Mobility Scooters
By mobilitytiger | August 1, 2008
A mobility scooter is a personal movement device that is designed to carry a single seated individual in both outdoor and indoor settings. These types of mobility devices open up whole new worlds to people who have difficulty walking. After you purchase a mobility scooter it is important that you take proper care of the unit. One of the most important things to maintain is the battery.
All modern mobility scooters should use battery power because it is much safer than other types of fuels. They plug directly into any normal electrical outlet and depending on the model some can travel over 40 miles per charge. The battery is one of the most important parts of the scooter and by properly maintaining your battery you will greatly improve its life and performance.
One of the most overlooked, but important parts, of battery maintenance is your charging habits. You do not want to overcharge the battery and you also do not want to under charge it. Some models come in with automatic cut offs that stop charging when you top off your battery, but some models do not. Consult your manual for specific charging times, but developing a routine is very important. If you use your mobility scooter every day for several hours, then you will want to plug it in when you get done riding for the day. If you only use it once or twice a week then you probably only need to charge it once a week. By developing proper charging habits you will greatly improve the life of the battery and ensure that it does not quickly loose its charge.
It is also important to periodically check the battery connection. The connections to the battery can become loose over time, so you should check them and tighten if necessary. You should also check for corrosion and if the battery becomes corroded clean it with a baking soda and water paste. Let the paste sit for a few minutes before cleaning the terminals with an old toothbrush.
Many scooters allow for quick and easy removal of the battery. By purchasing an additional battery, you can double the range of your scooter. Just swap out the battery when you have lost your charge and you are good to go. Remember to charge up the battery that you took out though, so you are never left without a battery. It is important that the battery is seated in the scooter properly though, so take care removing it and putting it in.
By taking care of your battery, you will maximize its life and endurance.
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Camp Allen
By mobilitytiger | July 25, 2008
In the southern edge of Bedford, Massachusetts lies a very special place. Camp Allen, a camp that was started in 1931 by Dr. Edward Allen, is tucked away at the end of a dusty dirt road in this quiet town. Camp Allen was initially started as a camp for blind girls, but today it has become a camp for children and adults who have disabilities.
The camps director, Mary Constance, says that the mission of the camp changed quickly to provide a positive environment for people with all types of disabilities. The Kiwanis Club of Boston and the Manchester Lions Club now owns and operates Camp Allen.
The camp is very diverse and many people have faithfully been returning to the camp every summer. One camper named Ricky, who has cerebral palsy, has been coming to the camp for 35 years.
Many of the campers are in wheelchairs, but this is not a prerequisite for inclusion. Usually up to 65 campers attend and are assisted by 40 counselors. The counselors, who are mostly young and have little experience with disabilities, come from over 23 different countries to help out at Camp Allen.
The consolers at Camp Allen do everything from shower and bath the campers to tube feeding. In over 5 years not one counselor has left because they could not handle the tasks of helping the campers.
The budget is tight now, but Constance would like to have the cabins winterized so that the camp can operate year round. The dining hall, which is the oldest building in the camp, needs to be rebuilt and Constance thinks that once that is done, everything else will fall into place.
To find out more check out the Camp Allen website.
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The Americans with Disabilities Act
By mobilitytiger | July 18, 2008
In 1990 President George Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. It is aimed at preventing discrimination towards those who are mobility challenged.
The ADA covers several areas and makes discriminating against someone who is disabled illegal. A disability is defined as a physical impairment which greatly limits life activity. Often whether someone is considered disabled is taken on a case by case basis. There are also some conditions, such as substance abuse, which are not covered.
There are 4 main sections that ADA Addresses:
Employment: This section states that an employer is not allowed to discriminate against a qualified person due to a disability. This applies to all parts of the work process including hiring, training, and workers compensation. If medical screening is required, it is only allowed if everyone must take it and the record will be treated as a confidential medical record.
Public Services and Transportation: This section ensures that people who are mobility challenged are able to access public areas and transportation. This is applied to railroads and all other commuter services. This is meant to apply to federal, state, or local government authorities.
Public Accommodations: This ensures that no person will be denied goods, services, facilities, or accommodations because of a disability. This includes hotels, dining, and stores. One of the parts of this section deals with the failure to remove architectural barriers to those who are mobility challenged. Anything built after the ADA was passed must adhere to the ADA standards, but even if the building or facility has not been modified since the passage of the ADA, it is still must adhere to ADA standards when possible.
Telecommunications: This requires that all telecommunications companies in the United States ensure that those who are disabled have the ability to access services that are basically equivalent to those traditionally offered. In large part this is geared towards ensuring that the deaf are still offered a way of communicating over the phone.
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Wheelchairs and Airlines
By mobilitytiger | July 11, 2008
Over two million Americans use wheelchairs. There are many different kinds of wheelchairs and electric power wheelchairs allow a tremendous amount of freedom and mobility. Many public places also offer wheelchairs to their patrons, but the process does not always work like intended.
All airports offer manual wheelchairs for people traveling and using the facilities. As part of the 21 year old Air Carrier Access Act, they are obligated to provide prompt free curbside and cabin wheelchair assistance. However, recent reports have shown that they are sorely lacking in this area.
Over 30,000 fliers who are disabled have filed complaints about the way they are treated. More than half of these complaints are filed by people in wheelchairs. Around 1 out of every 100,000 passengers files a complaint about the wheelchair service they received.
While some measures are being taken to fix this problem, they are in many ways inadequate or unacceptable. The Minneapolis-St. Paul airport intends to offer a service that people in wheelchairs must pay for in order to receive proper consideration. After paying for this premium service the person will be met at the gate with a wheelchair.
All air industry heads are not taking this type of stance though and some are instead focusing on providing better training for their staff. For instance Alaska airlines introduced a training program in 2003 that is geared at ensuring that their staff knows how to properly lift and move an immobile passenger and should be commended for focusing on the real problem, instead of turning it into a way to make money.
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Information about Lift Chais
By mobilitytiger | June 27, 2008
If you are someone who can not walk easily and have difficulty bending your knees, then you might not be able to easily get up out of your current recliner or from the couch without assistance. This can be very difficult and makes it potentially dangerous to stand up without assistance; this difficulty is compounded when you have been sitting for an extended period of time, like after having watched a movie or longer TV show. Lift chairs provide a great way to allow people with decreased mobility to stand and sit without any help from others.Lift chairs are recliners that can be raised to allow the seated individual to easily stand or to allow a standing individual to sit. They look like a standard recliner, but feature a lifting mechanism that is built into the base. The lifting mechanism is controlled by remote control and the same remote control also is used to adjust the backrest and footrest. This allows for the seated person to find that perfect sitting position at the push of a button and a lift chair is incredibly comfortable.
Older lift chairs had previously used a spring loaded lifting mechanism, but you hardly ever see these types of chairs any more. They are incredibly unsafe though, and so you should avoid spring loaded lift chairs. If you are ever looking at chairs and you see one that is very inexpensive, you should ensure that it is not spring loaded. Instead you should find a lift chair that uses an electrical lifting system. Many also have battery backups and so you will always be able to use the chair even if the power at your house goes out.
A lift chair is a great way to enable a person to stand and sit without any help from the outside. They are very comfortable and come in many different shapes and sizes. With so many styles to choose from, you should have no problem finding one to fit your existing décor.
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Mobility Scooters: The SunRunner by ShopRider
By mobilitytiger | June 20, 2008
People who have difficulty walking have long realized that mobility scooters provide a very important and valuable service. There are many types available to suit many different needs. This includes scooters to be used outdoors, indoors, and easily transported. One very popular model of mobility scooter is the ShopRider SunRunner.
The SunRunner is a very impressive mobility scooter that can be transported with ease. There is a 3-wheeled model and a 4-wheeled model. For transport they both break into 4 pieces and the heaviest piece is around 42 pounds. This means you can rather easily place this device in the back of your car or vehicle and would not need to invest in a scooter vehicle lift.
The SunRunner has a special swiveling seat that makes it easy to mount and un-mount the scooter. It supports 300 pounds and can travel at speeds up to 5 miles per hour. The SunRunner has a range of 25 miles and can be plugged into any normal household outlet. It has a reinforced bumper and a bright headlight. It also has a horn and complete lighting package including hazard lights.
The SunRunner is an affordable and reliable mobility scooter, which will provide many years of reliable service.
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The Pride Go-Go Elite Traveller Plus
By mobilitytiger | June 13, 2008
Mobility scooters are devices that are used to carry someone and sometimes their belongings. It is mainly intended for individuals who have difficulty walking, but are still able to walk for short periods of time.
Pride Mobility is one manufacturer of mobility scooters that is very popular. They have many different models available that are designed to fulfill different needs. They offer a few different travel scooters. Travel scooters are mobility scooters that are designed to be taken apart into several manageable pieces, which can be easily transported.
Pride Mobility offers several different versions of their Go-Go Elite. One version that is very popular is the Pride Go-Go Elite Traveller Plus 4-wheeled travel scooters. Most travel scooters feature a 3-wheeled design, which allows for excellent maneuverability, but at the loss of some stability. Since the Go-Go Elite Traveller Plus utilizes 4 wheels, it offers improved stability, but is not quite as maneuverable as the 3-wheeled version. The 3-wheeled Go-Go Elite has a turning radius of 34 inches, while the 4-wheeled version has a turning radius that is closer to 45 inches. While it is not quite as maneuverable, it will perform better over uneven and rough terrain.
The 4-wheeled Go-Go Elite Traveller Plus can support up to 325 pounds and breaks down into 5 pieces, with the heaviest one weighing only 35 pounds. It uses a specially engineered locking system, which can be operated by one hand. It has a per-charge range of about 13 miles and travels at speeds up to 4.5 miles per hour.
If you would like to have the easy transportation that is provided by a travel scooter, but still have the improved balance and stability that is afforded by a four wheel scooter than you will likely greatly benefit from the Pride Go-Go Elite Traveller Plus 4-Wheeled Scooter.
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Travel Scooters and Independence
By mobilitytiger | June 6, 2008
Almost everyone loves traveling. This includes going places like Disney World, the Grand Canyon, or just visiting family. If you are mobility challenged and have difficulty walking though, these types of vacations can seem out of reach. It doesn’t have to be that way though if you own a travel scooter.
Travel scooters are mobility devices that are designed to be easily disassembled and assembled in a matter of minutes. After it has been broken down it can be easily placed in the trunk or back seat of a car. It is also easy to transport it on planes or trains. The heaviest piece of a travel scooter is usually around 25 or 30 pounds, which is light enough for most people to easily handle.
The ability to easily transport a mobility scooter does not terribly affect its range. In fact many can travel over 25 miles per charge. If you need a greater range, it is possible to purchase an extra battery and simply switch it out when you run out of juice. They also travel at a very good pace and at top speed it is usually faster than most people could jog.
Even though most train and plane services will have no trouble accommodating your travel scooter, it is still a good idea to check with them first. They may have special requirements or require that you arrive a little earlier to ensure that you can bring your device.
A travel scooter is a great way for people who might otherwise be unable to handle the rigors of a family vacation to enjoy the company of someone they love.
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Stairs and Mobility Devices
By mobilitytiger | May 30, 2008
If you use mobility scooter or wheelchair than you will likely have difficulty using the stairs. These devices greatly improve your ability to move around, but as of yet there are no wheelchairs or mobility scooters that have been designed that can climb the stairs. For individuals that rely on these devices, a vertical platform lift can be purchased to ensure that they are always able to use the stairs.
A vertical platform lift can be used in many different locations. Places like schools and churches frequently purchase portable vertical platform lifts so that they can be used in different areas of the building and can also be stored when not in use. They provide ways for their patrons who use wheelchairs or mobility scooters to access the stairs, bleachers, or stage without any assistance. Public businesses in older buildings that do not have ramps also often purchase these units to ensure that they are accessible to all units. Most are made to be used outdoors and so they are resistant to rain and snow.
In homes they are frequently used on the front steps of a home and provide a means of navigating the front steps. They can typically support the weight of two individuals and one mobility device, which makes them great for couples or care givers.
Vertical platform lifts can greatly improve a person’s ability to use their home and are very affordable priced. They are easily installed and can also be moved in cases where you sell your home or no longer need the device.
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The Different Kinds of Stair Lifts
By mobilitytiger | May 23, 2008
Stair lifts are used by people who have trouble using the stairs. They can be installed on all types of stairs. This includes curved, straight, and spiral staircases. One of the great things about a stair lift is that it can allow people to use the stairs without assistance. Most modern stair lifts can be installed fairly easily in a few hours. There are several different types of stair lifts that are available.
One type of stair lift is the standing stair lift. These are for people who can walk and stand without problems, but have trouble sitting or bending their needs. In these cases the person would not be able use a stair lift that required them to sit down, so in these cases a standing lift is a must. They feature a small platform and often have a small support that you can lean up against for added support. These are also good for stairs that are narrow because they do not take up as much room as a chair stair lift. They are not good for everyone however because it requires good balance.
The other type of stair lift is the seated stair lift. A seated stair lift sends a chair up and down the stairs. You just sit back and relax as you are carried up the stairs. These units often have seatbelts for added security. Most seated stair lifts feature a swivel seat that makes it much easier to mount and dismount the lift.
Whether you decide upon a seated stair lift or a standing stair lift, you will be amazed at the way it can open up your home and restore your freedom.
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