Building a Better Wheelchair

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by JERRY2KONE

Maybe not out of line, but James can PIMP SLAP you anyway.

Not sure if I can reach to IL from here... But if he comes closer I will give it a try

[JERRY2KONE]

Originally Posted by lincpimp

Not sure if I can reach to IL from here... But if he comes closer I will give it a try

But you just told him that you could see him, not to turn around. Now you ruined your paranoia facad.

[TDC57]

You guys are all too funny!.. and all great friends..

Thanks for your time and comments..

P.S.
YES (yell yes) James your advise worked out great!.. I've got a awesome protection layer on the chairs and they are all scratch proof and I owe it all it you!.. Thanks again.. YOU giver YOU!..

[TDC57]

Just a quick update on our chair build.. Well both are basically done (I still need brakes thou) but other than that they are good to go..

My kids and I spent more than 16hrs in the chairs this weekend and I’m haply to report that both held up to the beating we put them through. They were down at the beach, they were in restaurants, they went to the store they were every we went.. so I’m extremely happy to report that the main construction on both so far are / is a success..

I also learned tons!.. Examples:
The off road tires work great in all conditions and provide the end user with a softer ride. The mag wheels work best on hard surfaces (wood / tile floors) but they suck in the SAND and DIRT!.. so we wont be going with these for the 3rd world chair..

I also learned that I need to incorporate a more server angle in the back of the chair, for a more comfortable fit, I just feel a little to upright at the moment, but I’m not sure if that how it’s supposed to be..

I also learned that DAM it suck, I mean really sucks to be in these things, most of the places we went weren’t ADA accessible and it is a total pain to move around and find curbs that allow you / the user to access sidewalks, and shops, even the thresholds that were more than 1” were a pain to get over..

I also learned that DAM, it hurts the arms and elbow joints!, it takes a tremendous amount of upper body strength to wheel your self a few miles in a non electrical chair..

I also learned that people stare!, I mean they look and point (that or it was because) I was in a bright Yellow chair (LOL) I’m not sure but if your self conscious about it / your situation it just not right!.. But I did get great seats for the family at the restaurants.. LOL.LOL..

I also learned that walking my dog’s while in the chair is just about imposable.. and I really need to add a cup holder to both of them..

My kids absolutely loved them and they told all of the friends that my dad hobby is building wheelchairs.. Hahahaaa even they are proud of me this one.. so I know I’m on the write path..

I would really like to thank everyone who contributed to this unsual none RC build, for both allowing me the privilege and honor to take up your time with a non RC related project.


Have a great weekend everybody and here are some picture of the kids having a great time..

Shaun.

[mistercrash]

I have been silently following these builds and I just want to say that you are an awsome individual sir, and everyone who pitched in to help you in this wonderful project. Like Homer Simpson once said:" If everyone was like you, we wouldn't need a Heaven, we'd already be there". Thank you.

Ray

[TDC57]

Originally Posted by mistercrash

I have been silently following these builds and I just want to say that you are an awsome individual sir, and everyone who pitched in to help you in this wonderful project. Like Homer Simpson once said:" If everyone was like you, we wouldn't need a Heaven, we'd already be there". Thank you.

Ray

WOW thank you RAY! , thank you for the kind words of encouragement, we've got some great guys here and I think there actions speak much loader than there words do..

I really do appreciate your time and your feedback regarding this (unusual none RC related project)..

Have a great week and thanks again Sir..

P.S.
If I didn’t say it before I’ll say it now!.. Welcome to the MONSTER!.. I hope you enjoy your stay here!, I ways do!...

[_paralyzed_]

about back angle: depends on the disability and user comfortability. adjustable is the ultimate, but if that's not possible a greater open angle is better than tipping forward(many spinal cord injuries paralyze triceps, and it is impossible for that person to push themselves back up if they leaned forward)

about using the chair: ha ha! welcome to my world. it is much smaller and more difficult than yours. You did hit on one of the two advantages to being disabled- good restaurant seating. The other- handicapped parking!

[JERRY2KONE]

True that Harold, but those are two advantages I can live without. I do not envy you one bit for the struggles you have to deal with every single day Sir. I count my lucky stars evey day for the gifts that I have been given, and I try to share that sentiment with my kids now so they to can appreciate what we have. I spent over 20 years in the military voluntarily, and I still cannot begin to add up what I have done in compaired to what you have had to put up with involuntarily. I applaued your persiverance and drive for life Sir.

[_paralyzed_]

It sounds cliche but it took the adversity to make me who I am. Before my accident I was selfish, impatient and cocky. But even while living in a nursing home(hell on earth) I was grateful to have a roof over my head. (it was during hurricane Katrina) Life truly is what we make it, and you always have the choice to accept what's at hand and learn from it, or get emotional and go nowhere.

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

It sounds cliche but it took the adversity to make me who I am. Before my accident I was selfish, impatient and cocky. But even while living in a nursing home(hell on earth) I was grateful to have a roof over my head. (it was during hurricane Katrina) Life truly is what we make it, and you always have the choice to accept what's at hand and learn from it, or get emotional and go nowhere.

Good words of advice there Harold, for everyone! Maybe one day I can make it up to Minnesnowta and you can roll over my toes... And then we can have a good laugh and play with some rc!

[JERRY2KONE]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

It sounds cliche but it took the adversity to make me who I am. Before my accident I was selfish, impatient and cocky. But even while living in a nursing home(hell on earth) I was grateful to have a roof over my head. (it was during hurricane Katrina) Life truly is what we make it, and you always have the choice to accept what's at hand and learn from it, or get emotional and go nowhere.

Your attitude and your undaunted will is a good example for the rest of us. You seem to have good character Sir and I know I am happy to know you here on RCM. Keep up the good work young man. Now where is that SuperCyberMaxx that you have been working on? Have you got it up and running yet? I am jealous that you got your hands on one first scumbag. Anything new to report?

[TDC57]

• Do I start a non profit organization (?)
• Do I open up a website dedicated for this purpose?
• Do I look for private or government founding (?) and where to begin the search (?)..
• What insurance (product liability, workers comp, state license, etc) would be required if and when we can find a home / need for them?.
• What you do think the game plan should be (?)
• Who do you think we try to reach out to first (?)
• Do you think I need to make another chair just to show others how it will be shipped in pieces (?) and what the end user will ultimately need to do to complete the chair ?
• Do I need to find a medical trade show, get a booth and show people first hand ?
• Do I contact the VA http://www.va.gov/ ?
• Do I contact talk shows (Oprah, Doctor Phil, ELLEN, the tonight show, etc)

(OR) do I simply give the idea to an existing agency and let them act on it as they will (??)


(For what it worth) here is what I've done lately to forward the cause..

I have applied for the documentation necessary to obtain a government grant here. https://secure.securesiteorders.com/...ovFundOWHT_opn

I've been researching the web and found that we have a program in place for such backing / support it's a non-profit Appropriate Technology International (ATI) institution in Washington, DC:, I think I need to contact them! http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi584.htm

I also subscribed to New Mobility Magazine http://www.newmobility.com/ I might as well learn what's upcoming and see / read about new trends, etc..

I also have started a list of companies that I believe need to be informed of this 3rd world chair: but I need to gather there contact information, Do I need to put toghter a packet to send them (do email it out or mail) them a binder with color pictures??.. I'm hoping that in today's world of dome and glom a (feel good for humanity) will get it somewhere??

• CNN = http://www.cnn.com/
• ABC = http://abc.go.com/
• NBC = http://www.nbc.com/
• Fox news = http://www.foxnews.com/
• World news = http://www.wn.com/
• Unicef = http://www.unicef.org/
• United way = http://www.unitedwayla.org/Pages/default.aspx
• Popular mechanics = http://www.popularmechanics.com/
• LA-Times = http://www.latimes.com/

My initial thought was if I can get exposure to the chair than (they / the organizations) will find me (what do you think?)

Thanks guys...

[jayjay283]

I was thining about that, not for profit would be good, but also isnt your wife Asian ? You could file for a woman owned minority business license. Then you have all sorts of government doors opened for contracts etc.

The more calls you make or the more letters you send out the more chance you have of scoring a sale or deal

Please tell me you have already submitted a patent package for this! I would hate for your hard work and dedication be stolen by some jack-n-ape looking to make a profit.

What insurance (product liability, workers comp, state license, etc) would be required if and when we can find a home / need for them?

As the manufacturer I don't believe that you are required to provide any sort of protection to the people that use your product.

First things is first, get yourself protected and decide on a game plan. I would contact medical trade shows, ones that specialize in wheelchairs and dealing with the handicapped, as there are many different types of medical trade shows.

After that I would consider approaching State/Federal Insurance programs that would allow you to distribute your product to people in need. The government is always interested in saving money and by having low cost wheelchairs to distribute would be a good way to get both a good contract and get exposure at the same time.

These are just my thoughts and I look forward to seeing you go forward with this dream.

[JERRY2KONE]

OK. Personally Shaun I would say think very carefully about how far you really want to go with this, and how much work you want to put into it. I think what you started out to accomplish is heroic and noble, but just how involved do you want to be with this over the long haul? I would maybe think about approaching a local university, college, or even a high school with suggestions on how the student body could literally lift up the hearts of young men and women with disabilities. Not to mention of what things like this can do for ones spirit and self esteem. with your newborn idea and examples to to work from, asking if they might be interested in evoling what you have come up with and turning it into a student project of some kind for part of their educational studies.

Plus there is a realistic oportunity here for them to share a lot more time realistically for production of these chairs in the form of volunteer work hours. You would not only be helping with moving people stranded with mobility issues out of the closet(so to speak), but also providing young energetic, intelligent students with an oportunity to help out that same community, and gaining an education through the process at the same time.

Plus higher educational institutioins have privledges that open doors that are not open to other organizations and individuals. That could prove to be useful in getting funding for such projects, and utilizing chanles to distribute products that only they have access to. Using a whole student body as a launching platform could end up helping out a lot of people on many levels.

This is something that the media would get truly excited about just because of the student involvement. This is just a suggestion for another way to go, and maybe giving you a chance to move on to other things along the way, unless you have and want to contribute thousands of hours to. I am just looking at this from another perspective, and truthfully speaking a project of this nature and size can easily swallow up every minute of your day for years. I am not saying that this would be a waste of time, but think about where it could lead. If you get outside funding involved in the early stages of a project like this they will surely expect you to show a long and short range plan that is viable to their wnats and needs considering whatever money's are fronted for the project. Plus your goals will have to meet with their expectations. Just my 2cents Mr. TDC57.