtesy of Connie Chandler)

This admission may make me sound like an old lady, but there are certain functions I don’t understand about my new friend Gladys, like an apparent Bluetooth connection, turn signals, and large textured foot plates (which are impossible to keep clean).

I also don’t understand why insurance doesn’t see the obvious benefits of handlebars and power seat elevation. But the thing that confounds me most is that, with all the bells and whistles that we do have, we still don’t have a Dance Mode.

Initiating Dance Mode

There are now different modes on most power wheelchairs, like “Indoor” and “Normal,” or “Turtle” and “Rabbit.” These great ideas make chairs function appropriately at varied settings. But a “Dance” mode option would revolutionize the wheelchair industry.

In my imagination, I’m a pretty great dancer, full of rhythm, grace, and soul. But given the reality of the low muscle tone in my weak body, my dancing is woefully limited. I can bob my head, wiggle my shoulders, and shift my weight from hip to hip, but that’s about the extent of it — nowhere near that Shakira potential I’m convinced is inside me!

Connie’s newest wheelchair, Gladys the Squidgy, last month. (Courtesy of Connie Chandler)

When I try to incorporate my wheelchair in dance, it gets even worse; slower turning speeds and pauses when shifting joystick directions make it impossible to keep up with the beat of a fast-tempo song, and swiveling wheels are definitely a danger factor for the toes of anyone who dares to dance with or around me.

Whether we’re at a formal dance like a prom or jamming out at a concert of our favorite band, people in wheelchairs get the urge to show off some moves just like everyone else. What would a wheelchair’s Dance Mode look like?

Maybe we could have settings for the time signature and the tempo, and the chair would just move on autopilot accordingly. Maybe we could have a set of buttons for functions like spinning, two-stepping, or line dancing. Maybe we could even program our own routines of steps and moves to go with our favorite songs!

I know, I know, there’s less than a slim chance that insurance will ever consider Dance Mode a “medical necessity.” And yes, I do see how the worst-case scenarios of this sort of technology could play out. So until someone can design a mode that helps us get our groove on without wrecking the venue or our partners’ shins, I want to encourage my fellow wheelchair users to get creative and find their own unique ways of expressing the dance in their hearts.

Think about all the little ways you can move your body when you’re sitting in your wheelchair, then put together an epic dance playlist and use all your moves. Even if it’s just in your room, it’ll be a great cardio workout! Maybe you could even choreograph a wheelchair dance and teach it to your friends so you can flash mob like it’s 2010.

Whatever you do, don’t let your body or your wheelchair keep you from engaging in the pure joy of responding to the music you love.

Note: SMA News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of SMA News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to spinal muscular atrophy.