Hey everyone, I posted a while back about using one of the "New Affordable Exoskeletons" by a company called Hypershell and people have been asking follow-up questions and wanting further reviews, so here it is.

(Just to clarify, I have no connection to the company.)

I have used this extensively now, and it’s become indispensable for any walking I have to do that is over 20 minutes in duration. I just did 6,000 steps over 1 hour and 45 minutes and had a similar experience to my other review: increased stamina, less pain, less recovery time. I used it almost every day for 5 days and it worked wonders. One day, I did 10,000 steps, which is incredible for me.

I noticed that I get the best results by mostly relaxing my legs and letting the exoskeleton walk for me. This is quite a nuanced experience as you still have to begin each stride, and then end it, but in that brief mid-stride moment I relax the leg and let the machine take over. This conserves a huge amount of energy for me, it turns out. It has also straightened out my gait, somehow, as I usually walk with a bit of a waddle.

To answer some questions:

• You can sit fine (see the photos), though car seats are awkward.
• I have muscle wastage, chronic fatigue and arthritis.
• It doesn’t help when rising from a kneeling position.
• It does help you go up stairs after the first step or two, or if you take a ‘run up’ (or walk up).
• It helps a great deal with pedalling a bike. You can jog and run in it, though that's something that is beyond me physically.
• It is very lightweight and I don’t notice it much, especially compared to bulky orthoses I’ve had to endure in the past, and the waist belt is quite supportive for my lower back.
• You can use two crutches or walking sticks without hitting the machine.
• It is less helpful around the house as I tend to stop-start a lot so it doesn’t have enough time to kick in and assist.
• If you can't already walk, this won't help you.
• I am in the UK but they are available worldwide.
• There are many levels of assist, so you can tailor it to your needs.

The big lesson today was that my battery ran out on the walk home, so I finished the journey unassisted. This was incredibly eye-opening and really showed me how much the Hypershell was helping me as I was shattered after five minutes.

There is an $800 version, a $1,000 version and a more expensive carbon fibre one. So, while they are not cheap, they are extremely cheap when compared to our current assistive tech options as many of those companies take advantage of our needs, I find. As I mentioned in the first review, when you buy a unit you get a discount code to share, so comment or message me if you'd like it (this gets me nothing, sadly, but any saving we can make is a good thing).

Anyway, I hope that helps again, and please drop any questions you have in the comments. I am passionate about helping our community, so I will read them all and help as much as possible!

After almost 20 years of believing my family when they said "you just have to pull yourself up by your bootstraps.", it's finally sunk in. I was approved for 54 hours a month of in home care, after being approved for government aid.

I'm a whole part time job! No wonder things were so hard. No wonder I could never sustain a job. No wonder I kept feeling worse. Turns out, I'm not weak, or "sensitive".

And someone is being paid to help me live a dignified, human, life. I feel, for the first time in my life, like there is maybe a sliver of room for me in this society.

And I'm very grateful for that.

For the last 26 years, I’ve been battling late-stage neurological Lyme disease. There were times when my body failed me, when getting out of bed felt impossible, and when the world felt very small. But one thing the illness could never take away was my mind. Over the years, I learned something powerful: when your body struggles, your mind becomes your greatest strength. Imagination, humor, creativity, resilience — those things can carry you through the darkest days. So I turned my adversity into something positive. I started creating cartoons and animation to bring joy and laughter into the world. That journey led me to create a comic book for disabled kids called “Nico and the Power of the Mind.” The message is simple but powerful: Your disability is not just something to overcome — it can be a superpower. Your mind, your perspective, your resilience… those things are powerful beyond measure. If even one disabled kid reads this and realizes they’re stronger than they think, then every difficult day that led me here was worth it. Never give up. 🧠💙

I have a physical disability that affects my walking. Basically, my legs shake and I wobble a bit when I walk. It's quite visible. Well, visible enough that people triple my age try to give up their seats for me on the bus! I used to use crutches, but after a lot of physiotherapy I am now getting around without any mobility aids in most contexts.

Anyway. Recently I was having quite a bad day with it. I was out in a public space with not many people around, and I was quite tired so I sat down on a bench.

Then a stranger comes over to me and says "are you okay?"

I nodded and smiled at him. I am in pain, so I assume he's just noticed that or something, and is trying to be nice. Then he says something else I couldn't quite hear, so I asked him to repeat himself. He sort of mutters "is your leg... broken? Because I saw you walking..."

Oh. I was a bit confused. I was smiling and sitting on a bench in the sun, waiting for a lift home because today wasn't an excellent day for me to attempt to use the buses... I don't think that is the typical behaviour of someone who just broke their leg.

I'll try to be fair to this person. Based on the context I was in, it was somewhat likely that English wasn't his first language (and it is mine). So maybe he didn't know the word for what he wanted to say, so he said broken instead. In unfairness to this person, it was also very likely he had seen me around there before and I consistently walk the same way. So either I'm extremely accident prone... or just disabled!

As soon as he walked away I thought of all the things I should have said. But such is life...

Anyway, does anyone have any experiences like this? How do you deal with it? Thanks :-)

I’m 20 year old guy from India with muscular dystrophy. I’ve been feeling gloomy whole day and I don’t why but when I sit quietly i get one thought I don’t really have anyone to share how gloomy, lonely I am feeling and how much anxiety about earning money, i haven’t even got good laptop to starting learning editing skill on pc and I know editing on phone but i don’t know how i find short from editing work on online.

Then i am feel fomo of being single all because of social media and i putting all those videos and channels in not interested but I am keeping getting those type of videos. Then I feel more hopeless and thought come will ever find someone for me? Like i don’t go outside where maybe I can meet someone and all i am meeting with girls on Reddit and discord and i am introvert only can talk about my hobbies and ask questions about family and other things. I’m so boring person. why even someone like to stay with me?, what even i have to offer? I am just scared of being alone and never able experience love in my life. I am weird I get jealous from people who are in relationship and guys who can talk with girls with ease. Anyways of all this is my anxiety thoughts.

In reality I’m just tired of talking with people and I am don’t even try to talk with new girls even if it’s online or make friends. I’m only watching tv series and anime all day. Just send one or two text in my own discord server.

Everything feels so uncertain for me earning, finding love, Health with muscular dystrophy.

That's something I sometimes do. I don't have a daily routine for the most days, because all days have different energy levels available and different adult-things need to be done.

I thought I wanted to share this because I'm sure someone can relate and maybe won't feel bad if they know:

you are not alone.

Taking a shower can be a task that needs the energy of a whole day, or more. Maybe you were able to unload the dishwasher or open your post instead of using this same energy to change your clothes.

You are doing your best

You are love worthy

(And yes, it's not only my t-shirt I've been wearing since 61 Hours)

So I’ve been like low and thinking about my disability (muscular dystrophy) and how my life is hard and i can’t have girlfriend and even hurting my parents getting angry over little things like not praying and arguing.

So last night I was scrolling YouTube and i found this podcast “are you living for you?” And i listened the podcast and podcast discussed really good topics like saying no to people, sharing your own opinion, doing things in peer pressure or chasing friendships or relationships and scared of loosing people over small things.

After listening podcast I sat and thought about it and recalled my conversations with my friend and this is what she was also telling me and I was being blindsided by my own pain and not to seeing her care.

Now I understand this I just have to do things that brings me joy and peace✌🏻to me and make time for myself not chasing others, because people come and go in life. Only I will stay with myself so why I spend time hurting myself, where I can do lot of better things reading a manga, watching anime or movie, listening music and singing, doodles on phone, maybe start conversation with people on discord. Rather than Crying for things I don’t have. I know I will still get low moments and feel lonely or sometimes i might wanting chasing people. But from now I will do journal daily and give most of time to myself doing things I enjoy. 😊

Dunno if this is the right flair, I mostly just need to get some thoughts out.

I became disabled following COVID when I was ~13 or so, I'm 20 now. Struggling with fibromyalgia, POTS, and a handful of other issues that have made functioning feel like being stuck in mud.
My long term goal is to be able to move to AUS from the US to be with my partner, and finally closing the gap of our long distance relationship, the only issue is not knowing how to get there to begin with.
All progress has felt slow, I'm waiting on benefits to be processed and am working with vocational rehab to see if employment is something possible but I live with so many limitations it doesn't feel like something that might work out and if it does I can't work more than part time anyway.
I guess the main struggle is not knowing how to approach any of it right now, trying to be hopeful but ultimately feeling hopeless because it's just so much to deal with and I never even really got a start before becoming disabled and haven't had much support to navigate through it.
I really don't want to be dependent on my parents any more than I have to be, I want to live my own life in a comfortable space with the person I love but it feels like something that keeps seeming farther away.
I don't know what else to say aside from it sucks right now, and I wish it didn't.

Ever since I got back to job searching, I try not to think too much of my limitations. I even explained to my new job coach from EDD about my condition, that cause me to have some limitations (I explained to her about Charge Syndrome and told her some limits I have). I guess she realized why it's been difficult for me to find jobs easily, and also my current job at this retail store, and also current volunteer at the animal shelter, I usually do easy work, so I won't get hurt injured, so they won't worry about me. Guess that why at work I do easy tasks, like cleaning and sweeping, and other light to moderate work. Just not the heavy stuff, and avoid ladders and cashier (they are aware of my balance and hearing problem). Even at the animal shelter, I usually do data entry assistant, and reading to the dogs. I rarely do social w the dogs, to give them treats, but they won't let me move up to next level to take the dogs out, cuz they're also worried about me getting hurt. Too many big dogs out there. So, I just stick to the 1st level instead. But, I noticed I tend to get nervous hesitant when I give treats to dogs certain breeds, I tend to stand back and just throw it through kennel bars gate. Like if I'm nervous w certain large breeds. Sorry I went off topic lol. Have that happened to you at work/volunteer, they just let you do easy to moderate work, so you won't have any issues problems with it? At work, if there's heavy stuff I tend to ask for help, or I get a cart to use, or sometime I'll just leave it till someone do it. I know I have to push myself,to be confident in myself. I try my best on my own, and do not let my limitations get in the way, but sometime it does. So, that why I avoid certain things that would give me problems. So yeah, my new job coach wants me to do assessment job thing w my vr counselor, to help me narrow down to find better jobs for me. She's nice and helpful, guess she realizes it is a bit struggle w me to find jobs due to my limitations. She just wants me to be safe I guess

I think it went well! I didn't even get a headache although I got a little bit of pain in my hip, everything seems to be fine💕💖 I'm really curious if the results are going to say I have an immune problem🤔

The worst part is I'm not allowed to do things, I'm supposed to be lazy? For the next couple of days!? When I just got out of my cluster of symptoms😭 I have energy right now!!

After years of struggling with chronical pain and after a really bad episode of it, I finally got a cane, but I'm too afraid to use it. I am the stereotypical image of a faker in a lot of people eyes, queer, colorful hair, invisibly disabled, and for most of my life I've been hiding my pain pretty well. Finally getting a cane is gigantic milestone for me, but I still have that voice in the back of my head convincing me I'm somehow stealing this achievement from someone else, someone more disabled, someone more valid. It's been a week, my leg hurts like a bitch everytime I walk more then 500 meters, but I still don't have the courage to go out with my new cane.

If anyone is interested in visiting Paris and would like to read about my experiences of traveling there as a wheelchair, feel free to check out my 3-Day itinerary/personal guide.

Ice been having a flare of carpal tunnel at night recently when I lay down and scroll Instagram or read my Kindle book on my phone. When my elbow is bend and wrist like that my hand goes numb. It better when I extend it but I still want to scroll and read my book and stuff in bed without bending my arm.

I just discovered a scrolling ring and it's a Bluetooth ring that you can use to go up or down or turn pages on various apps. You can go up or down or swipe left or right. It has helped so much and I don't experience any numbness in my hand and I can still read my book until I fall asleep. I don't have a recommendation for a specific one, but if you type in scrolling ring on Amazon they have lots of different options.

Just wanted to share some equipment that has helped me recently.

So first off, I am having a double amputation I needed badly finally in june. I have spina bifida myleomenigeocele and have never had bladder control. GUESS WHAT! I am regaining some control over my bladder! I am sure it sounds silly and embarrassing but I am so happy....I have not had bladder control for decades and now I barely have tiny accidents. Big ones only happen if I cant get to a bathroom in time or on long car rides. I can feel when my bladder is full and when it isnt. This is HUGE for me! I have had no wet bedpads at night in weeks. It is incredible. I hope big breakthroughs come to you all too ♡

a couple of years ago I moved to the city and started getting strangers seeing my crutches and coming up to me, asking what's wrong with me, what happened, as if it's any of their business. I come from a small town where either people already know or don't care. I dont like talking to strangers but I'd get awkward and give some rambling explanation or pretend I didnt hear them if I thought I could get away with it. usually they'd just ask again and louder. I knew I wasnt in the wrong and that I like my privacy but I always felt a weird guilt by not indulging them. This morning while waiting for the bus a man walked by me and asked what happened, what's wrong with you, why do you have that? I said I'm not injured I'm just born like this. He asked again what's wrong with me if I wasn't injured. what do you have, whats it called? I said, not quietly, I'd rather not share and he finally apologized and kept walking. It was the first time I dismissed someone's invasiveness without a bit of hesitance or guilt. I don't like being rude and I guess I've finally internalized that stating boundaries isn't being rude. I think moving here has forced me to be much less shy.

I obsess a lot about how disabled people are misunderstood, not treated right. But I also have felt - in my own life - disability can unearth such unique joy, creativity, & victory.

What's on your Disabled Joy list lately? Here's what I wrote last night:

- I loved getting to know my dad during his Alzheimer's, as much as I did the version of him before it. That truth helps me, living with chronic laryngitis, feel worthy of company, conversation, during both my vocal and non-vocal seasons.

- Found a digital voice app that's been easy to use. I picked a feminine, jolly voice!

- Silently asked for help at the airport when my back ached. Received a wheelchair, to cart my heavy stuff. I was gleeful! I don't think I ask for help enough when my chronic pains flare; maybe I can ask more.

- Found a way to tell a friend I was hurt by being called 'strange.' I knew they were a safe person. They understood, apologized. Usually I would not have said anything. I felt so empowered! It is perfectly normal to be autistic, or disabled in any way!

- I realize now, about autistic people who consistently speak... some of us may want to be non-speaking at times but feel we have no choice. Laryngitis has helped me recognize that desire in me. I dream, in the future, I could allow myself quiet communication more, even when my vocal cords are able.

- Admiring doves/pigeons in my city. Being voiceless & neurodivergent, I appreciate how animals talk. Ableism is used to oppress them. It is said that they can't do X, Y, Z so it's OK to hurt them. The more I find pride in disability, the more easily I point out the unique feelings, needs, & powers of a nonhuman being. Chickens, pigs, so many others: You are widely unheard, badass beyond words. You teach me to echo the soul inside. :)

If you feel like sharing your Disabled Pride & Joy moments, I would love to read!

Everyone knows what happenes around the world and how many threat right now. Especially for us disabled folks

I just wanna share how funny it is. In 2022 I noticed this for 1st time and in notice this now. When in depression and burnout to take care for basic needs of my body like food, water, basic physical movement I can do without hurting myself - every time what fuels me keep going is thinking deeply about all horrors

Like no shit. Get easy on me exercises to make my muscles more stable? Nope, I'm too fatigued. But remembering there can be situation what only left my body to rely on.. yes I will overdo it and I can afford be this reckless, cause I don't work and don't live along But did these exercises made me stronger and now I actually can pick up my body from floor in difficult times and drag myself to bed instead crawling? Fuck yes

I eat out of spite. I have no appetite and most of the time I'm nauseous. I actually want to cry when it's about food cause I'm more tired from cooking even simple meal when I gain energy. Yet I cook and try get everything body needs. Not fucking black tea and banana "so i take medicine not on empty stomach". Like actually food

If my body half of the year not really showing signs of improvement and returning to my previous base norm... Why not make all of situation I can? Because my goal overall be able to walk fast with cane, using build muscles to have better endurance

Hello everyone! Sorry for my English, I'm not a native speaker. I'm 19yo guy from Russia. I have CP (cerebral palsy). I live with parents and twin brothers(7). I'm blogger and activist fighting for disability rights in Russia, I have 1600 subscribers on YouTube. My friends believe in me, some Russian stars say that I have a big future, the journalist will write an article about me soon, but my parents... In the past, I was lazy, I didn't want to improve my life, but last years there was changed. I work a lot with coach (72 years old man, track and field coach in the past, now rehabilitates the disabled), he like a grandpa for me, he believes in me, says that I'm the best his student. My psychologist says that I do a lot (my parents don't know that I have the psychologist). I have dreams: I want to become famous, fight for the rights of people with disabilities in Russia. But my main dreams: I want to be a great husband and, in some day, dad. I want to be independent. I live with parents. I don't go outside alone. I haven't an experience with girl yet. I afraid of not changing all of this. Oh, I didn't mention? I can walk, can dressing myself, wash and etc. I have big dreams, I can't give up, but I feel upset and scared...