Life on Wheels (48 page)

Learn as much as possible about chairs and what is currently available on the market. You can request product information for the chair models that are potential solutions for you, which will also be available as a downloadable document from the company website. You should also request or download the order form, which lists the full array of options available for a given chair model.

Check the track record of the chairs you are considering. Although major flaws are uncommon, there could be defects in the manufacture of some chairs, as with any consumer product. The US Food and Drug Administration keeps track of voluntary recalls by wheelchair manufacturers, though not all manufacturers are entirely open about such problems. You can contact the Food and Drug Administration for this information. Newer manufacturers should not be suspect just because they are less experienced, but there is always some risk of unforeseen problems that simply may not have appeared yet. Seek out users of a given product and speak with them about its performance and quality before making your final choice.

The therapist and wheelchair dealer will need to know many things about where you live and work. The therapist might visit your home and your workplace to gather information, but you will want to take an active part in making sure your chair will optimize—not limit—your mobility and comfort at home and work. Do your own survey of your home and workplace, and then arrive at your therapist appointment or the wheelchair store equipped with answers to questions such as these:

How wide are your doors—main entry, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.?

Are there tight angles to negotiate, such as a hallway that turns sharply at the bedroom door?

How large is the bathroom? Will it be possible to wheel your chair alongside the bathtub or must you face it directly? Is the door smaller than the others in your house? How much space is available for the chair so that you can close the door once inside?

What is the knee clearance of tables and desks?

How high are cabinets and shelves that you might need to reach?

Is the terrain around your home paved? If not, what kind of surface is it? Is it level?

On what types of surfaces will you do most of your wheeling? Carpet, tile, concrete, packed soil?

You must also consider the vehicles you in which you will ride:

If you drive, do you have a car or a van? Two or four doors?

What is the size of the trunk in the family car, or the cars of friends you go out with?

What kind of public transportation might you use?

Failure to consider any one of these points can mean having to live with a constant irritant or insurmountable obstacle and facing the stress of unnecessary restriction of your mobility every day—just because you got the wrong chair. You might even be risking your safety if, for instance, you are forced to make a long transfer to the bath or shower because you chose those fixed footrests, which prevent you from getting close enough.

Getting the right chair can also save you from having to make potentially expensive home modifications.

You will also want to share critical information about your lifestyle and the kinds of activities you plan to participate in. If you like to be on the go—visiting friends, attending entertainment and sporting events, taking classes—or travel for either pleasure or business, you might need a different chair than if you prefer a more quiet life at home most of the time. Along with the previous lists, make one that includes: