By Elizabeth McCormick
It’s in the name, custom power wheelchairs are truly complex rehab technology and, similar to a vehicle, will occasionally break down or need repairs. Throughout my journey with power chairs, I have seemed to have the luck that leads me to have an issue with my main chair right before going on a trip or doing something important. I would be lying if I said these moments didn’t cause me panic, but I have also learned how to tackle a situation like this. I wanted to share some tips that might be helpful if you face technical issues with your wheelchair.
Contact the local complex rehab equipment (CRT) provider. This might be obvious to some, but not to others, especially if they are new wheelchair users. This is an option if you are at home or if you are away. However, if it’s outside of business hours, this may not be an option for you, and getting a repair to happen may take weeks or months. Regardless, it is good to get that repair process going and reach out to see if they can offer any help.
Reach out to friends and other wheelchair users. Someone may have the extra charger or battery you’re looking for and let you borrow it if you put the call out. Even if they don’t, it’s always good to have an extra friend or two to help solve problems with. They may have dealt with that issue themselves or think of a solution you wouldn’t have on your own. Maybe they can even lend a helping hand!
Have a backup plan (if possible). Wheelchairs are expensive and not easy to obtain. But if you can have a backup wheelchair, I recommend you have one for unexpected situations. It may not be as good as your everyday chair, but it will help you maintain some independence and freedom. I remind myself that they are only temporary and that I will have my custom power chair back up and running soon!
Rent a power chair. If it is for a short period, like a vacation, you may want to consider renting a power chair from a local company. These are usually available in big tourist areas. Once, two days before a trip to Disney World, one of the batteries on my portable wheelchair stopped charging. I was lucky to be able to rent a power chair and get it delivered to my hotel, taking an extra manual chair I had through the airport. While I would’ve preferred my own chair, we still had a great vacation!
Issues are unavoidable, and it is my hope that everyone can get speedy repairs so they can exercise their full independence. If that’s not possible, I hope these tips can offer some help.