Posts Tagged ‘mobility accessories’

Wheelchair and Scooter Accessories.

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Electric mobility products come in many different forms and are designed to help you get around with ease. Some of the most popular types of electric mobility products include recliners and lift chairs, motorized mobility Scooters and powered wheelchairs. Electric mobility uses electricity to help assist those that are disabled or may having difficulty walking. These machines tend to take the form of scooters, wheel chairs and types of reclining chairs. Electric wheelchair lifts are provided with battery back-ups, so the lifts can be operated even during power outages. Compared to hydraulic models, electric wheelchair lifts are more flexible, less expensive and can be installed rather effortlessly.

Powerchairs are powered by batteries and steered with a joystick. However a power wheel chair is not suitable for someone suffering from poor visual perception or coordination. Power consumption is generally within 25 watts for the power source. Most batteries are offered with a manufacturer’s warranty of two years or more.

Wheelchairs have been one of the most requested items from volunteer groups on the ground in Haiti due to injured legs from fallen buildings. This donation of wheelchairs has been part of 64 shipping containers of supplies that have arrived in Haiti or are in route as of today.

Wheelchairs are also not just for getting around, but for those who need a wheelchair for athletic events. To round out most local facilities, look for interactive adaptive sports, dance performances and instruction, adaptive rowing, canine assistance demos, kid-focused activities and an Artist Market showcasing the works of local artists with disabilities.

Bathing is mostly where the elderly want to own a variety of mobility options. In order to bathe themselves, do not choose a bench to help you get in and out of the tub since it may cause you to lose your balance, it is advisable to use lifts or railings. A handset of bath lift lowers and raises the subsidiary into the tub. Bathing today is a challenge for many due to limitations caused by strength in your arms or legs, disabilities or a multiple of reasons, so if bath railings aren’t an option, it might be wise to choose one of the motorized lifts. There is no longer any reason you cannot enjoy a soak in a hot bubble bath.

Mobility Terminology.

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Most people are generally nervous in a new social situation. One of these situations might be when you are meeting an individual with a disability or a handicap. Which term do you use? Perhaps we can help with that.

Disability defines a person who has had an accident or an illness, or some definable medical condition, that results in impairment to their mobility, senses, or mental capacity. A few examples could be paralysis and using a wheelchair due to a car crash, chemical spill that resulted in loss of sight, etc.

Handicap refers to the barrier or difficulty that slows or halts a person’s progress as they try to do something. Think of it as a person in a wheelchair approaching a set of steps. Being in the wheelchair isn’t the handicap, the stairs present the handicap, as wheels on stairs don’t generally work. Mobility accessories generally eliminate or reduce the effect of handicaps.

If unsure, default to disability, but the proper way is to think of the person first, not the disability. For instance it’s not the “deaf person,” but the “individual who is deaf.” First it’s insulting to acknowledge the disability before the individual (the person is still a human being), but also remember there are negative connotations to the words handicapped. As technology advances, certain handicaps are being eliminated, bring us all closer as individuals regardless of our mobility issues. We all view the cup holder as an accessory to drinking.

Lastly the term accessible is used to explain that everyone can use something. There is no in between, either something is accessible or not. The term refers to the federal regulations requiring businesses, buildings, etc. to allow anyone to use their facilities, and easily get into them.

In closing, if you’re unsure on the proper terminology either wait for the person to address their disability or (to avoid awkward situations) just ask them. Not everyone is the same, so what is offensive to one person might not be to another. Just like ethnicities don’t assume that one person facing a handicap or dealing with a disability speaks for others, we’re all individuals after all.

Custom Wheelchairs

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Wheelchairs are a boon to the physically disabled people who cannot walk or move. With the help of these wheelchairs they can move around anywhere and everywhere. Wheelchairs are now often available free of charge at the Information desk of malls, airports, etc. (Although you will probably need to leave some form of identification as security.) Wheelchairs are also accessories to provide the numerous functions depending on the needs of the user. There are wheelchairs for people with extreme paralysis, which can be controlled from anywhere in the body, such as a power chair, whose owner can control the movements with a mouthpiece, but the simplest form is a lightweight manual model.

Wheelchairs are flexible enough to be tailor-made for your requirements by adding reclining and foot rests, seat and legs elevation, tilting, power stand, and spring suspension. You can also use motorized wheelchairs for tight and low-radius turning. Wheelchairs are available in all different shapes and sizes.

The electric powered wheelchairs have become more popular in recent times. Wheelchairs are great inventions that have provided increased mobility and independence for people with temporary or permanent disabilities. Wheelchairs were originally a basic platform on a set of wheels, but these machines have developed many accessories for improvement since they were first used to help people.

Wheelchair users regard their accessories as a form of expression. Wheelchairs have come a long way from the traditional kind of manual to electric and with the attachment of accessories now introducing a new generation of snazzy and jazzy electric wheelchairs for the younger generations. Wheelchairs can also assist those younger individuals who need assistance walking, not just those with paralysis.

Disabled equipment makes moving easier and sometimes help health professionals to better handle older people as well. Some products, like wheelchairs are mobility accessories designed to help with movement while others assist with daily tasks, sometimes things that seem as simple as getting in and out of bed.

Disabled people often want to travel alone, a way in which they can keep their independence, and for this reason lightweight travel wheelchairs are a very much desired piece of equipment. Walking long corridors, like those from check in to an airplane departure gate can cause a huge amount of stress, even to someone who is only partially mobility impaired.

Lightweight wheelchairs provide more flexibility regarding design options for upholstery, arms rest, foot rest, back rest, wheels and casters, and seats. They are made from high quality material like chrome, titanium, aluminum, steel, and carbon fiber. Lightweight travel wheelchairs have changed so much in recent years that they are now cheaper and much more affordable. Ten years ago no one would ever have dreamed that a wheelchair could weigh only 10kgs and still function properly.