The internet allows a wheelchair user who may be considering the execution of a wheelchair transfer to view real-life transfers in the home as well as transfers into a wheelchair van, or vehicle, or zero turn lawnmower, etc. The "Star" of the most prominent home videos is Cindy a para with a disability caused by a T2 complete transverse myelitus, She demonstrates and narrates transfers using a transfer board from her bed to her self propelled manual chair, to the toilet with the aid of a toilet transfer system, from the toilet to a shower, shows her showerhead system in the shower stall, and returns from the shower to her bed. Along with demonstrating the various types of equipment Cindy uses she passes along some very helpful tips on what to consider to keep your transfer safe and how to make it easier. The videos vary in length from a little over a minute to longer than four minutes.
A list of the videos that can be viewed are on YouTube.com when you search "Cindy paraplegic transfer". You can also search "Cindy transfer" (a different Cindy) who demonstrates her techniques transferring from her wheelchair to her golf cart or from her wheelchair to her zero turn lawnmower. There are several other videos that will be listed on the screen along with your requested search that you will be able to access. Do not allow your need for a wheelchair limit your freedom and independence.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.
Many people with a disability assume that because of their disability that it will restrict their opportunity to travel by air. Let me tell you from first hand experience that if you are not traveling because of your disability that you are needlessly limiting your horizons. This need not be the case. Flying with a handicap or disability is slightly more complicated than for an able-bodied flier. Nevertheless, the majority of all airlines are now geared towards catering for disabled fliers. I have traveled essentially around the world with my scooter. I have been to China, Japan, Russia, Egypt, and to most of the European and Mediterranean countries. Barcelona in Spain is an extremely wheelchair friendly place to go. Almost all buses and subways are easily accessible. Experiences I would never have had if I had let my handicap limit my horizons. When you make your air travel arrangements be sure to tell the airlines that you are traveling with a disability and what type of assisting devices you have (i.e. chair or scooter) and that you will need an isle seat. The airline will probably want to preboard you, so be early at the airport. You, however, have the choice not to preboard. Most of the time you can gate check your chair to your final destination which allows you to ride your wheelchair or scooter down the jet bridge right up to the airplanes door. If you can walk short distances you can walk to your seat or if you cannot walk the airlines will provide an aisle chair to take you to your seat. Upon arrival at your final destination they will bring your chair back to the airplane door or provide you with a chair and an aid to take you to the luggage pickup area to retrieve your chair. If you should have intermediate stops the airline will provide you with a wheelchair and an aid to take you to your next gate. Alert the steward's about your wheelchair about half an hour before you arrive so they can check to make sure that the proper arrangements have been made to handle your situation. .
Some Travel Tips:
Always keep in mind what you can do easily and without assistance, as well as situations that would require help.
After the plane lands stay on the plane until you know your assisting device is at the door.
Make a photocopy of your birth certificate, passport, airlines tickets, credit cards, and any important papers and carry them separately when traveling outside the united States.
Make sure you have a battery charger with you and that you have a proper power converter if traveling outside the U.S.
If going to a country that has a language that you cannot use then consider getting a cheat sheet that has some phrase you think that you might use on it. i.e. the name of a Hotel, airport, destinations, bus, taxi, etc.
I hope this article has been helpful to you. If it has been,please "like". If you have any
further questions I will be more than happy to try to answer them for you. Send me an email at
warrenagor@agorenterprises.com
Here are some links to airlines and places for additional information:
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.
Have you put in your Local Hero Story submission in yet?
Submissions opened up on February 25th!The month of May is National Mobility Awareness month dedicated to helping educate everyone on the options available out there for all the individual needs of the handicap community. It is Coming up quick so don’t let this amazing opportunity pass you by! Tell us your encouraging story or even a story of your loved one and how they have overcome adversity!
What you'll discover on the NMEDA website is a posting of inspiring stories by and about people with disabilities who are finding ways to overcome their mobility challenges. By submitting your story, not only may you win a free handicap van, you may find your story showcased via local and national media over the months ahead. After posting your story, encourage your peers, family and friends to vote for it as their favorite, and you'll be on your way to the possibility of receiving a free handicap van! It's entirely possible that you or a loved one may even wind up appearing on a TV show such as Ellen, Good Morning, America or The Today Show to share your story to an even more widespread audience! That's an extremely valuable means of spreading the message about mobility issues, as well as increasing your chances of winning a free handicap van!
Don't delay - visit http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/ to learn more about the specifications for your entry, and get your story perfected and entered ASAP!
Your friends at Agor Enterprises have a motto that goes: "Giving you Access to the World" and we stand by that promise. We are excited about this contest, and wish you all the best with your story entry!
Some of the brands Agor Enterprises proudly sell include:
- ElDorado
- Vision by Viewpoint
- BraunAbility and
- AutoAbility Van Conversions
We also offer Harmar, Sterling, EZLock, Bruno and QStraint handicap accessories. Every employee at Agor Enterprises either has a family member or close friend who has mobility issues, so our entire staff is well-versed on making sure you find the perfect handicap van for your needs. Please CONTACT US with any questions or to schedule a test drive to best determine which model and brand will work best for you. We’ll also be happy to keep our fingers crossed for you that you win the free handicap van in this exciting contest!
Agor Enterprises wishes you all the success in the world as you share your story with the world and thereby insure your entry to win the free handicap van. Raising awareness of the general public as to the needs of those with mobility issues is extremely important. Whether you win a free handicap van or not, sharing your personal story is a great way to uplift, educate and inspire those who read it. Happy writing, and Happy Trails from your friends here at Agor Enterprises!
Please share this article with your family and friends. Like if you found it useful.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.
When it comes to finding the right transportation solution for your needs the options are almost endless. There’s minivans, trucks, wheelchair and scooter carriers, lifts, ramps, hand controls, transfer seats etc. To ensure you are getting the right mobility products for your specific needs it’s important to get the help of an experienced mobility equipment dealer. Agor Enterprises has been in business for many years and over that time have gained the knowledge and expertise to fit you with the very best product for your situation.
Quality mobility equipment dealers will meet with you in person to help determine your individual needs and what adaptive vehicle or equipment is best for you. They’ll ask you questions about you, your disability, your wheelchair or scooter, how you’ll be using the vehicle, will there be additional drivers, your budget etc.
It’s important that you ask the mobility equipment dealer some specific questions, as well. You’ll need to find out if they offer 24-hour emergency assistance, are their technicians trained and certified, and are they a NMEDA (National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association) member. You then have to ask yourself if you feel like they’re easy to work with and ultimately if you want to do business with this dealership.
Whether you buy new or used will depend on your finances but the most important thing is that the vehicle is designed to fit your requirements. Your local mobility dealer is the key to getting you into the right vehicle. Based on your disability they’ll determine what the best transportation solution is for you.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.
If you have recently become a person with a disability or you’re a senior and realize your driving skills have declined over the years, don’t self diagnose or speculate about the type of adaptive equipment you may need. There are four other places to start the process of confident driving independence.
Don’t buy anything yet – not a van or even hand controls – before you consult with these four places!
Start with (1) your physician and discuss your concern/challenge. He/she will diagnose your problem and may recommend (2) an occupational therapist (OT). If the OT cannot help, the next step is (3) a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS).
A CDRS evaluates your skills and decides if you’ll be able to drive with vehicle modifications and adaptive equipment, determine what is best for your unique needs and train you on their use.
During the evaluation you can try an assortment of equipment to enhance your abilities. Some equipment (turning seat, hand controls, etc.) may be more than you need today, but you may need them in six months or a year.
When you feel confident with the equipment, you can train on the road, in traffic.
The cost of a CDRS evaluation and training varies. Get an estimate from the evaluator and submit it to your insurance company and/or your state’s dept. of rehabilitation, who may assist with the cost.
(4) When you decide you’re ready to purchase a van and/or adaptive or accessible equipment, consult one of our experts.
Finally, take the driving test and get your license to drive!
To locate a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist in your area, visit www.aded.net.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.
If you use a wheelchair, you probably know how to get into and out of a car safely. You’ve seen a certified driver rehabilitation specialist and know the rules. But it doesn’t hurt to go over them periodically, and perhaps correct some bad habits we’ve fallen into.
The following guidelines increase safety for wheelchair-seated riders and drivers.
Where to sit
- If possible, transfer into the vehicle’s seat, which is crash designed for greatest protection.
- If you can’t, it is safest to have a WCl9-compliant, transit-ready wheelchair. Non-WCl9-compliant wheelchairs are generally not strong enough to withstand the impact forces that can result in a crash.
- WC19-compliant wheelchairs are designed for use as a motor-vehicle seat and have been crash-tested. Visit this website resource for more info on WC19-compliant wheelchairs.
Seat / safety belt
- Safety belts are the law in almost every state – and that applies to wheelchair users, so position the safety shoulder and lap belt correctly.
- To prevent a wheelchair-seated driver from hitting vehicle structures (windshield, dashboard, etc.) during a crash, it is important to use a safety belt system composed of a shoulder and lap belt that fit snugly across the pelvis, chest and shoulder – not the wheelchair belt.
- Wheelchair belts have not been crash-tested and some are designed to break away from the wheelchair when in a crash. Exceptions are WC19-compliant wheelchairs that come with crash-tested safety belts.
Feeling tied down is a good thing
- Always use a crash-tested securement system to safely anchor the wheelchair using a 4-point tie-down system to keep it stationary – whether you are sitting in the vehicle seat or in the wheelchair.
- An automatic lock-down system will also work to make the manual tie-down system easier. It connects to a bracket installed on the bottom of the wheelchair, allowing independent wheelchair securement.
Agor Enterprises provides and designs vehicle and in home mobility solutions making the world accessible for people with disabilities. Agor Enterprises is a member of NMEDA and is QAP certified. Agor Enterprises is committed to providing the highest standard of safety and service in the industry. Built on the principal that dedication, service to the customer, and quality are paramount in running a successful business, Agor Enterprises continues to be a leader in customized solutions for the physically challenged. Agor Enterprises has also equipped golf carts, lawn mowers, tractors, and houses with various adaptive devices. We continue to welcome challenges to provide solutions that enable independence.