| Wheelchairs are most commonly used by people who | | | | to make them electric powered...the user can simply |
| have restrictions on their mobility. A wheelchair allows | | | | attach a battery and they are able to use a small |
| you to move around with greater freedom than you | | | | joystick device to get around. The main benefit of |
| may have once had without it. They provide mobility to | | | | these wheelchairs is the freedom and mobility that the |
| those who would otherwise be limited or completely | | | | user enjoys. With technological advances in the |
| unable to move their legs... but that doesn't mean that | | | | manufacturing of these devices, the user can move |
| they are only for those who are unable to walk. Many | | | | around with a great deal of ease and comfort. |
| people who use them are still able to walk but simply | | | | Unfortunately, there are drawbacks, too. The biggest |
| are not as mobile without it. | | | | drawback is not in the wheelchair itself but rather in the |
| For example, if you have severe arthritis in your legs, | | | | design of buildings and city streets. When they were |
| heart trouble, or a weight concern, a wheelchair will | | | | designed and built, wheelchair accessibility was not |
| allow you to move about with great freedom and | | | | forefront in their minds. Today, many laws are in place |
| without fear that your health challenges will get in the | | | | to ensure that retrofitting and remodeling take place to |
| way. | | | | allow users the freedom to get around. But the reality |
| There are several options available for you to enjoy. | | | | is that this retrofitting is not complete: there is still a lot |
| Thank goodness that we no longer live in the day and | | | | of work to be done. However, wheelchair users can |
| age of the wooden wheelchair of a century ago with | | | | rest assured that changes are being made and |
| its giant front wheels and tiny back wheels, those | | | | wheelchairs are increasingly being designed to help |
| looked cumbersome and unstable, even if they were | | | | users make it through narrow doorways or over high |
| built with the best intentions. | | | | curbs with greater ease. |
| Today's wheelchairs are truly state of the art. They | | | | What else is available in the mobility industry? There |
| are lighter and stronger than when they were originally | | | | are many devices that can help you get around a little |
| constructed from wood: they are made of such | | | | more easily. Electric stair ascenders are a great |
| materials that they can withstand a great amount of | | | | device where the wheelchair user simply sits on the |
| wear and tear but are not very heavy. They do not | | | | platform and presses a button and the platform rises |
| necessarily require someone to push around the | | | | along a track installed parallel to the staircase. Think of |
| person seated in the chair...quite often the person | | | | it like a cross between an elevator (which is |
| seated in the wheelchair can move themselves about | | | | completely vertical) and an escalator) which is diagonal |
| very easily, by rolling the larger wheels (now in the | | | | and it doesn't restrict stairway use for those who do |
| rear). | | | | not use wheelchairs! |
| As well, these wheelchairs can come with adaptations | | | | |