Due to a rather picturesque array of neurological disorders, not to mention the increasing effects of advancing age, I have become considerably less mobile than I was in my younger days. Where I used to be able to effortlessly walk for many hours, I now move slowly at a snails pace, for a maximum of one hour, supporting myself with either a cane or a crutch – depending on how I happen to function that day. But I refuse to complain: there’s nothing I truly lack in this life, and diminished mobility doesn’t usually bother me.

However, for the longer distances I nowadays employ a mobility scooter, which kind of makes me feel like a prince or even a king! Relaxedly sitting in a comfortable seat, pleasantly but never arrogantly saluting the admiring passers-by, I buzz along at either walking pace or double speed. When I feel social I “walk”, when I really need to be somewhere in time I rev up the little machine.

There are many people much worse off than me, when it comes to mobility. I can, though with difficulty, still walk – but a lot of others can’t. Especially for them the electric scooter is a great help, enabling them to be mobile again. There are 3-wheel mobility scooters and 4-wheel mobility scooters, and if you happen to be considering buying such a machine, I certainly recommend the 3-wheeled variety. They tend to be considerably more manoeuvrable on account of their smaller turning radius, which is a definite advantage in crowded or narrow areas. I also would recommend to go for batteries with a large capacity: it’s not only unpleasant but also quite embarassing to find yourself out of juice when far away from home!

Apart from electrical scooters, there are many more things and inventions that make the life of the disabled much easier. Stairlifts, bed lifts, electric wheelchairs, walkers… they all help to make life much more normal for the handicapped.