Best Flooring For Wheelchair Users

Many wheelchair users struggle with finding flooring which will stand up to their wheelchair. Wheelchairs are tough on floors. When they go outside, they get dirt, germs and other nasty stuff in their treads and spread them all over the floor. They can leave black tire marks on floors that can be difficult to get out. They can cause wear marks in floors. So getting the right kind of flooring is important for a wheelchair user. Read this article about getting the right kind of wheelchair flooring

Wheelchair Gloves For Kids

As many parents of kids with disabilties are aware, wheelchair gloves for kids can be very difficult to find. This is because the market for kids wheelchair gloves is rather small and few manufacturers make wheelchair gloves. So, some parents of wheelchair users resort to buying cycle gloves. This can work for some, but cycle gloves were not designed for the constant pushing and stopping required of a kids wheelchair glove.

Here is a lens which offers resources and information for parents looking for wheelchair gloves for children.

Wheelchair Toys : Gift Idea for Both Able-Bodied and Disabled Children

Recently I posted about wheelchair armrest pets a fun gift idea for a wheelchair user. But that got me thinking about other toys for wheelchair users. I discovered that there were quite a few wheelchair toys especially designed for wheelchair users and able-bodied children alike.

What kind of toys are there? There is a Barbie Doll, named Becky "Share A Smile". Becky is a wheelchair using doll, who looks alot like Barbie, except of course she is in a wheelchair. Becky did not come without controversy. For example, Becky's wheelchair did not fit into the Barbie House, a situation which many wheelchair users are all too familiar with.

Other toys for wheelchair users include Playmobil Wheelchair with patient and a child in a wheelchair. There are also simple toy wheelchairs which a child can use to push around their doll.

These toys are not exclusively for children in wheelchairs. They can also be giving to able bodied children whose classmates or siblings are wheelchair users in order to make them more sensitive or understanding of the life of a wheelchair user.

Not everyone is in agreement with toys with disabilities. According to an article published in the NYTimes

It might be a harder sell than the toy company thinks. "The name makes me want to gag," said Leslie Heller, who has cerebral palsy. Nadina LaSpina, who had polio, said, "It shows they can make money off of us.

A Fun Gift Idea For A Wheelchair User

Are you looking for a fun gift for a wheelchair user? Consider Wheelchair Armrest Pets. Wheelchair Armrest Pets are stufed animals which attach to the armrest of wheelchairs. Instead of resting the arms against cold plastic armrests, your loved one will share their moments with these lovely wheelchair armrest pets which will keep them company all day long.

Exoskeleton Website Now In Spanish

Recently it was announced on this website that a new website was launched with information about Exoskeletons for wheelchair users. Exoskeletons are a new robotic technology which will allow people with mobility related disabilities to walk again. Exoskeletons will be the first alternative to the wheelchair.

Recently a new website with information about exoskeletons has been launched in Spanish language. The new Spanish language website Exoesqueleto has news, updates and information about robotic exoskeletons for wheelchair users.

Wheelchair Backpack: A Perfect Gift For A Wheelchair User

Do you know a wheelchair user? Chances are you do or you will. Why? Currently around 1% of the population uses a wheelchair. If you know 100 people chances are 1 of them uses a wheelchair. If you don't know a wheelchair user, chances are you will. The population is aging and the rate of wheelchair users is higher amongst older people.

What is the perfect gift for a wheelchair user? For many wheelchair users, a wheelchair backpack is very "handy"? Why? Manual wheelchair users use their hands to propel the wheelchair. A wheelchair backpack provides the place to store items that many people would put in a purse or simply carry with them.

So when holidays come around, consider a wheelchair backpack for the wheelchair user in your life.

Wheelchair Umbrellas

If you are a wheelchair user and tired of getting constantly soaked in the pouring rain, you may be interested in this new Squidoo lens about wheelchair umbrellas.

There are several different types of wheelchair umbrellas demonstrated, including the Paraplis a wheelchair umbrella holder which allows the umbrella to fold down but remain attached to the wheelchair.

But probably the most innovative is this wheelchair umbrella holder that is worn on the body and has some pockets which can hold a collapsible umbrella. It is water resistant and can also store valuables as well.

New Idea For Entrepreneurs: Exoskeleton Rental

Where I live there is a company which rents Segways for tourists. Tourists rent the Segways and tour the beautiful city center. Seems like it must be very successful. I see a lot of tourists on them and the company has been renting the Segways for several years. I

Now there is a new option for entrepreneurs. Rent an Exoskeleton. Exoskeletons are new robotic legs for wheelchair users. An exoskeleton allows a wheelchair user to walk upright. The first exoskeletons are just now coming to market.

However, with a price tag in the neighborhood of $100,000, few individuals will be able to buy an exoskeleton. Still there are 3 million wheelchair users in the USA, many of whom have not walked for years.

I can imagine that in the near future, entrepreneurial business people will be organizing exoskeleton tours for wheelchair users. Wheelchair users will soon be able to go places where it may have been difficult to go with wheelchairs. For example, imagine leading an exoskeleton tour in the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Or consider taking a group of wheelchair users on an exoskeleton tour of the Acropolis of Athens. Or imagine leading an exoskeleton walking tour across the golden gate bridge. Wheelchair users will rent them for two reason. First, they will have the chance to walk again. Second they will have access to places they could only dream about before.

US Air Boots Passanger Because He Is Too Disabled To Fly

I came across a story that astounded me. A US Airways employee booted a wheelchair user from a flight because he was "too disabled to fly alone" as you can see from this video:



In fact, ADA rules allow airlines to do this.

Carriers may require the following individuals to be accompanied by an attendant....A person with a mobility impairment so severe that the individual is unable to assist in his or her own evacuation from the aircraft.

The carrier and the passenger may disagree about the applicability of one of these criteria. In such cases, the airline can require the passenger to travel with an attendant, contrary to the passenger’s assurances that he or she can travel alone. However, the carrier cannot charge for the transportation of the attendant.

I find this unfair and discriminatory. A Wheelchair user is then left to any airline employee's opinion about whether they can fly that day or not. How can a wheelchair user ever make a flight alone?

Will The Greying of The Population Make Science Fiction A Reality?

Were you aware that there are approximately 3 million wheelchair users in the USA? That number is rapidly increasing and currently represents approximately 1 in 100 people. You may not realize that the number is so large, because during your day when you see 100 people, you will rarely see that 1 wheelchair user.

But one result of the rapidly growing number of people with disabilities is the rapid growth in disability equipment. The markets for disability equipment like the common wheelchair and the everyday mobility scooter are becoming larger and larger.

But also more futuristic disability products such as exoskeleton suits for wheelchair users are now coming to the market. These products which were once only seen in science fiction shows like The Bionic Man, are now a fact. They exist.

For example, this product which allows paralyzed people to walk again was recently launched in New Zealand and will soon be marketed worldwide:

The fact is that the aging of the population is changing not only the demographics of society, but may also help to turn science fiction into everyday reality.