Choosing the Right Wheelchairs And Mobility Equipment

The Wheelchair and Mobility equipment industry, like all others, experiences the same phenomena of consumerism including choice, independence, competition, variety etc.

People with various handicaps need to/ would want to make decisions, and of course informed decisions on the type of wheelchair they buy. Access to reliable information on wheelchairs and mobility equipment is in many cases not readily available unless one has access to a reliable provider of the information or therapist. Of major concern in the choice of wheelchair/seating equipment is the level of disability and dependence/independence.

Other limiting factors in choosing the right wheelchair is cost. Wheelchairs and mobility/seating equipment can be quite expensive and may sometimes require arrangement with third party players (e.g. donors, life insurance providers, Medicare providers, family etc) who may feature quite prominently in its acquisition. The implication is that the equipment purchased must meet the minimum requisite for the particular person/purpose. This is because third party players may not be available for recourse if the equipment purchased is not befitting the purpose or need of the intended owner(s).

People needing rehabilitation equipment such as wheelchairs will therefore require to consult widely and gather as much information from the market as possible on what is available, flexibility, accessories, maintenance & servicing, durability and of course pricing before making a choice. The difficult part is that in many instances the buyer may be limited in their search and would therefore need the guidance/participation of their families and therapists at various levels of the process.

A glimpse at what is currently available in the wheelchair industry can be accessed on the Internet with interesting new developments.

All in all a wheelchair must suit its owner, whether he/she is able to take care of himself or is largely dependent on support from others. Additional features and accessories will always reduce the level of dependence on others. Where possible a manufacturer may even customize a wheelchair for a particular person or purpose. The most recent wheelchair has such enhanced functions as ability to climb stairs, curbs, traverse gravel sand and so on. But then you part with $30,000.

Remember they say that a return to normality is immeasurable, irreplaceable and priceless.

About The Author:Muna wa Wanjiru
is a Medical Representative with a leading Pharmaceuticle company Based in Nairobi, and has been researching and reporting on wheelchairs and Mobility Equipments for years. visit his site at http://www.merpetsales.com/

Buying a Used Electric Wheelchair

There comes a time in many of our lives when we need help to be as mobile as we once were. Electric wheelchairs, scooter chairs, and power chairs are all good options when the time comes. I you have Medicare many times your electric wheelchair will be covered, but for those of us without Medicare in can get very expensive. There is no need to let the lack of Medicare coverage keep you from obtaining the mobility you deserve, you have options, used electric wheelchairs can be very affordable and will meet your needs.

About Used Electric Wheelchairs Buying a used electric wheelchair can be a good option, many times the past owner of the power chair received the chair through medicare so there is no huge financial loss to recoup, this mean you can usually find a good used electric wheelchair for a very good price. Yard sales, local Classified ads, and the Internet are good places to start looking for a used chair.

Find it Local As i mentioned yard sales and local classifieds are good places to start, but you can also check with your local medical supply company, nursing homes, ect.. They may not have a used electric wheelchair for sale but they may know someone who does. Just be vigilant and keep looking, they are out there, and finding a good used chair will be worth the work looking.

Find Your Electric Wheelchair online There are many sources online to find a used wheelchair, like auction sites, classified ad sites ect.. The advantage of looking online is you will most likely find more options and find a chair that meets your needs. If you have never shopped online it can be a bit scary at first, but if you deal with establish sites that are secure it is very safe.

You do not have to spend a fortune to get the mobility you deserve, be sure to do some checking in your area and online to find a used electric wheelchair that will fit your needs. Good luck and I hope you get mobile again soon!

If you would like to try to find an chair online I suggest checking out http://www.electric-wheelchair.info it is a great site and displays some great deals on used and new electric wheelchairs, scooter chairs, and power chairs.

To find the best deal on an used electric wheelchair be sure to check out http://www.electric-wheelchair.info

You may use this article as long as nothing is removed including this resource box

Types of Electric Wheelchairs

Most medical equipment supply companies offer a vast line of electric wheelchairs. The different versions will vary by size, weight capacity and other options. There are oversized chairs for bariatric (or obese) patients. There are smaller chairs for children and petite adults. There are also different seats, colors and footpads for chairs.

The options for electric wheelchairs can vary depending on a person?s needs. Some people need elevating leg rests (ELRs) to keep good circulation in the legs. Others might need an oxygen tank holder to carry portable oxygen tanks. People with ulcers and sores might need specialty seating.

Pride Mobility Products Corp., Invacare Corporation and Hoveround manufacture the three most common electric wheelchair brands in the United States. Although there are many different companies that manufacture this equipment, these three easily have the most popular brand name recognition.

Pride Mobility is a company that specializes in manufacturing power mobility devices and vehicle lifts. It is responsible for the Jet, Jazzy and Quantum lines of electric wheelchairs. The Jet series includes the Jet 3 Ultra, the Jet 2HD, the Jet 7 and the Jet 10 electric wheelchairs.

The more popular line is the Jazzy Electric Wheelchair. The Jazzy series includes the Jazzy Select, the Jazzy 1103 Ultra (which includes a seat lifting mechanism), the Jazzy 1121 and others. The Jet and Jazzy series combined represent the most common type of electric wheelchair on the market today. Pride?s third line is the Quantum series, which is tailored to high-end rehab and specialty needs patients.

Invacare is the overall industry leader for home medical products, which include everything from canes and walkers to home oxygen products to electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters. When it comes to just power mobility products, they are probably behind Pride Mobility when it comes to market saturation.

Invacare is responsible for popular Pronto series of electric wheelchairs. The Pronto series includes the Pronto M50, the Pronto M51 the Pronto M61 and more. The Invacare Pronto series is well known for its durability. One nice thing about choosing an Invacare for your power mobility needs is that you will have nearly 15,000 independent medical equipment suppliers throughout the company that can assist you if you need to order parts or accessories.

The third most common brand name is Hoveround. Through its branding efforts, the company has made the name Hoveround synonymous with powered mobility equipment. Some people refer to electric wheelchairs as Hoverounds regardless of the brand. It is similar to how people often refer to tissue paper as Kleenex or soda pop as Coke.

Hoveround chairs are only available through the Hoveround Corporation. Although the company offers outstanding customer service and is one of the largest mobility providers in the United States, it can sometimes be difficult to get parts or accessories since you have to order direct.

Jackie Jones runs the informative Medicare and Medicaid Center. Do you have questions about a Medicaid enrollment, Medicare enrollment or some other government insurance question? Visit Medicare-Medicaid.com today for the answers!

How to Get a Free Power Wheelchair

In the last 15 years, the motorized wheelchair (also known as the power wheelchair) has made it possible for hundreds of thousands of Americans to regain their mobility and live their lives independently. The vast majority of these power wheelchair owners received their equipment through Medicare?s power mobility benefit. What is the power mobility benefit and how does a person qualify for an power wheelchair? The next few paragraphs will give you some insight into Medicare?s guidelines.

Medicare spends around $1.5 Billion annually on power wheelchairs and power operated vehicles (mobility scooters). Medicare considers a beneficiary's ability to safely participate in one or more Mobility Related Activities of Daily Living (MRADLs). These activities of daily living include dressing, grooming, toileting, bathing and eating in customary locations within the home (which can include assisted living centers). In order to qualify for an power wheelchair, a person must need assistance with one or more of these daily living activities.

This means if a person only needs help going to the grocery store, the shopping mall or someplace else outside the home, Medicare will not pay for an power wheelchair. The person must have at least one daily living activity need inside the home to be considered for an power wheelchair.

If a person needs mobility assistance inside the home to perform daily living activities, the next thing Medicare is going to examine is if a person can get by safely with a cane, walker or manual wheelchair. Since these are less expensive items, Medicare wants to try them first. Many people may be able to get around with a cane or walker for part of the day, but then weaken or get tired as the day goes on. Others may not be able to safely walk the home with a cane or walker due to frequent falls. Many people will not be able to propel themselves in a manual wheelchair due to lack of strength or other upper body conditions.

Once a person has determined that he or she needs additional mobility assistance inside the home and other mobility aids (cane, walker, wheelchair, etc.) have been ruled out, it is time to consult a physician or medical equipment company to initiate the power wheelchair evaluation and approval process.

Learn more about how you can get a power wheelchair free at Medicare-Medicaid.com. Learn everything you need to know about medicare and medicaid at the Medicare-Medicaid.com Resource Center. Visit Medicare-Medicaid.com Today.

Funding Options and Sources For Your Wheelchair

The wheelchair, an equipment to help paraplegic get greater freedom and independence, might be affordable to most families, but to some, this cost might be a whole year's savings. If you are in need for some funding to help you get that wheelchair, this article is a good resource to help you out, as we discuss a few funding options and sources.

1. The Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers (RTS) also known as Durable Medical Equipment sales assistant (DME) are the professionals who sell, service, and maintain the functionality of wheelchairs. Being the expert in the industry, they know the US funding system well and can help a great deal to get funding for their customers. In fact, some of the larger RTS companies in the market even hire a funding or reimbursement specialists to help customers work with insurance companies and other suitable sources, depending on your circumstances, to get payment and claims. Currently, there is also a new trend for Managed Care Organization (MCO) and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) to refer their customers to the DMEs that they own.

2. Medicaid ? a joint Federal State program to pay for medical services for eligible low income and unfortunate families can be also a source of funding for your wheelchair. The covered services and funding for adults may vary in the state you live in, nevertheless a comprehensive sets of services called Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) are provided for children till twenty-one years old.

3. Waivers for children who use wheelchairs known as ?Katy Beckett Waivers? are also available in most states. This waiver allows low-income families to apply for a waiver. The waiver would makes the child qualified for Medicaid funding that can be used in combination with the family's health insurance. Other kinds of waivers are also provided for the needs of children with other special diagnoses or disabilities.

4. Another important source of funds is Medicare. Medicare Part A covers you while you are in a health care facility, providing you with the necessary wheelchair and medical equipment needed. Medicare Part B covers a range of outpatient health care services like health insurance policy and this is the part of Medicare that pays for wheelchairs. Medicare has very clear guidelines about what type of wheelchairs one can buy namely - The wheelchair must be required in order to provide a safe and functional means to get around inside the house. The usage of the wheelchair must fit this guideline, as Medicare is only concern about funding wheelchairs for use within the home. Therefore all documentation, the letters of justification and the Certificates of Medical Necessity (CMN), must support and explain the need for the wheelchair within the home.

So now the first thing you need to do is, to determine which DMERC is responsible for your state. The DMERC Link will give you the toll free number for the DMERC for your state. Besides an 800 number, each DMERC has information in various formats to help you with any questions regarding equipment, a claim or an appeal.

These are the available options that Americans can use should they need any assistance in funding for a wheelchair and if the respective authority reckons that based on the individual circumstances, the applicant is eligible for the grant or benefits then he will get funds for the wheelchair.

Moses Wright is the webmaster of WheelchairUser.net. He provides more helpful information on Wheelchair, Wheelchair Ramps and Wheelchair Lift that you can learn in the comfort of your home on his website. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

How Do I Select The Most Suitable Wheelchair

Today's wheelchair market offers a wide variety of choices and selecting a wheelchair that is most suitable for you can be a daunting task. As wheelchairs technology evolved over the years, so are users' demands. Users have become more active, requiring better materials and additional features for improved stability and maneuverability for other activities.

Most consumers are very picky when it comes to getting a car. Like choosing a suitable car, price, color, model, interior, and performance are among some of the many things that we would look into. There are many things to consider when one is getting a wheelchair. This article will focus on how to select the best or most suitable wheelchair.

The first factor to consider is the price, your budget will be a massive different to what type of wheelchair you can get. The different would most likely be if you could get a manual or electric wheelchair. If budget allows, an electric wheelchair would be preferred since it?s easier for a wheelchair bound people to move around without tiring them easily.

The electric wheelchair is especially suitable for quadriplegics and people with weak torsos and arms. Though cumbersome due to its larger size, an electric wheelchair can be fitted and equipped with extended headrests, harnesses and other adds on to provide greater support and comfort. Some electric wheelchairs can even recline such that a more seriously handicapped person can lie resting during the day.

If budget do not allow, a manual wheelchair might be one?s main choice. On the other hand, one with good upper body strength can also choose to get a manual wheelchair, as wheeling around is a good form of exercise. The mobility and agility of a manual wheelchair is also higher compare to that of a manual wheelchair.

Another important consideration is the portability of the wheelchair. Wheelchair users can now make longer trips or visits with family, made possible by new technology for wheelchairs. Wheelchairs that are transported in cars are becoming more common especially manual wheelchairs that are more lightweight and portable. They can be folded, and some parts can even be dismantled, like the wheels, footrest and armrest. These separate parts can then be place in either the passenger seat or in the trunk.

Next, the measurements of the wheelchair and type of cushions are also vital. Discomfort, often progressing to pain, may lead to an inability to function throughout the day and eventually abandonment of the wheelchair.

For maximum comfort, your body in the sitting position would have to be measured so as to have the most suitable and comfortable measurement for the armrest, footrest and backrest. Also select the right cushion to avoid pressure sores as they can be debilitating and life threatening if any complications should arise. Note that while a gel cushion is very comfortable, the gel could freeze altogether if it is left in the car or stored inappropriately in cold weather. Where cushion is concern, you can always ask your doctor for the recommended types for your own needs.

Selecting the most suitable wheelchair is very important as most people that require the aid of the wheelchair spend most of their time (average about 15 hours) while they are awake seated in a wheelchair. A fitting and comfortable wheelchair is essential to provide the necessary support and comfort. If not, a wheelchair bounded person may suffer from other health problems easily, apart from a costly terrible investment. This article only covers the primary consideration for selecting a wheelchair; if you need more information, do consult your doctors or physiotherapists for more advices.

Moses Wright is the webmaster of Manic-Depression.net. He provides more helpful information on Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar Disorder Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder Treatment that you can learn in the comfort of your home on his website. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

Stairs Climbing Wheelchair - A Dream Comes True

One of the biggest challenges for a wheelchair user is to climb or descend stairs and get access top places above or below a flight of stairs. Although most commercial places are wheelchair friendly, some locations especially friends or even relatives place are not. As sociable as wheelchair users would want to be, these stairs most often create the barrier for them to meet up and socialize.

It seems like a dream come true if wheelchair users are able to climb stairs, until a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson created a stairs climbing wheelchair - iBOT Mobility System. Now, many wheelchair users would have more options when it comes to visiting friends and doing activities without having to worry about stairs as a barrier when they maneuver.

For now, this wheelchair has been aproved for customers in the United States, and here are some of the requirements should one consider to get this wheelchair:

1. There is a weight requirement before the wheelchair can perform safely. You and the items you carry must weigh less than 75 lbs (34 kg) or more than 250 lbs (113 kg). The additional items you carry must not weigh more than the maximum limit of 20 lbs (9 kg).

2. You must have sufficient hand function to dial a push-button telephone or control and operate a hand-operated joystick to maneuver the system yourself.

3. You must be able to bend your knees such that your feet fit on standard footrests (for people with one or more amputations, this exclusion does not apply), bend your hips enough to sit in a standard wheelchair that does not recline. This is so to provide more balance when climbing stairs.

4. For basic health requirement, you must not suffer from any illness that causes you to lost consciousness or had a seizure in the past 90 days. There might be some exceptions to it, but you would have to ask your healthcare professional for details.

5. You must not need a tilt or recline seating system for pressure relief or activities of daily living or have a requirement for respiratory equipment to be mounted on your mobility device.

6. You must not suffer from severe osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, or metastatic bone cancer as the impact experienced when climbing stairs, curbs or transitioning out of the systems various balance function may cause fractures to occur in you.

This wheelchair - iBOT Mobility System is really a dream come true for many disabled people. Nevertheless, until it drops to a more affordable price, a lot of common people would still not be able to afford it. Hopefully as technology advances, the price that comes with such a system would be lower and eventually make affordable for every wheelchair users.

Moses Wright is the webmaster of Manic-Depression.net. He provides more helpful information on Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar Disorder Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder Treatment that you can learn in the comfort of your home on his website. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

Pay Attention To Wheelchair Safety - Things To Look Out For

A recent survey on wheelchair users rated comfort on the wheelchair as the most important issue for individuals who use them. Like drivers who are paying more for comfort, wheelchair users now are willing to fork out more money for comfort. I understand where wheelchair users are coming from, since they are in the wheelchair for most part of the day, in fact around 15 hours.

While agreeing that comfort is a big issue, wheelchair usage safety is lacking in attention. This article will focus on wheelchair safety issues, maintenances and things to look out for when using a wheelchair.

The top most priorities of wheelchair safety are the brakes. Check the brakes on a regular basis because they might get loose over time, compromising the user?s safety. For example, good brakes are needed when a user is transferring over to a wheelchair. If the brakes are not working well and the grip on the floor is not good enough, the chair might just budge and move causing the user to lose balance and fall!

If the fall causes further injury, or when the user lack physical strength to help himself up to the chair, he is stuck until someone comes along to offer assistance. Even if he has the capability to pull up from the floor to the chair, the ineffective brakes are still a problem because it is much more difficult to mount a moving wheelchair.

Secondly, stability and balance is important to use a wheelchair safely. In order to ensure stability and balance, there are some simple rules to follow:
1. Remember to use your seat-positioning strap if it is available.
2. Do not lean forward out of the wheelchair any further than the length of the armrests, when leaning forward, always ensure that the wheel casters are pointing forward to provide more stability.
3. Do not try to pick up objects from the floor by reaching down in between your knees.
4. Do not shift your weight toward the direction you are reaching as the wheelchair may tip over.
5. Do not lean over the top of the back upholstery as this may cause you to tip over.
6. Do not attempt to ride over curbs or obstacles.
7. Do not tilt the wheelchair without assistance.
8. Do not use an escalator to move between floors without assistance.
9. Do not attempt to move up or down an incline with water, ice or oil film on it.
10. Do not move across, go up, or go down ramps or slopes greater than a 9-degree angle.

Thirdly, when assisting a wheelchair user, there are some simple rules to follow:
1. Assistant must always let the wheelchair user know what he or she is doing, and to avoid sudden movements.
2. He should always use good body posture for his own safety and keep his back straight and bend knees slightly when tipping the wheelchair or moving over curbs.
3. Tipping a wheelchair without a tipping bar requires two people, one at either end.

Listed above are some of the common safety issues to look out for and is definitely not comprehensive. The wheelchair is meant to allow greater freedom and independence to its user, not to become the tool of further harm. Do practice wheelchair safety always and get the most out of life on a wheelchair!

Moses Wright is the webmaster of Manic-Depression.net. He provides more helpful information on Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar Disorder Symptoms and Bipolar Disorder Treatment that you can learn in the comfort of your home on his website. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

Online Wheelchair And Wheelchair Accessory Shopping

I have a son who uses a wheelchair-he has spina bifida and is a paraplegic, but it wasn't until I needed a wheelchair myself that I realized what that actually meant. I had a bad reaction to Lipitor (the rare but serious muscle wasting condition they talk about in the commercials.) After I got out of the hospital I needed help for everything, even turning over in bed. I learned what it really meant to have a disability. It took a good 6-7 months of wheelchair use before I could walk without falling down several times a day/

Now my son, Jay, needs his custom Quickie chair, a shower wheelchair and a lightweight wheelchair for when we travel.He wants to play sports (especially wheelchair racing) and is already talking about a fancy sports wheelchair. I'm also guessing that somday he'll want a motorized scooter chair.

All I had for my own use was a rented junker of a foldable wheelchair, vintage 1984. It broke down on me weekly.

Locating accessories is difficult as well. Ever try to find a cup holder for you chair locally? Gel Wheelchair cushions? Well if you live in a big city, that's probably not a problem. But I found myself having to go from store to store in a beat up wheelchair I barely had the muscle to propel. Not cool.

I searched online for a one stop solution to wheelchair and wheelchair accessory shopping. I found out that wasn't exacltly an easy thing to find. And yes, there were local medical supply stores, but the items they carried were limited. I turned to online shopping, but even there I found no one place for all my needs.

What was needed was a comprehensive online store for wheelchair users.

For that reason we launched a new store. It was designed for ease of use. We found chairs for almost every disability available in our store. Heck, the new shop even has a dog wheelchair! The new store has Quickie, Invacare, Pride Jazzy and many other brands all in one place, and lots and lots of accessories.

If you or someone you love needs a good chair, online shopping is the right way to go, unless, of course, you need extensive modifications. It's so much easier to have a one stop onlinw solution.
Amy Hutton is the parent of many children with special needs. You can visit her store at SimplyWheelchairs.com

How to Get Free Wheelchairs through the NHS

It is possible to obtain a wheelchair either funded or part funded by the NHS through what is known as the NHS Wheelchair Service.

NHS Wheelchair Services are run by local health authorities and are responsible for allocating funds to the wheelchair service and primary care trusts that in turn are responsible for providing the service to the public. This can include contracting the running of the service to a private outside company.

The way the services are organised between different local authorities varies. This includes the eligibility criteria which are used to decide what type of wheelchair to provide and also who is entitled to a funded wheelchair. Timescales between referral, assessment and supply of equipment also varies greatly.

The basic process is as follows:

Referral to your local NHS Wheelchair service
An assessment of your needs takes place
Timescales and funding options are discussed
Wheelchair and training if needed are provided
A maintenance plan is arranged

(It must be noted that not everyone is deemed to be entitled to a funded or part funded wheelchair. Depending on your circumstances you may be expected to fund or part fund the cost of a wheelchair yourself)

You will be referred to the service by your doctor, consultant, occupational therapist or you they may run a self-referral system. Contact your local NHS to find out details on how to be seen by the Wheelchair Service and for an assessment to take place. It is not uncommon for a wait of between 3-6 months for an assessment date, this varies between local authorities.

Assessments are usually carried out at a NHS Wheelchair Service centre. If transport to and from the centre is a problem then ask your local social services for help with this. During the assessment which will be carried out by a qualified professional your needs will be discussed including all the situations where the wheelchair will be used.

The funding options will be discussed with you and a decision on whether the NHS will fund the cost of a wheelchair or part of the cost will take place. The time between assessment and supply of the wheelchair varies depending on the type of wheelchair and local resources. A made to measure wheelchair can take some months to make, this can take several months.

When the wheelchair is ready there is a handover either at your local NHS Wheelchair Service centre or your home. During the handover you will be showed how to safely use the wheelchair and information on who is responsible for maintaining and repairing the Wheelchair.

It must be said that often the time between being referred and actually receiving your wheelchair (if you are entitled) can be many months, the wheels of buroceracy grind slowly. A lot of people simply can not wait that long only to be told they are not entitled to any funding and decide to privately purchase a wheelchair so as not to effect there quality of life.

Anthony Gregory is a SEO and website marketer, he is available for hire, please contact him at sales(at)brilliantseo.com

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Wheelchairs, a necessity and a blessing for millions!

Wheelchairs are a necessity and a blessing for many millions of people throughout the world today. People from all walks of life for whom walking is difficult or impossible due to injury, illness or disability require the use of wheelchairs.

The circumstances through which people find themselves in wheelchairs are mostly tragic and often resulting from accidents of many sorts but various diseases such as multiple sclerosis also are the cause of people needing to use wheelchairs.

Hardly a day goes by when you have opened a newspaper or turned on a radio or television set only to read or hear of some tragic accident which has resulted in spinal injuries turning the person into a paraplegic or quadriplegic. Many of these accidents are simply that, tragic accidents but many also are caused by the person's own recklessness or lack of commonsense and quite often also, the recklessness of others.

You see pictures in television news stories of horrific motor vehicle accidents resulting in spinal injuries. You hear of footballers in sports reports suffering spinal injuries as the result of a reckless tackle by opposing players. You shudder at the sight in another news report of a mountain climber lying motionless on a ledge having fallen from high above. You read about reckless abandon where swimmers have ignored the warning signs not to dive into creeks where some parts are far too shallow.

Is the result of the accident the fault of the injured person? Sometimes. Is it the fault of another party? Quite often. Regardless of excessive speed or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Regardless of the buzz that mountain climbers get by conquering another peak. Regardless of the stupidity of swimmers ignoring clear warning signs. Regardless of footballers lifting opponents and driving them into the ground in a wanton reckless manner, all of these tragic accidents have happened many times in the past and unfortunately, will continue to happen in the future across the globe.

In nearly all of these cases where spinal injuries occur, life in the future for the recipients of these injuries depends on the use of wheelchairs. Does this mean that the future for them is lesser in quality than that of a non-disabled person. Absolutely not as they have available to them in the form of a wheelchair, accessibility, mobility and independence. For them, wheelchairs are a necessity, but also a blessing.

Desmond Grice lives in Brisbane, Australia. He is the Principal of Cindes Promotional Products, a t-shirt and mug printing business. Further reading at UniversalWheelchairs.com

ADA Compliance Simple, Fast, Affordable with Portable Wheelchair Ramps

Since 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been instrumental in guaranteeing that wheelchair-bound and other mobile assistance device users can enjoy the same freedom of movement and ease of access as those who are able to walk on their own. Buildings, schools, businesses, parks and other areas are now required to ensure that anyone who wants to use the facilities may do so without requiring any outside assistance of any kind.

Furthermore, the ADA demands that all employers with 15 or more employees must make reasonable accommodations for these otherwise-qualified individuals with disabilities. It also "restricts questions that can be asked about an applicant's disability before a job offer is made, and it requires that employers make reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities, unless it results in undue hardship."

There's no doubt that the ADA has changed lives, but for the average business person, the requirements may be a little intimidating. We, at Ramp Solutions, find that many business owners overestimate the cost of adding the proper ramp accoutrements to their offices. But in all actuality, portable ramps offer an easy, fast, affordable way to achieve ADA compliance.

If your needs are simple, a lightweight rollup ramp is the way to go. Designed to bridge the gap over steps, curbs, and raised landings, these ramps are easy to install, offering a safe, effective way for mobile-assisted individuals to come and go.

Two-to-six-feet single fold ramps and five-to-twelve feet multifold ramps are perfect to accommodate larger wheelchairs and motorized vehicles over larger spans. They can also be taken up and put down on a daily basis, and easily moved to a different location if need be.

Portable wheelchair ramps can be useful resources; the key is choosing the right model with the right specifications for you and your needs. Ramp Solutions prides itself on working with you to make these all-important decisions and pinpoint the perfect solution for you. We want to make sure you find the best ramp at an affordable price. Look around our site and make your purchase right online, or contact us at 1-800-630-4713 for further information.

Ramp Solutions specializes in providing portable wheelchair ramps and modular handicapped ramps for the disabled.

Finding The Right Sports Wheelchair

If you?re in the market for a sports wheelchair, you know there are a variety of considerations to be made with any wheelchair purchase.

Sports wheelchair purchases aren?t that different from other wheelchair purchases. You need to make sure the wheelchair will suit your needs, your size and your lifestyle.

Here are some purchase considerations:

*What size wheelchair do you need? If you are very tall or very short, that will factor into your sports wheelchair buying decision. If you are heavy, you?ll need a heavier-duty chair than someone who is smaller and lighter.

*How much do you want to spend? Sports wheelchairs are not cheap, and can cost anywhere from about $1,000 to $10,000 depending on a variety of factors. Be sure you know what your needs are and how heavily you?ll use the chair before making this relatively large investment.

*What?s your sport? Sports wheelchairs are generally designed for a specific sport. If you play basketball, you?ll want a sports wheelchair for that sport. Those who like to race buy handbike wheelchairs. It?s all in your need and how to feed that need.

Now, once you have your needs figured out, how do you purchase? There are several options. When purchasing a wheelchair, if you can try it out, that?s better than buying sight unseen. Try to head to a few local wheelchair stores and try one out. There might be a brand or style you find more or less comfortable.

Buying locally might be more convenient for you and certainly faster, since you can bring home your wheelchair sooner rather than later, but buying online has one decided advantage: price. There are several online wheelchair stores that will sell you a good sports wheelchair at a deeply discounted rate. If you know what you want in a wheelchair (and have perhaps already done a quick trial in a local store), this doesn?t have to be a scary, unknown purchase; simply search for the brand and model you have already seen in person.

If you do choose to shop online for your new wheelchair, be sure to keep in mind that shipping can add quite a lot to the cost. Search for an online site that will give you free shipping ? many offer this regularly, while others have special promotions. This can save you up to more than $100.

Thinking of buying used? This is certainly an option. There are many wheelchair sports leagues and through them, you could purchase a good quality used chair at a fraction of the retail price. This is an excellent way to try out a sport without too much investment. Also check locally to see if you can find a used chair through any mobility impaired groups. Check your local Craigslist and classified ads as well.

Is purchasing a used chair a good idea? Certainly, if you avoid certain pitfalls. First, know the retail value of a new, similar chair. Don?t overpay for a used chair. Check the condition of the chair carefully (in other words, don?t purchase sight unseen). If it has a lot of wear and obvious use, be sure the price is in line with the chair?s condition. Finally, make sure the chair you are buying is appropriate for your sport. If you?re new to sports wheelchairs, you don?t want to make an inexact purchase that will end up being a waste of space or money.

Beverly Walker is a retired nurse providing valuable information about wheel chairs, mobility chairs, and scooters.

Spanish Villas in Spain for Those With Wheelchairs and Disabilities

You're sitting in your car waiting patiently at a zebra crossing on a cold and miserable Friday afternoon in March. Thoughts of your imminent departure to Spain and a week in your recently constructed luxury Spanish villa enter your mind as you watch a man in a wheelchair having trouble crossing the street in the pouring rain. For sure, he could probably do with a holiday too but although crossing the street is one thing, you realise you never saw one advertisement for Spanish property that catered for this type of customer when you did your research a while back.

It is true that the property market in Spain has witnessed phenomenal growth along its beautiful Southern coastline from the Costa Brava to the Costa del Azahar and from the Costa Blanca to the Costa del Sol. Northern Europeans, principally Brits and in smaller numbers, the Dutch, Germans amongst others have chosen to holiday, invest or even make the life-changing decision to move to Spain.

Much of Spain is mountainous, and it is fair to say that in many regions the Spanish have yet to catch up with the UK when it comes to provisions for those with wheelchairs and disabilities, particularly when it comes to public access and mobility issues.

At the beautiful pine-forested luxury villa development of La Cala in Javea, however, there are no such concerns. Brand new Spanish homes, built on flat plots and to the most exacting of standards using the finest materials, are available to anyone looking for a home in the sun. The bespoke nature of the development, however, means that the special and indeed, individual needs of clients are fully taken into account during the initial architectural design stage.

For wheelchair users, this might mean wider entrance doors, wider external pathways, low level kitchen surfaces, additional support rails, lower level switches, lower level bathroom sinks, ramp access pathways, spacious rooms for turning, single level "bungalow" type construction, no steps or stairs and higher level wall sockets to name a few. All builds are personally managed and supervised by your bilingual project manager.

The development comprises mainly of flat plots of around 1/4 acre and there are a considerable number still available.

More information about the development can be found at http://www.lacalajavea.com

Chris Hawkins is Managing Director of Luxury Villas International SL based in Costa Blanca, Spain

Spanish Property - Villas in Spain
Villas in Spain - La Cala in Javea

Why You Should Get A Wheelchair Lift

Wheelchair lifts are a blessing to users and caregivers alike. This is because it makes the transportation of wheelchairs easier. Almost all motor vehicles can be fitted with wheelchair that would definitely save time and effort.

Before the advent of wheelchair lifts, wheelchairs are transported and carried into vehicles manually. This is can be very cumbersome and time consuming. Before, it is very difficult to move disabled persons in and out of a vehicle. Thanks to wheelchair lifts, disabled individuals can now be moved and transported with ease as they greatly eliminate the discomfort of the chair transfer and the difficulties transport individuals in wheelchairs.

The mechanism involved in wheelchair is fairly easy to understand. They come in basically two types: electric and hydraulic. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages based on the need of individuals that is why buyers are advised to evaluate their needs before they buy a wheelchair lift.

The main benefit of having a hydraulic weellchair lift is that it does not need electricity to function. so even when there is power failure, you can still use a hydraulic wheelchair lift. The main disadvantage though of hydraulic wheelchair lifts is its price. They are significantly more expensive than electric type wheelchair lifts. But if you definitely have the budget then it is highly advisable that you get a hydraulic wheelchair lift.

But if your budget is quite tight, then you just get an electric wheelchair lift which is more reasonably priced than hydraulic wheelchair lifts. These kinds of wheelchair lifts can be fitted into mechanical door openers and telephone jacks. Of course, a disadvantage of electric wheelchair lifts is that you can not operate it without electricity. Fortunately, there are electric wheelchair lifts that have batteries so you can operate them even if there is no electricity.

Wheelchair lifts can also be installed in the homes. These lifts are often used to help people disabled individuals sclimb stairs. Hence the name stair lifts. These lifts are quite popular because they are very easy to operate. Only one person is needed to operate stair lifts.

There are also platform wheelchair lifts. These types of lifts can be folded for better portability; they come in automatic and semi-automatic models. With the automatic models, the use of muscle power is almost unnecessary. The best thing about thee wheelchair lifts is that they are sturdy and durable. These make them ideal for everyday use.

When it comes to repairs, you also not worry because most manufacturers also repair wheelchair lifts sometimes at no cost.

Low Jeremy maintains wheelchair-lift.articlesforreprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Elevator Wheelchair Lift, What You Need To Know

Wouldn?t it be great to have an elevator at home especially if it is very difficult to climb the flight of stairs? This will be very convenient for those who use wheelchairs and the good new is, it exists.

The elevator wheelchair lift is a miniature version of the kind often seen in offices and hotels. Though these are not high speed, it can still take on the job of bringing a disable person up or down in the home.

There are various models available. There are those that can go up or down and there are those that do this diagonally. The different types also allow the person to exit on the opposite side where one came in, on the side or in the same place.

This usually come with a lock and a non-skid surface on the bottom to make sure the wheelchair does not move when it is in operation.

The elevator wheelchair lift operates using a gearbox, chain and some weights. This can be hooked up to the fuse box at home and can carry a maximum load of 550 pounds should the person be quite big and heavy.

Elevator wheelchair lifts cannot be found in just any store. This is because it takes a specialist to develop, produce and distribute it to a client. Though there are existing models available, many of these are still custom built depending on the size of the home.

The homeowner can choose the spot where this will be placed then get the measurements or have a representative from the company to do it. The elevator wheelchair lift is quite big so clients feel better knowing that this will be assembled upon delivery to the home.

Most elevator wheelchair lifts are ADA compliant. This means it has undergone rigorous testing to make sure it is safe for people to use.

If the person is able to find a company that will make this elevator, it is best to check on the maintenance and warranty of these machines. Some offer a standard check every 6 months or more while others will offer money a back guarantee if the customer is not satisfied after 30 days.

People who need this machine should really think if this is very practical for the home. This is because the basic model is almost $10,000 while those who want to add other accessories will cost more.

Low Jeremy maintains http://WheelChair-Lift.ArticlesForReprint.com. This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.

Wheelchair on the Porch

People who are unable to walk anymore need a wheelchair. Though this may have occurred after an accident, the home has to be ready to accommodate the needs of the person.

One thing homeowners must provide is a wheelchair lift for the porch. This will make it easy and convenient for the individual to use when entering or leaving the hose.

The lift is similar to an elevator but in smaller scale and used by someone who is unable to get up a flight of stairs or even two or three steps on the porch.

There are certain standards when installing this lift on the home. This can be purchased in a specialty store that makes these for customers who have special needs, which are very affordable.

There are three types for the individual to choose from when selecting the right kind to be installed.

The first is called the straight trough. People who enter on one end will exit through the other side when it has reached the top or bottom.

The second is called the adjacent across. Those who are lifted or brought down should exit the lift on either the left or right side.

The third is called the same side. This means if the person who entered in one will have to exit in the same manner.

If the models available do not fit the requirements for the home, this has to be customized. A representative from the store will do an ocular inspection to take some measurements then design it according to the needs of the customer.

Anyone can operate the wheelchair lift. The one who is unable to go up the steps can also do this because it has been tested to be safe and for easy operation.

The features include soft keypads that will make the machine go up and down with a push of a button. It comes with a wide metal platform that has a maximum lift of 550 pounds. It has a non-skid surface keeping the wheelchair in place and an emergency control switch if something should go wrong when it is being used.

The wheelchair lift is very useful for old folks and those who need to recover from an injury. The person should check out some nearby stores or in the Internet for a model that will suit the requirements for the home.

Low Jeremy maintains http://wheelchair-lift.articlesforreprint.com This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included.