[nobody_nothing]

Just want to flag that, in addition to all this fun and exciting new tech for disabilities, we really do just need better basics.

As the partner of a wheelchair user, these exoskeletons are a great toy to have on the horizon – but the promise of this has been around for a long time, and while the hope of a better future is exciting, we need change on a much quicker time scale than this. (Not saying people shouldn't be working on this – it's rad that they are).

On a day-to-day level, my partner would much more benefit from:

- A better wheelchair (this will mean something different for every body – for them, someone who uses a wheelchair for chronic pain, an exoskeleton wouldn't even help – much more useful would be a wheelchair where every bump of pavement doesn't rattle your whole body).

- More accessible shops and public spaces. We don't really get to go out much – most often blockades include cracked sidewalks, friend's houses that require a step (or stairs), and inaccessible shops.

- Better safety nets for those with disabilities (it's VERY expensive to be disabled in America – consider how much more these exoskeletons will cost than already expensive wheelchairs).

tl;dr These technologies are exciting and deserve attention and energy – just keep in mind that the notion that these emerging technologies will someday wipe out all of wheelchair users' problems in one fell swoop is both false and does nothing for the many millions prevented from participating in society right now. We need better access today.

[pomian]

I agree. I think the problem is that most people don't see (why would they?) the problem areas. Wheelchairs! What a pain. Try find one that answers a different need? It's impossible or super expensive. I have been pushing and pulling family members for years, across gravel, snow, rocks, stairs. Idea! Mountain bike. I wanted to find one with mountain bike tires. Seems easy. Not at all. I finally bought a cheapo fat bike mountain bike, removed the wheels with the axles, and mounted them to a normal wheelchair. It's amazing. We go off road. Across rocks and gravel. Into creeks. But you can't buy one.