Need Help Getting Around? Comfortable And Light Weight
www.AaaHomeMedical.com
Save on manual & power wheelchairs. Low price guarantee & free shipping
SpinLife.com
A 1 minute form can tell you if you qualify for no-cost power mobility
www.uscoot.com/electricwheelchairs
At Budget Prices. Trusted brands Chosen by Experts. Easy to Buy.
www.improvelife.com/wheelchairs
Manual, Power & Transport Chairs Delivered to California in 48 Hrs
WheelchairDepot.com
Over 100 Different Models & Sizes Live Help, Free Same Day Shipping
www.specialtymedicalsupply.com
Our Staff Of Experts Can Help You Find The Right Product. Call Today!
www.1stClassMobility.net
Heavy Duty Use Up to 1000 lbs Full Manufacture Warranty Intl Ship
www.GlobalMedicalSales.com
Power and sports wheelchairs, scooters, scooter lifts, accessible vans for purchase or rental, and van conversions.
www.abilitycenter.com
Wheelchairs, transporters, scooters and walkers. Located in Buena Park, California.
www.actionvw.com
Airless tires, tubes, and foam-inflated inner tubes for manual and powered wheelchairs and three-wheeled scooters. Located in Paramount, California.
www.americanairless.com
Wheelchair sales, servicing and repairs. Located in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York.
members.aol.com
Exclusive North American distributor of Norwegian-designed Balder electric power wheelchairs; In Houston, Texas.
www.balderusa.com
Manufacturers of manual collapsible wheelchairs, walkers, tilt carts, shower commodes for people with physical disabilities.
www.bestwheelchairs.com
Body positioners and accessories for wheelchairs. Located in Seattle, Washington.
www.bodypoint.com
Lowered floor minivans and lifts. Website contains a guidelines brochure.
braunlift.com
Manufactures and distributes stairlifts, platform lifts, residential elevators and other accessibility products. Showrooms located in the Northeast.
www.chair-lift.com
Manufactures accessories for wheelchairs, scooters and walkers. Located in Chico, California.
www.diestco.com
Supplier of discount electric scooters and wheelchairs. Provides an online catalog and price list.
www.discountscooters.com
Wheelchairs, power chairs, scooters, home care supplies and hospital beds. Located in Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas.
www.eldercaretx.com
Emergency wheelchair for evacuating the handicapped via building fire stairs. Located in New York, New York.
www.evac-chair.com
Manufactures wheelchairs designed specifically for the primary care, sub-acute care, acute care, long term care and home care markets.
www.gendroninc.com
Manufacturer of custom wheelchairs. The wheelchairs include a customized position device for severely or developmentally disabled people; a partially customized hardback, hard seat reclinable version of a geriatric chair; and an extra support m...
www.gunnell-inc.com
Manufactures protective containers for wheelchairs. Headquartered in New Haven, Connecticut.
www.haseltine.com
Manufacturer of power joystick controlled wheelchairs for elderly or disabled persons. Products are sold directly to clients.
www.hoveround.com
Designs and manufactures voice-control systems for use in microsurgery and wheelchairs.
www.katalavox.com
Manufactures manual and electric stand-up wheelchairs and accessories. Website has a distributor locator.
www.lifestand.tm.fr
Manufactures a four wheel drive wheelchair. US distributor is in Angola, Indiana.
www.magicmobility.com.au
Battery chargers, services and rebuilds motors for power wheelchairs.
www.npcinc.com
Swedish manufacturer of advanced electric wheelchairs sold in Canada, Europe and the US.
www.permobil.se
Manufacturer of wheechair restraint systems. US headquarters is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
www.qstraint.com
Serving the Northern California area by providing mobility and assistive equipment.
www.rehabspecialists.com
Manufacturers of custom-built sport and everyday wheelchairs. Prices in British pounds; has a currency converter. Online ordering of wheelchair parts and accessories.
www.rgk-wheelchairs.co.uk
Mobility-enhancement company offering a national scooter and wheelchair rental service for mature and disabled travelers.
www.scootaround.com
Online source for wheelchairs, sports chairs, scooters and accessories. Also, offers product reviews.
www.spinlife.com
Kar Kady wheelchair car carrier allows you to transport your chair outside you car.
members.tripod.com
Locations in Ontario, Canada and Michigan.
www.usedwheelchairs.com
Custom-made lifestyle, specialist and sports wheelchairs and accessories. Located in Christchurch, New Zealand.
www.wheelchairs.co.nz
Power wheelchairs and accessories. Located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
www.wheelchairs.com
Ecommerce source for carrying solutions from Advantage Bag Company for wheelchairs, walkers & crutches.
www.wheelsource.com
Need Help Getting Around? Comfortable And Light Weight
www.AaaHomeMedical.com
Save on manual & power wheelchairs. Low price guarantee & free shipping
SpinLife.com
A 1 minute form can tell you if you qualify for no-cost power mobility
www.uscoot.com/electricwheelchairs
Guide to Wheelchairs
Get rolling with this selection of manual and electric wheelchairs for sale
Wheelchairs come in two basic kinds: manual and electric. Electric wheelchairs come in two varieties: the joystick-controlled power wheelchair or "power chair" and the handlebar-steered electric scooter. Deep-cycle batteries power both.
When deciding whether to purchase a manual or electric wheelchair, consider the following:
1. Manual wheelchairs weigh less than powered wheelchairs and are becoming increasingly lighter in weight, requiring less energy to push.
2. Manual wheelchairs are quieter, less bulky and more maneuverable that motorized wheelchairs, making them easier to transport. They can also handle minor obstacles such as bumps or curbs better due to their lighter weight.
3. Manual wheelchairs cost less to buy than powered wheelchairs due to fewer parts and no batteries to replace.
4. Manual wheelchairs provide a greater sense of independence than power wheelchairs, in that the occupant is moving under his own power instead of under a battery, but this independence comes at the cost of repetitive motion injuries to the upper arms and shoulders.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Put the rubber to the road in a manual wheelchair
Those with the ability, or the budget-conscious, prefer manual wheelchairs, and most dealers offer a variety of choices to meet their needs.
I recommend:
SpinLife.com offers manual wheelchairs to match users’ needs and budgets, including sport, tilt, heavy-duty and lightweight wheelchairs, and the ability to configure a chair online. For a similar selection, plus electric wheelchairs and accessories, try 1stSeniorCare.
Empower yourself with powered wheelchairs
For those who can't handle a manual wheelchair, many powered wheelchairs offer maneuverability and portability close to that of manual units.
I recommend:
The Scooter Store has been the mobility leader since 1991, offering both maneuverable power chairs for in-home use and electric scooters for mobility outdoors. Wheelchair dealer Hoveround sells its own standard and specialty powered wheelchairs factory-direct; units feature seats with the coil and cushion design of truck drivers’ seats for greater rider comfort.
Cater to special needs with a custom wheelchair
While most wheelchair users have basic mobility needs, some need greater independence than a standard wheelchair can provide or have special requirements best handled by a custom wheelchair.
I recommend:
The Independence iBOT 4000 is a powered wheelchair that can climb stairs and five-inch high curbs and raise its user to a standing position while still being easily transportable. 21st Century Scientific offers manual and powered wheelchairs that let users stand, as well as extra-narrow and bariatric models.
Keep rolling with the right accessories
Just as a car needs new tires periodically, so also does a wheelchair. Also, as with cars, people who ride in wheelchairs need supplemental equipment to keep them properly positioned and comfortable as they travel.
I recommend:
Kenda American Airless offers foam-inflated and solid rubber tires and inner tubes, as well as wheelchair tires for on- and off-road use, court sports and racing. At 1stSeniorcare, find seat belts, saddles, foot braces, support wedges and bolsters to keep the user comfortable while in the chair.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide- Consider not just the wheelchair but other accommodations needed to assist the physically challenged. Narrow access ways may need widening; you may need to replace stairs or supplement them with ramps. Wheelchairs restore mobility and independence, but not completely.
