Dominic’s Folding Wheelchair Adaptation

Our client Dominic has multiple sclerosis and needed to switch from a fixed-frame wheelchair to a foldable one that could be stored on the roof of his car.

His roof box is equipped with an automated system that allows him to load and unload the chair without leaving the driver’s seat, giving him the freedom to travel independently.

However, the new foldable wheelchair couldn’t accommodate his motorised drive. This is a crucial feature that allows Dominic to cover long distances as manually powering the new wheelchair would take a big toll on Dominic’s body.

REMAP Engineer Stephen Millward stepped in to help

Dominic reached out to REMAP and was paired with Stephen Millward from our Berkshire branch.

Stephen said: “The problem was attaching his old wheelchair’s motordrive to the new folding wheelchair. It needed to be fixed underneath the new chair and also allow Dominic to remove it easily with one hand whilst sitting down.”

Stephen initially doubted a solution would be possible, but his experience as a volunteer with REMAP for eight years following a long career in energy engineering meant he had all the skills necessary to solve the challenge.

“I designed a motordrive mounting bracket, which not only made it easy to get on and off, but also did not interfere with the folding mechanism of the chair or the automated stowage in the roofbox,” he said.

Stephen’s solution solved Dominic’s problem

Thanks to Stephen’s ingenuity, Dominic can once again get out and about as he did before.

Dominic said: “The adaptation solved my problem and restored use of the motor, giving me back long-range capability and saving my shoulders from excessive wear and tear.”

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Could an adaptation to your wheelchair make a difference for you? Get in touch.