The Abilities Expo
May 23, 2010
For those of you in the Northeast, hopefully you had a chance to attend the Abilities Expo at the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center, which just occurred (May 21st through the 23rd). It is a three day event which is a must-see for people of all ages with a disability. It showcases the latest technology available, most of it involves mobility in on form or another, and most of it is pretty high tech.
The major focus of the expo is on various kings of adaptive vehicles; Braun and VIP representing the ramps and lifts, while Toyota, Honda, Chrysler, GM and Ford the vehicles. It is a good opportunity to educate yourself about what is out there and what might be good for you if you are in the market to purchase an adaptive van.
The other focal point is on wheel chairs. I really didn’t see anything that knocked my socks off, but then again, this was not my first time at the Expo either. Invacare and Quickie, two of the biggest names in wheelchairs (think Ford and GM) were represented, but there were smaller niche player that provided interesting solutions. One that interested me was an all terrain wheelchair that could be used on the beach. The only problem for me was it was not motorized. There were also light weight wheelchairs that looked convenient on trips if you didn’t want to lug around your heavier wheelchair.
For those of us who are fashion-minded, there was a much better selection of adaptive clothing to take on trips or wear for every day. The good news is that the clothing was stylish- it didn’t look like a slightly upscale version of a hospital gown. Now I know most of us aren’t fashionistas out there, but we don’t want to look like we just escaped out of the hospital either.
In the weeks to come, I will be discussing in more details the exhibits and products I found most interesting but I wanted to give you an overall sense of what the Expo was like. And for you folks around the country, there are probably Ability Expos in your region.
Technologically Speaking
May 16, 2010
In thinking over my last post, I realized that although we may be disabled, there is a lot more technology out there to help us. But how do we become wise consumers? There are all kinds of bells and whistles out there, but how do we separate the nice to have from the need to have? It’s not such an easy question to answer.
So I guess I’ll use mobility devices as an example. If you have reached the point where walking is too difficult, and takes up too much energy, you might want to consider a wheelchair or perhaps a scooter. How to choose? If you watch TV, you have probably seen ads for scooters. Let me begin by saying that although they are cheaper than wheelchairs, they are rarely covered by insurance. You might also consider the reason for your mobility device. Will you just use it outdoors to cover large spaces, or will you want to use it more often? How will you transport it?
This brings me to my advice section: before you consider what you want, talk to your doctor. You will need his prescription in any event as well as a letter of medical necessity to send to your insurance company because wheelchairs are a BIG ticket item.
Then you or your doctor should find a reputable wheelchair clinic where you will be evaluated for the best wheelchair for your situation. The clinic has relationships with a variety of vendors so they can be objective. They don’t get commissions, so you needn’t worry that you will end up with something that isn’t right for you. But remember that no wheelchair is perfect and you’ll need to have to have it adjusted. That is just par for the course.
This example can apply to any device you are thinking of purchasing to make traveling easier. I remember going to an exhibition of many vendors who sold items for people with disabilities. One in particular comes to mind, he had a really light weight, travel toilet – it was pretty cool – the only problem was the price tag was $3,000. I don’t know about you, but at that moment I decided I’d take my chances.
On the Road Again
May 9, 2010
With Memorial Day being right around the corner, our thoughts turn to road trips. We start thinking about where to go, what to see and if we are disabled, how we’re going to get there. This brings me to the topic of this post, purchasing an accessible vehicle to accommodate a wheelchair.
First, let me begin by saying that purchasing an accessible van is in no way like buying a car. There’s very little bargaining power for the consumer because there are not that many dealers out there. You’re also better off purchasing a van that has already been converted at the factory than buying a minivan and paying for the conversion separately. Vans made specifically for wheelchairs may have lower floors or higher roofs than conventional vans, so whatever you save on your van will be lost when you get the van converted. And, getting it serviced can turn into a real hassle if something goes wrong with your ramp or lift.
Which van to choose? It all comes down to which features you want, how much you want to spend and which vehicle gives you the best ride. Chrysler, Ford, Toyota and Honda are the car companies that make vans for this specific market. There are different conversion companies too, but the basics are side or rear door entry, and a ramp or lift mechanism. You will also need to decide whether you want traditional or automatic tie downs. There are transfer seats and hand controls if you want to drive yourself. The good news is that cars can be equipped so that a quadriplegic can drive them.
My advice is to do your homework and educate yourself. Be prepared for sticker shock. Decide beforehand what features are a “must have” as opposed to “a nice to have.” Test drive a couple of vans to see which handles the best for your needs. Remember this is a major purchase you’re making and you are going to have to be happy with it for many years to come.
Then plan your first road trip. Go out and have fun; there’s nothing to hold you back now. On second thought, you might want to consider a GPS system because although these vans are amazing, they don’t improve your sense of direction or stop you from getting lost.
