Megan Lynch (she/her)

She Rode for the First Time in 10 Years — Bike-On’s Adaptive Magic

One reason I think vets are mentioned so much is that non-vet disabled people often have trouble getting their basic mobility equipment like a wheelchair covered. I don't know of (m)any regular health insurers that cover accessible transportation and exercise equipment.

But there is a program that can cover it for US vets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIQRxk_uYe0 #BikeTooter #Accessibility #Trike #RhodeIsland @bikenite

She Rode for the First Time in 10 Years — Bike-On’s Adaptive Magic

YouTube
Dec 4 at 8:06pmWeb
Show threadMegan Lynch (she/her)Dec 4
https://justtrikes.com/2025/04/18/trikes-for-disabled-vets/ #Recumbent #Trikes #BikeTooter
Trikes for Disabled Vets

A Comprehensive Guide to Receiving a Recumbent Tricycle Through the Veterans Administration Recreation and Rehabilitation Program For many disabled veterans, mobility challenges are a daily struggl…

Show threadSpace HoboDec 4
@meganL @bikenite There's also a long history of military veterans suffering specific types of injuries that create specific mobility or sensory needs (In particular, the RNIB in the UK was a reaction to the large number of veterans who lost their sight from flashbangs or toxic gas in the First World War). These veterans kind of kick-started accessibility campaigning through nationalism, and we've been trying to correct course a bit from that ever since. They're still an important bloc to lobby for change, of course!
Show threadPeter Saathoff-HarshfieldDec 4
@meganL @bikenite I hadn’t realized this before, and I’m sure others have pointed this out, but I’m guessing that part of why disabled vets often (but not always) get more attention and support is because they aren’t as subject to the narratives around disabled people faking it, taking advantage of resources, having done something to deserve disability, not being believed.
Show threadMegan Lynch (she/her)Dec 4

@pesh Bingo.

I was shocked traveling from CA through OR to find many of the things I can access in CA in Oregon are restricted only to disabled veterans.

Not that I think everything about being a disabled vet is easy... they still experience ableism and I don't think the VA is a picnic. But old school gov't healthcare like Tricare and Medicare are better in many ways than private healthcare. While Medicare doesn't cover recumbents, I think, Tricare seems to...if you clear the hoops.

Show threadMegan Lynch (she/her)Dec 4
@pesh It was probably harder for GOP types to strip coverage from Tricare not just because it's military, but because not all disabled vets are old. The conflation of age with disability in Medicare probably makes it easier to write off the people affected.