CBulla you are far from the only one out there who has to deal with a disability while diving. I have MD my weakness is limitted to the proximal muscles (shoulders, chest, hips, basically muscles near or on the trunk of my body) So I have to deal with many issues while gearing up. For one I can not stand up (on land) with my kit on, the weight of the tank and weights offsets my balance too much and my hips give out (it is not fun hitting the floor with 30lbs of lead and a tank on your back, even less fun trying to get up, which by the way I have problems with without the gear on). I also have a limitted range of motion as well, there is no pain but arms will only go so far on their own (if I use one arm to support the other I am OK but I can Not grab my mask strap or tank valve without use of both arms). Plus I can at times tire easily due to the weakness in key muscle groups. Does it mean I can no longer dive? NOPE I just have to be extra cautious and stay way within my limits, I also make sure that my Buddy knows exactly what my limits are (as well as the DM and Crew of the boat) and what type of assistance I will need (during gear up, and also entering and exiting the water)
What this means for you and anyone else that is returning or just starting to dive with an injury or disability is that you need to give yourself extra time for what was once a 1 2 3 thing. It also means that you need to find your limit, NOT what your limit was once, but what it is now, this you will figure out only through experience (and experience can be a rough and nasty teacher so take your time and do NOT push too hard) I found that you do need to push yourself but do so gently and slowly, too much and you get hurt, or worse you hurt others (usually when they are trying to help you). The way I look at it is; because I Know I have physical limits due to my M D I work with them not against them. I do all my own setup and everything else I can do without assistance, then once I have reached my limit I ask my buddy or crew members for help. Help is usually in the form of having them carry my kit to the end of the boat (or to about 3 foot deep water for a shore dive) Then I don my gear sitting on the edge by the entry point on the boat (I put the BC on in the water for a shore dive cuz it takes all the strain off my hips so I can stand up with a little less difficulty). Once BC and gear is on I kinda just fall off the boat (I do have my Buddy or Crew give me a good push as to help clear the ladder and sides of the boat) While in the water I stay close to my Buddy as to make sure they are there if I need help. Exiting the water I take off gear in water so I can climb out with alot less weight (weight belt come off first and handed to someone on the boat or if you can not reach up ask buddyto pass it up for you, then BC, Fins LAST in case you get seperated from the boat it is easier to swim back, mask and snorkel stay on until safely on the boat,the with use of waves rising and falling I climb the ladder waiting while the wave drops and climbing when the wave crests, climbing with the waves the up/down motion assists the climb)
When you have a disability or injury you may not be able to deal with a situation that others easily could. For example during a dive with some new buddies and rented BC I had some serious trim problems (too much weight on back, not distributed properly) I was down at 20 feet on the bottom when I kept rolling to the left and had a hard time trying to straighten up without the anchor line, or something similar to pull on. We were waiting for 2 others to decend when i let go of the anchor line to adjust my weight belt I rolled over to the left and onto my back, tank got stuck in the sand (relax all, it was a sandy bottom in the LI sound so No coral was damaged). My Buddy was looking for the other 2 to decend and was not right next to me I was stranded on the bottom unable to straighten up or release my BC (arms were in a bad position and due to weakness I was unable to grab buckles and belt release) basicaly I looked like a turtle lying on his shell. I had 2 options inflate BC for a emergency ascent or ascent until I was able to right myself or wait till my buddy came back. I opted for the 2nd choice. He came over saw my problem and simply helped me over I readjusted some weights and continued the dive. If he had not been as attentive to my extra needs things could have been worse.
What I amtrying to say is when you have an injury or a disability make sure you have a very competent buddy that is aware of your situation (make as many people aware as possible the more people that know the more eyes there are to look out for probs), because when you are not 100% Murphy's Law will strike!!