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A non-comprehensive guide to some of the styles available. Whichever you go for, they're all generally around £4000/$5000 . YMMV. Depending upon your location, a dealer may bring one to your home for you to trial them. You're spending a lot of money so do not be afraid to ask. Searching YouTube for these brand names should come up with a lot of examples. **Single Rear Wheel:** Smart Drive and Smoov are small motors with a single wheel that attach to the back of your manual chair. You control propulsion with a speed dial near your lap, and you steer the chair using your hands on the wheel push rims as normal. You can also push to contribute towards propulsion if you like. The extent to which they contribute towards overall speed is variable dependent upon your needs, but they can propel the chair entirely on their own, meaning all you have to do is steer. Pro: - They are both easy to attach/remove. - comparatively light - you have full control of steering Con: - sometimes have difficulty with steps/curbs as they're just clipped to an axle bar - can feel less ergonomic/immediately responsive than devices attached to the wheels themselves. **Dual Wheel motors:** E-motion and WheelDrive style power assists are two motors, one on each wheel, which are connected to each other via Bluetooth. They each respond to how hard your hands push their respective wheel. This means you can set them to double your input, or treble your input, etc. They also have cruise control so they can propel the chair entirely on their own. Pro: - responsive, feel ergonomic. The force is kinda/ish coming from your hands rather than from a motor behind your bum Con: - rely upon Bluetooth, YMMV - double the weight of single motor devices as there's one on each wheel, so if they fail for some reason, your chair is now very heavy - you have to be careful how you push as every push is amplified and affects each wheel independently. Something to be aware of when you aren't pushing with each hand evenly, e.g, on slanted pavement/sidewalk, when you're turning/dodging, etc **Tricycle style devices:** These attach to the front of your chair with handle bars and a front wheel with a motor. Pro: - Great for longer distances - some prefer handlebar steering Con: - less manoeuvrable. Your turning circle becomes very large. **Powerchair style:** There are also systems like the e-fix which turn your manual chair into a form of powerchair with a joystick to steer. Pro: - some prefer this undemanding mode of steering Con: - They add a lot of weight - There's no middle ground, it's on or it's off, it's doing all the work or none of the work Hope this helps Please feel free to add first-hand experiences or any thoughts to this post, or let me know if I should edit anything
Does anyone know if there is a way to voice control Kindle (other than reading on tablet or computer)? Need to accommodate significant arm, trunk, and leg weakness. I know there is a voice-to-text bluetooth, but I am hoping to find the opposite! Thanks!
daily.jstor.org
Interesting read on how media portrayal of people with disabilities shapes perception of them as "deserving" of accommodations under ADA, or not.
www.addisonindependent.com
Accessibility to public spaces and everyday items and activities is a privilege many able-bodied people take for granted. For people who live with disabilities, everyday life is made harder not only due to their disability but the lack of inclusion and accessibility for them. For an artist, not having the same physical abilities as most others can be rather limiting. Certain disabilities can place physical limitations on the time an artist can spend on their craft as well as on the methods they use to create their art. More than that, people with disabilities sometimes find that they have difficulty getting into venues where art is made or presented.
www.wkbw.com
For months, the City of Buffalo has been dealing with stolen parking meters, and some of the meters taken are impacting one community in Western New York.
www.axios.com
Driving the news: Following a year-long investigation into the state's "troubled" long-term care system, the Disability Law Center (DLC) released an 11-page report this week rebuking state licensing divisions and agencies for failing to protect people with disabilities at long-term care facilities.
www.bbc.co.uk
A powerlifter who won four gold medals at the Special Olympics has received a hero's welcome on his return home.
www.makeuseof.com
Apple's accessibility setting targets those with photosensitive epilepsy. Enable it to avoid seizures from flashing lights and stroboscopic effects.
www.bbc.co.uk
A social media creator with a hidden disability says having an online presence has helped her to raise awareness and feel less alone.
www.reuters.com
People with disabilities in Spain and other European countries have been disproportionately affected by unprecedented heat extremes, a leading human rights watchdog said on Monday, urging authorities to provide adequate support.
www.dexerto.com
When playing Final Fantasy 16, players can take advantage of a wide variety of settings that contribute to a more immersive experience. On the flip side, gamers shouldn’t overlook its handy Accessibility Options. Here’s a breakdown of the game’s various accessibility features and settings.
The Citroen Ami for All comes with wider door openings, additional straps and boards, as well as a lever so its user can control its acceleration and braking.
www.nytimes.com
We highlight a selection of paths, overlooks and other sites in several U.S. parks that outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities can enjoy this summer.
Accessibility advocates are fighting for new rules that would ease air travel for passengers needing extra assistance — especially those requiring wheelchairs, who currently aren't allowed to sit in their own chair during flights.
www.cbsnews.com
A young man with a disability is on a mission to educate others about the importance of independent living.
www.express.co.uk
Less than five percent of adults with learning disabilities in the UK are currently in employment, according to figures. Credit: Andrew Young
Hi Everyone, I'm new to Lemmy. I heard about it before the API drama with reddit. Reddit's decisions have given me the motivation I need to try out Lemmy. I'm really enjoying what I've seen. I've been able to find communities of interest pretty easily. I'm also on Mastodon, so I'm familiar with the way things are done on the fediverse. My disabilities include Fibromyalgia, R.O.P (I was born at 24 weeks,) Hyperacusis, and I'm autistic. I'm glad to have found a disabilities community on my home Lemmy instance. Hoping to contribute.
www.huffpost.com
Credit: Mark X. Cronin
youtu.be
Credit: John Morris
www.gamesradar.com
Starfield is catching some flack from accessibility specialists for its UI text, which some worry could be too small for blind and visually impaired gamers.
www.kvoa.com
As banks move most services online, some are cutting back on costs to operate drive-thru teller services.
nypost.com
New York City is suing the designer of Hunters Point Library in Queens over its inability to make the $41 million development accessible to handicapped people. Credit: Rich Calder
www.usatoday.com
Credit: Terry Baddoo