Choosing a Powered Wheelchair Manual
The wide range of battery-powered vehicles currently available for the disability market is divided into three main categories: powered wheelchairs, scooters and buggies. The advice in this factsheet covers powered wheelchairs only. For advice on scooters and buggies refer to DLF fact sheet Choosing a scooter or buggy . People tend to think about purchasing a powered wheelchair when they can no longer manage their standard manual wheelchair.
First, however, it may be worth considering the range of active user wheelchairs that are available. These are manual wheelchairs that are lightweight and have large propelling wheels on an adjustable axle, so that the position of the wheelchair user within the chair can be adjusted to optimise their propelling and manoeuvring potential. A wheelchair user who may, previously, have found propelling a standard wheelchair too difficult may find that the reduced effort needed to propel an active user wheelchair is sufficient to regain independent mobility. The relative lightness of these wheelchairs, especially over powered wheelchairs, is an advantage if the chair has to be lifted and transported in and out of a car boot. For further details on active user wheelchairs refer to DLF factsheet Choosing an active user wheelchair . Highway regulations group powered vehicles into two categories: Class 2 and Class 3 vehicles: ” Class 2 vehicles can travel up to 6.4kph
Get pdf for this Choosing a Powered Wheelchair Manual
