Folding Transfer Board
Daniel is a wheelchair user who uses a slide board for transfers from his chair. If he goes anywhere in a taxi, he has to carry the large board while he is out and about. He contacted REMAP to ask if we could create a folding board which would be easier to carry and would fit into a bag.
The Challenge
Daniel wants a folding transfer board which will be easier to carry. There are no commercial units available. The primary concern when making a folding board was to make it strong enough that it would safely support his weight.
The solution
The folding board is made from 20mm phenolic plywood. This is high quality plywood with a textured coating on one side and a smooth coating on the other. The textured side forms the lower surface of the board and provides a non slip surface. The smooth side is used for the upper surface for Daniel to slide along. The size of the board is based on existing, non folding boards that Daniel already owned. I happened to have an offcut of suitable board available. A pair of strong backflap hinges were sourced on-line. The hinges are set flush into the board surface with each hinge flap held in place with 10 button head bolts which fasten into T nuts (40 in total!). The outer edges of the board are rounded over to make it smooth and ‘non snag’ when sliding along it. The two faces which meet in the middle are reinforced with aluminium angle to prevent damage when the board is lying flat.
The benefit
When I delivered the board to Daniel he thought at first that I hadn’t brought it as it was folded in the bag I was carrying. He has found it very useful when he is out and about.
He was so impressed by his experience with REMAP that he has now joined the Staffordshire panel as a volunteer!
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