Wheelchair Tip: Make Sure You Have the Correct Custom Wheelchair Measurements | How I Roll

by Jacob

More often than not I see people disabled in manual wheelchairs who have their wheelchair measurements set-up all wrong. Sometimes their wheelchair is much too wide for their body structure. Sometimes they don’t have the back axle centered correctly for optimal balance given their size, weight, and disability level. Or, sometimes they could simply be in a more active type/style of custom manual wheelchair. Of all the wheelchair measurement mistakes I see, there is one that absolutely stands out the most. It bothers me to no end seeing a wheelchair’s back wheels higher than waist-level of the person sitting in it. What these people don’t understand is the higher those back wheels go the higher they’ll have to reach with each push. Also, the higher you reach to grab the wheel rail the more your triceps will be stretched, making each push more difficult.

I suggest you keep the highest point of your back wheels within 2 inches of your waist-line for optimal pushing efficiency.

I met a guy last week who’s been paralyzed in a wheelchair for the past 4 years. He had his 4 year anniversary a day prior to us meeting. His back wheels were at least 5 inches higher than his waist-line. He had asked me a couple questions about my Tilite. Somehow in my mind his questions gave me full permission to voice an opinion on his back wheel height measurement. He thanked me for the input, telling me he’d never thought about it before. I’m not sure if ever updated his wheelchair, or if he still rolls around with his elbows pointed back and up to the air. The point is, this kid had been given a wheelchair by whatever hospital he happened to be inpatient at, and they measured him entirely incorrect. 4 years later this kid is still using the same incorrectly measured wheelchair, under the false impression that the extra effort he puts into pushing himself around each day is normal.

Sure, being confined to a wheelchair is disabling. But being confined to a wheelchair that’s measured incorrectly is highly disabling. I’m not suggesting you buy a new wheelchair tomorrow, but it’s definitely something to think about when wheelchair renewal time comes around.

How To: Wheelchairs and Escalators… A Love Story. | How I Roll

by Jacob

The “ADA” expressly excludes escalators as “accessible means of egress”… I say screw that… it’s a fantastic means of “egress”!

I’ve met many people in wheelchairs who are physically able to ride an escalator, yet never make an attempt. This bothers me, for them…. They became paralyzed and see themselves as disabled, which means they can’t do things. Well much of this “disability” is self-inflicted. I encourage people in wheelchairs to venture out of their comfort zone and attempt things that make them anxious and nervous. They say “Well why would I do that if it makes me nervous and afraid?!”. To which I reply “I bet you $56 you try it 100 times and it won’t make you feel nervous or afraid, it’ll just feel normal… And there’s nothing disabled about something feeling normal”.

I know what you’re thinking… If a person is paralyzed a wheelchair why on earth would they use an escalator, especially if there’s a perfectly good elevator “over there”?!! Well, I have a reasonable and logical answer.. Lets say I want to go to the second floor of a shopping mall and the elevator is 50 meters away. I then notice an escalator 3 meters away, which happens to be going directly where I want to be. In a wheelchair or standing on 2 feet, if an escalator is closer than the elevator, it would logically make sense to utilize it, assuming you’re capable of doing so. Don’t get it twisted, I’m not suggesting you roll up and down every escalator you see just to get a reaction out of the people around you. But if the only thing between you and the place you’d like to be is an escalator, don’t go looking for the elevator!

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Wheelchair Tip - Transfering To & From Ground

Wheelchair Tip- Transfering To & From Ground from Jacob on Vimeo.

Military Technology Helps Wheelchairs Detect Hazardous Terrain | Wheelchair Accessibility Blog and Disability News

by Destiny

Researchers are working on developing a wheelchair that can detect hazardous terrain and self adjust its settings to move more smoothly and safely over different types of landscapes. The new technology helps electric wheelchair users avoid accidents involving wheels slipping, sinking, or tipping over.

The idea originated from automatic terrain-sensing controls for unmanned military vehicles and multiple four-wheel-drive automobiles that are already on the market. Emmanuel Collins from Florida State’s Center for Intelligent Systems stated that the device is known as a laser line striper and is used to recognize different terrain conditions.

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