Buying a power wheelchair is a big decision. It needs to fulfill your needs at home, meet your transportation needs outside the home, and also address the unique requirements of your disability. While sales people have in depth knowledge about a variety of chairs, they may not have the expertise necessary to ensure the chair you purchase is best suited for your disability, in addition to effectively interfacing with other assistive technology you may need to use while in the chair.

The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, (RESNA) provides education, training and certification to rehabilitation therapists. These specially trained experts can then assess injuries in the context of a broad range of assistive devices, and recommend the best chair design and accessories based on desired outcomes. They consider how all elements of the home environment will interface with the chair to maximize efficiency and ease of use.

Questions to Ask Before Buying a Chair

A few things to consider include where you plan to use the chair. Will you be modifying a car and be driving? If so, will the chair need to fit behind steering wheel?

How heavy is the chair and how would it be transported in a regular vehicle?

How far do you plan to ride in the chair? Will the battery power need to last to several miles down the road and back, or all day in an office environment?

How fast do you want the chair to go? Will the chair be used for commuting?

What types of electronic accessories will make your life easier? For example do you want to be able to control the lights, your computer, or electronic doorways with buttons on the chair?

The right power wheelchair can greatly improve quality of life. The rehabilitative team needs to be involved in the assessment and recommendation process. As a rehabilitation physician Dr. Greg Vigna understands how important the right technologies are. As your personal injury attorney he advocates for the best jury ruling or settlement possible, so you have access to emerging technologies and assistive devices.