| Wheelchair technology. |
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| Written by David Delaney |
| Thursday, 07 May 2009 11:15 |
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Mechanically speaking, a wheelchair offers personal freedom. It allows the owner to move nearly anywhere, either by themselves or with the help of a family member. As a senior citizen, if you don't have one yet, you may very well be faced with using one at some point in the future. A person doesn't need to be severely disabled to take advantage of wheelchair. This is due to the result of an accident or a physical status. Many facilities these days accommodate wheelchairs permitting users to easily travel to shopping centers, restaurants, sporting events, parks and concerts. For example, Canada's Rick Hansen traveled from one end of the country to the other in a wheelchair. Fortunately, now, people with disabilities are taken into account by society more and more. Some businesses take it upon themselves to have a few wheelchairs available on loan while visiting. Handicapped individuals can use these wheelchairs and even mobility scooters to buy their groceries with very little hassle. As well, local governments have instituted by laws which require new buildings and transportation systems to be built with disabled customers in mind. Those wheelchair users who actually move themselves and produce significant upper body strength just by sheer movement. But some people also have upper body limitations and have trouble navigating wheelchair ramps. While some disabled people have a nurse or other person who pushes their wheelchairs, this is not an option that all disabled people have. Manufacturers have developed technology solutions to solve this problem by inventing motorized or automatic wheelchairs. These wheelchairs have a small motor which is controlled by a joystick. This allows most wheelchairs users to move their wheelchair even if they have severe high body disabilities. For those who have no movement of any of their limbs there are also wheelchairs that are automated by sound and voice commands, or even a slight movement of the passengers head or neck. While these models are still rather costly and uncommon, they indicate a trend to make wheelchairs better and less hazardous to control, giving more independence to a wider number of incapacitated citizens. So, as you can see, technological advances and society awareness are coming together to make a world where disabled people have the same freedoms and opportunities as the rest of us. You do your part by offering help to any of these community members who may need temporary assistance when out and about. |
