February 2015 • Vol. 14 No. 2 Serving the Seating...

February 2015 • Vol. 14 No. 2

mobilitymgmt.com

Serving the Seating & Mobility Professional

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4 mobilitymgmt.comfebruary 2015 | mobilitymanagement

february

Mobility Management (ISSN 1558-6731) is published monthly by 1105 Media, Inc., 9201 Oakdale Avenue, Ste. 101, Chatsworth, CA 91311. Periodicals postage paid at Chatsworth, CA 91311-9998, and at additional mailing offices. Complimentary subscriptions are sent to qualifying subscribers. Annual subscription rates payable in U.S. funds for non-qualified subscribers are: U.S. $119.00, International $189.00. Subscription inquiries, back issue requests, and address changes: Mail to: Mobility Management, P.O. Box 2166, Skokie, IL 60076-7866, email [email protected] or call (847) 763-9688. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mobility Management, P.O. Box 2166, Skokie, IL 60076-7866. Canada Publications Mail Agreement No: 40612608. Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to Circulation Dept. or XPO Returns: P.O. Box 201, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4R5, Canada.

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The information in this magazine has not undergone any formal testing by 1105 Media, Inc. and is distributed without any warranty expressed or implied. Implementation or use of any information contained herein is the reader’s sole responsibility. While the information has been reviewed for accuracy, there is no guarantee that the same or similar results may be achieved in all environments. Technical inaccuracies may result from printing errors and/or new developments in the industry.

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On the CoverOur case studies celebrate creative thinking and the mobility solutions they make possible. Cover by Dudley Wakamatsu.

14 This Is How We Roll: Manual & Ultralight Case Studies

l Page 14: Room to Grow

l Page 16: Sitting “Into” an Ultralight Chair l Page 18: Adjustability for the Outdoors l Page 19: Weight Is of the Essence l Page 20: Expanding Client Horizons

21 Full Speed Ahead! The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) accelerates its educational

offerings. PLUS: Adaptive Automotive News.

volume 14 • number 2

What’s New Online: TheMobilityProject.comStay tuned for TheMobilityProject.com’s upcoming print edition, written espe-cially for seating & mobility consumers, their families and caregivers. This

year’s edition will feature “Your Favorite Things,” a collection of advo-cacy, education, clinical and lifestyle resources designed to help consumers

to maximize their everyday indepen-dence. Look for The Mobility Project at all 2015 Abilities Expos and online at TheMobilityProject.com.

6 Editor’s Note

8 MMBeat

25 Marketplace: Accessibility

29 Product Revue

30 Ad Index February 2015 • Vol. 14 No. 2

mobilitymgmt.com

Serving the Seating & Mobility Professional

contents

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As you know, this is not an easy industry to work in. You are constantly pulled in so many different directions, as payors, clinicians, consumers and families are rarely on the same page at the same time. You are expected to work and deliver with robotic precision, yet the situations you are faced with could not be more individual or human.

I know this cannot be an easy industry to work in because much of the time, it’s not even an easy industry to cover as a journalist. I know this in part by how my office colleagues — good people, all of them — regularly wince as they accidentally catch bits of conversations about unstageable pressure sores or quickly progressing ALS.

Emotionally, it’s a tough industry requiring great resiliency, because the work is hard and the lows can be terrible.

But the highs — wow, the highs can be incredible, can’t they? They must make you feel a hundred feet tall.

That’s how I felt as this issue’s case studies (page 14) came rolling in.Resourcefulness, ingenuity, tenacity, a heart for both the big picture and a hundred

tiny details — that’s what I saw in these stories shared by manufacturers, clinicians, ATPs, consumers and caregivers.

When pulling this section together, I asked for case studies that would be likely to address clients that you see every day. We’ve all been to conferences and heard case studies of the once-in-a-career variety. They’re fascinating and engaging…but at the same time, what is the likelihood that you’ll be applying what you hear to one of your clients back home?

So instead, I asked participants to focus on diagnoses, consumer concerns and clinical challenges that you’re more likely to be confronted by. Because every client you see is unique, and at least a little different than the next one you’ll work with, I hope that these case studies will give you the chance to sneak a peek over colleagues’ shoulders, then take away something you can use today or maybe store in your memory for a client you’ll see in the future.

This case study section focuses primarily on ultralightweight wheelchairs… but when Jacki Lohse at Ki Mobility talked about a manual seating & mobility system custom configured for a little girl with spinal muscular atrophy type I, we couldn’t resist including it here. And of course, there are plenty of photos to make your sneak peeks more complete.

We’re so happy with how this case study section turned out that we’re planning another one — concentrating on pediatrics — for the summer.

What you’re up against every day is unique, but that doesn’t mean you can’t share with and learn from other creative thinkers in the industry, right? Keep telling us your stories, and we’ll keep passing them along to other ATPs, clinicians, consumers and caregivers.

And along the way, we’ll look for the opportunity to loop in the legislators, funding sources and referral sources who could use a better understanding of the success stories you create.

French philosopher Jean de la Bruyere said, “Out of difficulties grow miracles.” You make me proud to be part of this industry, even if I’m just relegated to bragging about you. Keep up the spectacular work. l

Laurie Watanabe, [email protected]

Editor Laurie Watanabe (949) 265-1573

Group Publisher Karen Cavallo (760) 610-0800

Publisher’s Assistant Lynda Brown (972) 687-6710

Group Art Director Dudley Wakamatsu

Director, David Seymour Print & Online Production

Production Coordinator Charles Johnson

Director of Online Marlin Mowatt Product Development

SECURITY, SAFETY & HEALTH GROUP

President & Group Publisher Kevin O’Grady

Group Publisher Karen Cavallo

Group Circulation Director Margaret Perry

Group Marketing Director Susan May

Group Social Media Editor Ginger Hill

mobilitymgmt.com

Volume 14, No. 2

February 2015

editor’s note

Miracle Workers

REACHING THE STAFF

Staff may be reached via e-mail, telephone, fax, or mail. A list of editors and contact information is also available online at mobilitymgmt.com.

E-mail: To e-mail any member of the staff, please use the following form: [email protected]

Dallas Office (weekdays 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT) Telephone 972-687-6700; Fax 866-779-9095 14901 Quorum Drive, Suite 425, Dallas, TX 75254

Corporate Office (weekdays, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. PT) Telephone 818-814-5200; Fax 818-734-1522 9201 Oakdale Avenue, Suite 101, Chatsworth, CA 91311

Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Kapur

Senior Vice President & Richard Vitale Chief Financial Officer

Chief Operating Officer Henry Allain

Executive Vice President Michael J. Valenti

Vice President, Erik A. Lindgren Information Technology & Application Development

Vice President, David F. Myers Event Operations

Executive Chairman Jeffrey S. Klein

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mm beat

Invacare’s Board Names Interim Chairman

Following the December retirement of its founder A. Malachi “Mal” Mixon, Invacare Corp. has announced the appoint-ment of C. Martin Harris, M.D., as its interim chairman of the board of directors.

Harris joined the Invacare board of directors in 2003, and he became lead director in 2012.

In the news announcement of his appointment, Harris said, “On December 21, 2014, we recognized the retirement of Mal Mixon, who has been a driving force behind the success and legacy of Invacare Corp. As the board of directors considers a new chairman and continues the search for the future chief executive officer of the organization, we believe it is appropriate to have an interim chairman role.

“As lead director, it is a natural transition for me to accept these responsibilities, and I look forward to continuing to work with the

board and senior management team as we focus on key issues critical to the company.”

Harris is listed as a staff member in the department of General Internal Medicine at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and is Cleveland Clinic’s Chief Information Officer.

He also holds a master’s degree in business administration in healthcare management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mixon stays on as a non-employee member of Invacare’s board this year and will also be nominated for one additional term. After that, the news announcement said, Mixon will reach the board’s manda-tory retirement age of 75.

Gerald Blouch, Invacare’s previous CEO/president, retired in July and was replaced by interim president/CEO Robert K. Gudbranson, who is also the company’s Chief Financial Officer. l

Numotion Appoints Chief Operating Officer

Hawthorne Takes Over Top Spot at Thomashilfen

Warren “Bud” DeGraff is the new Chief Operating Officer for Numotion.

DeGraff’s joins the national complex rehab technology provider following an 18-year tenure at GE in executive-level profit & loss and operations leadership roles, according to a Numotion news announcement.

“I am thrilled to join Numotion,” DeGraff said in the announce-ment. “I am excited to be part of an organization with a strong

Thomashilfen North America has named Darlene Hawthorne its new president following the January resignation of Elisa Louis.

Hawthorne formerly served as Thomashilfen’s customer business development manager.

Thomashilfen offers pediatric wheelchairs, activity chairs, car seats and therapeutic mattresses for adults and children.

Several products, including the mattresses and the ThevoTwist stroller-style wheelchair for kids, feature components that allow users to engage in dynamic movement while remaining optimally positioned.

In addition to announcing Hawthorne’s promotion, Thomashilfen said Andrew Woehr, who has been with the company for six years, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer.

Thomashilfen North America is based in Seattle. l

mission of helping people in the healthcare industry.”Numotion CEO Mike Swinford, who joined the company in July, said

of the appointment, “Bud is a dynamic business leader with over two decades of multi-industry global experience and extensive operational expertise. As a certified Six Sigma Master Blackbelt with a track record of leading change through lean process improvements, Bud brings a unique leadership skill set that will ultimately benefit our customers and our business. I’m very excited to have Bud on the Numotion team.” l

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mobilitymgmt.com 9 mobilitymanagement | february 2015

Adaptive Imports: Now Shipping Jenx & Hoggi ProductsAs Mobility Management’s January issue was going to press, breaking news came about Adaptive Imports, a new complex rehab technology distributor in Erlanger, Ky., that had signed agreements to become the exclusive American importers of Jenx and Hoggi products.

Among Adaptive Imports’ key executives is rehab industry veteran Scott Lopez, the compa-ny’s director of sales and also the one heading the effort to recruit Adaptive Imports dealers.

Lopez says 2015 is off to a fast start: “We have already seen a great deal of activity,” he noted in a conversation with Mobility Management. “We are receiving inquiries about the products and are already receiving quotes on a daily basis.”

The new Adaptive Imports agreements mean Hoggi and Jenx products will continue to be avail-able in the United States — and Lopez says the distributor is looking for more opportunities.

“Adaptive Imports is all about supporting the CRT community with high-quality products that meet the needs of the children, families, clini-cians and suppliers,” he says. “Currently, our goal is not to be everything to everyone. We want to have a focused product offering that clinicians and ATPs will have confidence in and feel comfort-able recommending. The Jenx and Hoggi lines do exactly that — exceptional products that allow us to provide quality without compromise.”

Lopez adds that Adaptive Imports has set up centralized distribution in Kentucky, has hired staff, has developed a Web site and is actively ship-ping product.

The current Adaptive Imports lineup includes the Jenx Monkey stander, Bee activity chair, Dreama 24-hour positioning system, and Multistander, which Lopez says will have a “fresh new look” that includes color options for the polyurethane supports. Hoggi offerings include the Bingo Evolution and Evolution OT, which can accommodate a separate non-Hoggi seating system.

The adaptiveimports.com Web site includes pdf order forms that can be filled out and e-mailed to the Adaptive Imports team for quotes.

Lopez — who can be reached at (877) 767-9462 or at [email protected] — adds that the Adaptive Imports team will be exhibiting at March’s International Seating Symposium and is looking at adding more events to its 2015 calendar. l

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Pride Mobility Announces New CFO

Maddak Says Good-Bye to Founder Kurt Landsberger

Pride Mobility Products has named Mario Patone as its new Chief Financial Officer.

In a news announcement, Pride said Patone has “over 20 years of accounting and finance experience, with an emphasis on internal control, financial reporting and acquisition management for public and privately held companies. As a Certified Public Accountant in both Pennsylvania and Delaware, Patone has worked in manage-ment and executive roles for such prestigious accounting firms as PricewaterhouseCoopers and Baker Tilly.”

As CFO of Pride Mobility Products and its divisions, including

Kurt Landsberger, founder of Bel-Art Products and its Maddak Inc. aids-to-daily-living subsidiary, has died, the company announced.

He was 93.In its announcement, the company said

Landsberger, who died Dec. 19, founded Bel-Art Products in 1946. Bel-Arts manufac-tures a wide range of containers and other scientific and laboratory supplies, including beakers, vials, glassware accessories, pitchers and eye and skin safety products.

In 1979, Landsberger launched Maddak Inc., a Bel-Arts subsidiary dedicated to designing and creating aids to daily living to support seniors, people with disabilities, and their caregivers.

The company noted that creating products that enabled people with disabilities to live more independently was “a cause he was passionate about.”

Maddak has traditionally been known for its dressing, bathroom safety, transfer and eating/drinking aids, but recently the company introduced Morph wheels — manual wheelchair wheels that can be removed and folded for storage.

SP Industries purchased Bel-Arts and Maddak in 2014.

Landsberger, the announcement said, offi-cially retired as CEO in 2012, but “his values continue to be woven into the fabric of our company.”

Among the details the company shared about Landsberger’s days at Bel-Arts and Maddak were that he gave each new employee a set of three reference books (a dictionary, a thesaurus and a book about punctuation); that he daily walked through the offices and walked the production floors to greet each employee by name; that he required each of his company’s buildings to include a library and a ping-pong

table, with a volleyball court built outside; and that he required every employee, regardless of job title, to participate when the companies conducted inventory at the end of each business year.

An obituary in the Star-Ledger (N.J.) noted that Landsberger, who lived in Verona, N.J., was born in Prague, but immigrated to the United States in 1939 and served in the U.S. Army as a translator during World War II.

He and his late wife, Anny, founded environmental studies schol-arships at several universities. Landsberger also founded Holocaust collections at two local libraries. l

Quantum Rehab, the announcement said, “Patone is responsible for all areas of finance and accounting, as well as asset management of the Pride family of companies.”

“We are excited about the experience, skill set and vision that Mario Patone brings to our organization as Chief Financial Officer,” Pride Chairman/CEO Scott Meuser said in making the announce-ment. “His vast depth of experience in accounting, finance, tax, trea-sury and acquisition management are key assets toward the continued growth of our business within the evolving mobility and complex rehab markets.” l

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It’s time to think differently about power mobilitywww.ROVImobility.com

innovation is underrated

Medtrade Spring, scheduled for March 30-April 1 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, will have a new structure, according to Emerald Expositions, which owns the show. Most educational sessions will take place Monday, the first day of the event. Once the exhibit hall opens on Tuesday, the show floor becomes the focus, with few classes overlapping exhibit hall times. In addition, Medtrade management says many classes will run 90 minutes instead of an hour. For more information, visit medtradespring.com… If you’re a subscriber to Mobility Management’s eMobility newsletter, you might have seen the story of Archer Hadley, a senior at Stephen F. Austin High School in Texas. Archer, who has cerebral palsy, knows how difficult it is to get around at a school with inaccessible doors — so with the help of National Seating & Mobility (NSM), he set out to raise $40,000 to buy and install automatic doors. Archer’s “Mr. Maroo Wheelchair Challenge” — named after his school’s mascot — enabled students and faculty to spend a day in a wheelchair while raising funds for the project. Gary Plakias, ATP, says NSM loaned seven wheelchairs to the effort, including different ultralightweight

briefly… models and a lightweight one. NSM made sure the chairs were given “cushions, positioning belts and most importantly, anti-tippers — because the first student viewed in a manual chair in the (local television station’s) video is attempting a wheelie!” The Wheelchair Challenge ran through the start of November, and Plakias says NSM’s chairs were at the school for three weeks — during which time, Archer

raised $83,000. Plakias said NSM staffers had “known Archer for many years and have watched him mature to be a responsible and caring young man…Worthwhile projects are part of his make-up, so when he approached us about assisting with this one, we were happy to do so.” Upon hearing about the project’s overwhelming success, Plakias added, “How proud his parents must be, and deserving of fair praise themselves”… In December, BBC News reported that the European Court of Justice said obesity could be considered a disability if it limited a person’s “full and effective participation.” The ruling is binding across the European Union. The decision stems from a child care worker in Denmark who contends he was fired because he was obese, though he said his weight (160 kg, or 350 lbs.) did not stop him from performing tasks properly. l

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http://www.ROVImobility.com


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Abilities Expo Rolls Into San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Rain didn’t dampen the spirits of attendees at the McEnery Convention Center as they gathered for 2014’s final Abilities Expo the week before Thanksgiving.

The venue is among the more intimate of locations for the event series aimed at consumers with disabilities, their families and caregivers. As usual, the exhibit hall was a combination of familiar mobility-related manufacturers, service organizations, local businesses and service providers, and artists with disabilities who showed off and sold

their wares. The Abilities Expo’s 2015 lineup includes

a new venue. Billed as the series’ D.C. Metro stop, the Dec. 4-6 show takes place at the Dulles Convention Center in Chantilly, Va. — and could include some advocacy activities as well, given its proximity to Capitol Hill.

Other 2015 stops include Los Angeles (March 6-8), New York Metro (May 1-3), Chicago (June 12-14), Houston (July 31-Aug. 2) and Boston (Sept. 18-20). For information on exhibiting or registering for any of the 2015 events, visit abilitiesexpo.com. l

— Laurie Watanabe

Thanks to an array of flashy, elegant and eye-popping op-tions, this booth display lived up to Colours Wheelchair’s name. Note the Yamaha power-assist unit on the chair!

The Aftermarket Group showed off some flashy accessories.

As always, the Diestco booth did brisk business thanks to its large inventory of wheelchair and scooter accessories.

Access Medical announced the opening of its new Burlin-game branch office — to serve northern California’s Bay Area — just days before the Abilities Expo in San Jose.

It’s an exciting time for the power-assist niche: The Tailwind, a power-assist wheelchair system was on display in San Jose.

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Kempf combines functionality and beauty in its automo-tive hand controls.

Smirthwaite products for seating, positioning and activities of daily living are now avail-able in the United States.

Attendees loved Mobility Ventures’ MV-1 LX edition, with all kinds of luxurious details.

Since Sunrise Medical’s new MONO backrest system has a central post design, backrest widths and chair widths can be independently configured and ordered.

Permobil offered attendees its always-popular wheelchair tuneup service.

Quantum Rehab gave away posters featuring consumers living their lives more independently thanks to assistive technology.

Due to a unique front-wheel design, the Whill power wheelchair can turn around in its own space. Whill executives said the power chair will be upcoming in two versions: a consumer one that won’t be coded, and a more traditional model that will have a HCPCS code.

Toyota’s Auto Access Seat makes transfers a breeze.

Spinergy’s power-assist system, the ZX-1, will be a focal point in 2015.

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Client:Addison, 8 1/2 years old

Diagnosis:SMA/Werdnig-Hoffman disease

Major Goal:A transportable, growable wheelchair for a growing girl.

Meet the ClientTraditionally, children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have been issued strollers with full recline capability as a mobility option — strollers such as the EaSyS or Kimba with full recline and full leg extension capability. These, however, do not have much growth potential for children past

Ultralightweight & Manual Wheelchair Case Studies

Ultralight & Manual Wheelchair Case Studies

By Jeff Auter, ATP/CRTS, National Seating & Mobility, Milwaukee

While every seating & mobility client situation is unique, looking over the shoulder of a colleague can generate new ideas or inspire ways to tweak existing systems to fit different applications. That’s our hope: that you’ll see something here to apply to clients you’re

Looking for Room to Grow

7 years of age, after which these children have to use reclining manual wheelchairs as their only option.

In February 2014, Addison, age 8 ½, came into National Seating & Mobility’s Milwaukee office for an evaluation to replace her current EaSyS stroller. She met with Sean Auter and me to determine what could be done to grow her existing stroller base until a new wheelchair option could be decided upon. She was 55" in height and weighed 50 lbs. The parents had done a very creative job in extending the EaSyS support platform using PVC pipe tubing to accommodate Addison’s height. When Addison was in public, her nurse walked in front of her, as her head stuck out 23" longer than the stroller’s front casters. The nurse did this to prevent people from walking into Addison during outings.

working with now, or clients you’ll see months from now. Our thanks to the ATPs, clinicians and manufacturer representatives who shared their notes, and thanks especially to the clients and families who told their stories in hopes of helping someone down the road. — Ed.

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Defining a Successful SystemHer parents reported that they did not wish to pursue getting a reclining wheelchair, as the frame would be too tippy backwards, and the chair would be too long to fit into transport vans or attend school. Also, Addison would have no way to come up in space to see her surroundings, as her hip angle did not match that of a reclining wheel-chair. In other words, she could not sit in an adult wheelchair and have only her backrest be brought upright.

Addison also required mounting places for her respiratory and suction equipment. There was no real place to attach a transit tie-down system onto a conventional reclining wheel-chair. There was really no way to make enough space on an existing reclining wheelchair to accommodate her equipment.

At evaluation in February, Sean and I took body measurements and determined Addison needed a support system at least 57" in length that allowed her to lie down totally flat, but bend slightly at her hips and knees. This system had to be no more than 26" wide to fit onto the stairlift at school, which she attends daily. The system needed to have adult push handles that could angle-adjust for the heights of the different people pushing while Addison was lying completely flat. Imagine a hospital gurney, but with push handles that rose above it — like those you would see on a tilt-in-space wheelchair like the Ki Mobility Focus CR or Quickie IRIS.

The new system also had to allow for growth in length and change-able positions of her hip and knees. Several years ago, Sean and I would have gone into our back warehouse where our fabrication shop is and modified a wheelchair frame ourselves to fit someone like Addison and the requirements she has. We would have done welding and custom fabrications to hand-make a system for Addison. But in today’s world, working with a manufacturer makes things serviceable

and allows duplication in the future on a worldwide level. We drew up a couple of stick figures showing Addison from a top and a side view. We identified the angles that we needed to be adjustable and also gave the dimensions for this to be created. Most manufacturers told us that a conventional reclining wheelchair was the only option, but they did have limited customization, which came at great cost.

New Configuration PossibilitiesIn came Tom Whelan and Ki Mobility. They were excited to work with me on this, and together, we felt their Ki Focus rotational chair would be an excellent possible platform for a totally new seating system.

Tom came up with the idea of using their angle-adjustable links at the front and back of the frame and hip/knee/foot with telescoping tubes to allow for lower-extremity growth. My idea was to take the Focus and turn it backward so when the unit is tilted, it actually raises the entire platform forward into a more upright position. This allows Addison to view her entire world as much as she can tolerate.



This Is How We Roll!


Client:Steve Kearley, 43, VP of sales

Diagnosis:C6-7 complete SCI, 25 years post injury

Major Goal:Manage posterior pelvic tilt and lumbar kyphosis; reduce need to constantly reposition lower extremities; support career environment.

Meet the Client

Even decades post injury, efficient self propulsion was not a major everyday concern for Steve Kearley, 43, an ultralight-weight wheelchair user. A three-time Paralympian in quad rugby, Steve still plays on a local team, so strength and stamina issues weren’t necessarily at the top of his list of concerns as he sought out his next wheelchair.

To find the best possible seating & mobility system, Steve worked with Brandon Edmondson, OTR/ATP, director of clinical sales for Permobil and TiLite, and Jim Black, TiLite sales management. And they identified a

“The First Chair I Sit Into Rather than on Top Of ”

Push handles were placed on the front of the chair as well as the back, which allowed the chair to be pushed from either end. Both sets of handles also were designed with angle adjust-ability in mind. By doing so, we save on the overall length of the chair. When not pushing from the front, those handles are folded down. This saves on storage space, and also prevents Addison’s head and feet from acci-dental impact. This took care of the frame.

What we had to do next was address her lying-down position and supportive surfaces, but keep in mind relative space to put her respi-ratory equipment and other supplies. Tom suggested we work with the Pete Cionitti from Therafin Corp. Sean made templates out of cardboard from the measurements we took and had them sent to Therafin. Pete and the Therafin team were able to quote us foam cush-ions and storage platforms to attach to the frame of the chair. We had the custom Ki Focus shipped to Therafin for installation of the posi-tioning components.

Ready for the FutureOnce all of this work was completed, the unit arrived back at National Seating in Milwaukee. Sean had Addison come in and adjusted the center of gravity of the frame, allowing it to fit into the family’s van and maximize the stability of the unit.

We then adjusted the seating system. There are two armrests that fold down with Therafin lateral pad hardware, allowing the chair to be 26" wide at most to fit onto the school lift. They fold back up to allow Addison a comfortable position for her arms. The hip angle is adjust-able, which compensates for hip and knee flexion contractures. The system has lateral pads along her thighs to allow us to control posi-tion of her lower extremities; these are telescoping to allow for growth. Only a new mattress will be needed in the future to accommodate for growth, as the frame does extend and cover for growth.

As you can see, there is plenty of room under the platform where Addison lies to allow for her storage of equipment, and the area is easy to access as well. The chair easily fits in the family vehicle, as well as at home and school. She is totally protected, comfortable and can safely explore the world.

I have been working as an RTS for 40 years and typically had to make things like this myself. It is great to know that companies like Ki Mobility and Therafin are there to assist us as ATPs to provide our patients with these unique solutions in this challenging world, espe-cially when it comes to getting things like this funded. Addison has been using this new system for the past six months with great success, not only for her but for her family and caregivers as well. Seeing the smiling faces of the family and smiling faces of children like Addison has kept me continually involved over the past 40 years. l

Jeff & Sean Auter



number of factors to consider:●l Steve works for a

urological supplies company and is in and out of his sedan multiple times a day — so wheelchair weight is “of utmost importance.”

●l Steve has had just one pressure ulcer, resolved via surgery four years ago. The ulcer was on an ischial tuberosity (IT) and started “with an abrasion from a bad transfer.”

●l Brandon noted, “Steve has a natural tendency to slide into posterior pelvic tilt and a lumbar kyphosis, especially when self-propelling. Although his current chair was functional, it required him to constantly reposition due to sliding forward in the system.“He also required 3.5" of seat slope for adequate stability, and the

seat-to-back angle this created made it impossible to provide any low-back support. The aggressive seat slope also encouraged his posterior pelvic tilt; however, without it he was at constant risk of forward insta-bility. Steve also has atrophy in his lower extremities, and even with a properly fitted rear seat width, his lower-extremity positioning was a concern. He found himself having to stop and readjust his legs on the footplate after negotiating bumps and terrain. He also was looking for help with the front stability of the entire system. His previous chair would pitch forward when negotiating steep declines, and weight was suddenly transferred to the front casters.”●l While propulsion wasn’t the first issue the team addressed, Brandon

added they wanted to be sure “rear wheel placement is optimal and he has a friction handrim [so] his push efficiency is effective. We aimed to make it as efficient as possible, considering he is now 25 years post, and any reduction of repetitive strain is vital.”

Creating the SolutionSteve and the team ultimately chose a TiLite TR with Ergo seat and seat taper modifications.

“We chose the TR over an open-frame design like his last chair due to weight and wanting to maximize the push efficiency of the frame,” Brandon says. “The triangulation provides rigidity that cannot be matched in an open-frame design.”

From there, the team drilled down to the details that would make Steve’s chair uniquely and efficiently his own. “We used a CAD drawing created off the order form to make some changes to his specs while monitoring the effect on some key measurements,” Brandon

says. “For example, Jim Black has been teaching about frame depth and its benefits for a few years now. We wanted to extend [Steve’s] frame depth several inches past his seat depth (sling depth) in order to give Steve the front stability he was looking for. The CAD allowed us to see exactly how much frame depth we could add without affecting his functional footprint (back of rear wheel to front of frame).

“We moved his rear-wheel center of gravity forward a bit and were able to make his seat depth 15" and his frame

depth 17.5" without growing his functional footprint. We wanted to stay at or below 31", as we knew this worked in all his environments. We also tapered his seat to match his body measurements and help him maintain his lower-extremity positioning throughout the day.”

To address postural issues, Brandon said, “The biggest thing we did for Steve is an Ergo seat. The Ergo seat provides stability without sitting the pelvis on a posterior seat slope. If you look at the pictures, Steve was able to drop straight down into the system and sits with a more neutral pelvis. His femur runs perfectly flat rather than on a slope now, which has helped his posture. We actually kept his front and rear seat height measurements the same, but because he can fully slide back into the system, his center of gravity is lower. He gets better back support and is not sliding out of the system and having to repo-sition. Although his previous chair had a 15" rear seat height, he was actually sitting closer to 16" because his closed back angle wouldn’t allow him to get all the way into the system.”

A Brand-New OutcomeDid all that fine-tuning pay off?

Steve has been using the TR for several months, and Brandon reports, “He stated, ‘This is the first chair I have ever felt like I sit into rather than on top of.’ He has reported better efficiency with propul-sion, as his casters are further forward and therefore unweighted. He also reports significantly better balance and front stability in the chair due to the Ergo seat and lowering of his center of gravity combined with the frame depth addition.

“He also reports less lower-extremity repositioning throughout the day due to the frame matching his body. One unexpected outcome was a reduction in pressure on his ITs. We show more proximal loading in the thigh area due to the shape of the Ergo bend — and while we can’t expect this for every client, it was definitely an added bonus. Steve is a living example of what we call TiFit — building and thinking of the chair like a wheeled prosthetic.”

As for what he and Jim learned from creating this new system for Steve, Brandon says, “Although it is sometimes easier to duplicate past specifications, we were able to make some changes with Steve’s blessing and create a better outcome.” l





Client:Lochan, 11

Diagnosis:T6 complete SCI resulting from a partial spinal cord tumor resection at age 4

Major Goal:Lightweight, easy-to-transport, growable chair that could accom-modate a rigid backrest; chair that could accommodate aftermarket off-road systems.

Meet the Client

tively easily.”To further reduce

the Icon’s weight, Gordon says he used the adjustability of the angle of the wheelchair’s back canes to attach the JAY 3 backrest using just Velcro fasteners, though he added two lightweight pipe clamps after Jeff advised him to. The newer Spex backrest is attached using Zip ties rather than the clamps.

“Unfortunately, it means that the backrest isn’t easily removable,” Gordon says, “but that isn’t an issue for us.”

Once Lochan had his Icon chair, the family purchased a Rio Mobility Firefly powered handcycle system, as well as a FreeWheel attachment. “We believe Lochan was the first to use a Firefly with the Icon, and the combination has been a tremendous success,” Gordon says. “The fact that the Icon’s axles have adjustable camber means that the stability of the chair can be improved if we’re going off road, and that the axles can be extended outwards to accommodate wide tires for sand. The suspension definitely helps when Lochan is traveling over bumpy surfaces and uneven pavements.”

Icon provided a “FreeWheel-compatible” footrest to expand Lochan’s outdoor reach even further, and Gordon reports the Icon itself has proven travel friendly.

“With the exception of the wheels, Lochan’s Icon has successfully traveled on the head-height luggage rack of a train, due to the Icon’s removable front end/caster assembly,” Gordon notes. “Whilst we wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing this, it shows the compactness of the Icon.”

And that it can keep up with an active boy’s many adventures. “The chair is robust,”

Gordon says. “The use of the Firefly means that Lochan is often off road, and it has not failed us yet, despite it being airborne more than once (deliberately!), dunked in our salt water pool (acci-dentally!) and used on the beach.” l

A Boy’s LifeHow far would a father go to find the right seating & mobility solu-tion for his young son?

Gordon C., a father in Western Australia, began looking for a replace-ment manual wheelchair for his son Lochan when the boy was 8 years old. Lochan had T6 complete paraplegia after under-going surgery at age 4 to remove a tumor from his spinal cord. Unhappy with Lochan’s previous chair and the lack of pediatric expertise where they lived, Gordon took his search to the Internet. He hoped Lochan’s next wheelchair would:●l Be light enough to easily to lift into their car.●l Allow adjustment for growth.●l Accommodate a rigid backrest, to be purchased separately.●l Accommodate off-road aftermarket systems for outdoor play.

On the CareCure forum (sci.rutgers.edu/), Gordon found infor-mation on Icon Wheelchairs. While Lochan’s funding source initially balked at purchasing a wheelchair from overseas, Gordon reports, “Thankfully, common sense prevailed in the end.”

Working with Icon co-founder Jeff Adams, Gordon took Lochan’s measurements and sent them over. They decided on an Icon A1 wheelchair with anti-tips added. For his first two years with the Icon, Lochan used a JAY 3 backrest; today, he uses a Spex Vigour rigid back-rest with lateral supports.

Asked the outcome of using the Icon, Gordon says, “Comparing Lochan’s chair with his previous one — which he stopped using over two and a half years ago — the Icon’s overall footprint is signifi-cantly smaller. The Icon is narrower, due to its ability of its width to be adjusted. And the Icon is shorter. Whilst it could be argued that his previous chair was purchased with incor-rect measurements, the fact that there is so much adjustment on the Icon means that any discrepan-cies in the measure-ments taken during the ordering process can be resolved rela-



Client:Richard Smith, 42

Diagnosis:C4-5 SCI, 19 years post injury

Major Goal:Provide excellent propulsion efficiency to counter a history of upper-extremity pain; kick-start a fitness program.

Meet the Client

NXT seat cushion through Dynamic Health Care Solutions.”

“Now I Want to Get Out of Bed”So what were the results of this finely tweaked new wheelchair?

“I’ve been sick for the last three years, and I’m now trying to get back into shape,” Richard says. “Since I got this chair, I’ve been outside all the time. It’s turned around my whole quality of life.” As proof, he reports that within two months of switching to his new Veloce, his shoulder pain stopped progressing, and he was able to stop taking the daily doses of Baclofen that had been helping to manage his spasms.

Richard also says his favorite trait of the Veloce is its adjustability, which came in handy as he and Daniel fine-tuned the new chair. “Daniel’s made a lot of adjustments,” Richard explains. “He’s made it more tippy, moved the side guards back. There are so many options.”

Says Daniel: “It took a couple of visits over about a month, but with Rich’s feedback and the .25" center-of-gravity and rear-wheel adjust-ments, we were able to find the perfect setup to allow Rich to manage his [home] ramp safely and have efficient day-to-day propulsion.”

Richard, meanwhile, loves that the Veloce “breaks down and folds and only weighs about 12 lbs. It makes it a lot easier to lift across my body as I put it in the car.” As for propelling it, “You just touch it, and it rolls. It feels like I’m pushing a cloud.”

And that improved propulsion has had a major impact on Richard’s overall perspective. “Now I wake up and I want to get out of bed,” he says. “Knowing I don’t have to push that heavy chair around makes it a lot easier.” l

“I’ve Been Outside All the Time”Propulsion efficiency is more than just a faster way to get around. At its best, it can improve everything from the wheelchair user’s activity level to his attitude.

Take, for instance, Richard Smith. Nineteen years post injury, he presented with “a history of upper-extremity pain and injury, and required an ultralightweight system with excellent propulsion efficiency,” said Daniel Westley, an equipment specialist from Advanced Mobility Products Ltd.’s Vancouver/Burnaby location.

In working with this client, Daniel notes, “Rich tends to sit with his lower extremities abducted, and he requires an aggressive static tilt angle for balance, stability and propulsion ergonomics.” Rich also uses a compact car “and required a transportable system,” Daniel says.

So Daniel chose a Motion Composites Veloce ultralight chair measuring 18x18". The chair uses 5" casters and features more than 4" of dump, 3° of camber, 24" Spinergy Spox wheels, and high-friction plastic-coated handrims. “The chair was ordered with a 1+" extended front frame to accommodate Richard’s abducted lower-extremity position and to provide a larger surface area for transfers,” Daniel says. “To maintain the lightness of the system, Rich selected carbon fiber

clothing guards and a one-piece carbon fiber flip-up footplate, as well as an NXT back and





Highly motivated, gainfully employed, active, working to sustain good health practices. That’s the way that Penny J. Powers, PT, MS, ATP, at the Vanderbilt University Adult Seating & Mobility Clinic described client Anne Richardson, a part-time employee at Vanderbilt’s Divinity school library.

“She is a wife, mother and grandmother,” Penny added. “She is highly motivated to achieve the maximum level of inde-pendence with regards to mobility.”

Penny listed Anne’s clinical challenges: “Small-fiber peripheral neuropathy with neuropathic pain involving both lower extremi-ties; osteoarthritis; impaired sensation in bilateral lower extremities; pain in upper extremities, wrists and hands resulting in functional impairments.”

Those impairments were significant, Penny added: “A history of falls; paresthesias; diminished ability to ambulate with and without assistive device secondary to the inability to weight bear (stand); decreased ability to propel a standard-weight or high-strength light-weight manual wheelchair.”

Penny said Anne “can independently self-propel an ultralight-weight manual wheelchair with bilateral upper extremities and some foot propulsion.” But when in the community, Anne has relied on dependent mobility.

Other Factors Coming Into PlayIn addition to those clinical challenges, Powers and her seating & mobility team colleague, Andy Foster, OTR/L, ATP, had to consider Anne’s transportation: a four-door car that led Anne to request a folding wheelchair rather than one with a rigid frame. Penny and Andy also noted that Anne reported chronic pain in her upper and lower extremities, and that she had decreased endurance during her days.

After factoring in all those details, Penny and Andy recommended a TiLite Aero Z — a folding model — measuring 16x17x18.5" (front seat-to-floor height) and 17.5" (back seat-to-floor height).

Fine-Tuning the SystemWhy the TiLite Aero Z? “The patient prefers and requested a folding-

frame wheelchair,” Penny explained. “This folding manual wheelchair offers the best ‘retro’ fit for the SmartDrive attachment for folding chairs. It is the lightest-weight folding manual wheelchair that we could offer her.”

The Aero Z is set up with 2° camber, 80° hangers, composite adjustable footplates, adjustable-tension back upholstery, a Comfort Company Curve cushion, push-to-lock wheel locks, an adjustable quick-release axle, and plastic-coated handrims. Anne’s Aero Z does not have armrests.

Adding the MAX Mobility SmartDrive power-assist unit expanded the geography within Anne’s reach.

Using the SmartDrive “provides her with means to access the community for service and leisure activities, family activities and the university campus for employment-related duties and responsi-bilities,” Penny reports. “[Anne] verbalizes a high degree of satisfac-tion with the new manual wheelchair and recognizes that proficiency with the SmartDrive will take practice in a variety of settings, surfaces and terrains. She has met her goal of independent mobility in the community.”

And as for what the seating & mobility team learned from this experience?

“It is vital,” Penny says, “to keep abreast of innovations in the industry to be able to offer patients/clients optimum interventions to meet their goals and expectations.” l

An Extra Push for a New Ultralight Chair

Highly motivated, gainfully employed, active, working to sustain good health practices. That’s the way that Penny J. Powers, PT, MS, ATP, at the Vanderbilt University Adult Seating & Mobility

“She is a wife, mother and grandmother,” Penny

motivated to achieve the -

pendence with regards to

Penny listed Anne’s clinical challenges: “Small-fiber peripheral

Client:Anne Richardson, 62

Diagnosis:Small-fiber peripheral neuropathy; osteoarthritis

Major Goal:Independent mobility in her community while using a folding wheelchair.

Meet the Client



In automotive racing slang, “flat” describes the position of a car’s accelerator when its driver is going all out — as in the accelerator being “flat” on the floorboard.

It’s an apt metaphor for the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) as it prepares for its annual conference — this year in Daytona Beach, Fla., Feb. 25-27.

A number of factors, ranging from aging Baby Boomers to main-stream headlines about accessible taxicabs in New York City, have brightened the spotlight on mobility and accessible transportation in recent years. And NMEDA’s educational campaigns — both within the industry and reaching outside it — have grown to keep pace.

Vehicles for CommunicationsOne of NMEDA’s biggest recent pushes has come on the commu-nications front. The organization currently has publications for consumers as well as its Circuit Breaker magazine and Short Circuit newsletters for dealers.

Consumer education remains a major project, as NMEDA CEO/Executive Director Dave Hubbard indicates too many consumers still aren’t aware of the role that mobility dealers play in the healthcare continuum.

“We try to reach out to consumers on a consistent

basis to let them know what NMEDA stands for and why they should be considering a NMEDA member dealer when they have mobility needs or automotive mobility needs,” Hubbard says. “Part of that is the newsletters that you see going out to the consumers: They inform people that mobility is more than just cars and lifts and seats. It’s how do I travel, how do I get around, how do I outfit my kitchen? There are a lot of things attached to mobility that mobility dealers do know about and are more than willing to help with.”

Education for the IndustryNMEDA’s professional magazine and newsletter keep members updated on the many issues facing the adaptive automotive industry. Webinars have become a popular way for NMEDA to offer educa-tional opportunities, and in a new wrinkle, the automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have started giving presentations.

“Those Webinars are going great, in fact, outstanding,” Hubbard reports. “Toyota and Chrysler have given their Webinars, and we broke records in attendance. This is the first year we really tried to put

OEM Webinars together to try to teach our members about the OEM product.”

Hubbard explains that those types of Webinars — in which the OEMs can directly address dealers selling the end products, including vehicle conversions — are much needed. “What we realized is that a gap exists in the industry. If you’re

NMEDA Revs Up Education & Outreach Efforts

Technology Series

By Laurie Watanabe

Full Speed Ahead

0215mm_NMEDA2124.indd 21 1/13/15 11:37 AM


Full Speed Aheadin the OEM business — if you’re a Toyota or Chrysler dealer — you get training on the Toyota and the Chrysler product. But if you’re a mobility dealer and are buying vans from Braun or VMI or Eldorado, you don’t necessarily get training on the OEM product. You get training on the ramps, seating and special equipment, but you don’t necessarily know all the features and benefits that go along with the vehicle itself, the original equipment. So what we’re trying to do — and these are the first steps, and I think they’re going to get stronger as we go along — is bridge that gap between the OEM product and mobility dealer sales personnel.”

The Webinars, open to NMEDA members, can be useful to a wide range of mobility dealer personnel.

“I would say it’s good for everybody,” Hubbard says. “The people most likely to use it are those people involved in sales to some degree. It really depends on the type of mobility dealer.”

Hubbard adds that clinician members of NMEDA are welcome to tap into the Webinars. “But we also offer them the CAMS presenta-tions — Comprehensive Automotive Mobility Solutions. We have it in a couple of different forms. We’ve trained several hundred dealers across the country to give one-hour seminars on mobility solutions that are available, what they do and how they operate and where they need to go to find them so [clinicians] can recommend that to their clients. They can get continuing education units for those: We offer CEUs from AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) and APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) and the kinesi-ologists’ association, a number of different associations.

“And then we have a full-day class, which is beginning to pick up momentum and which is offered to OTs and PTs in a given market. That’s good for seven CEUS, and that takes them through the whole process: the history, the solutions that are available. It gives them a walk-around of products, it talks about the different types of mobility, the [mobility-related conditions’] prognoses — are they going to get worse, what do you have to pay attention to? It’s very comprehensive.”

Those all-day courses are presented in a face-to-face format; Hubbard says NMEDA has five venues planned so far in 2015. The ideal clinician attendee, he adds, is one who works with clients who have mobility impairments, but who isn’t familiar with adaptive auto-motive services and technology available for those consumers.

And for technicians, the organization has its Certified Technician Program, a chance for individual technicians to gain recognition that their mobility dealer employers can leverage in marketing campaigns, but also that technicians can take with them if they change jobs.

The Certified Technician Program is a voluntary one, though Hubbard says he hopes it eventually becomes mandatory for NMEDA members.

To complete the program, technicians need to take “training programs from different manufacturers, enough manufacturers so they have certificates on file to do the work — that’s part of [NMEDA’s mandatory] Quality Assistance Program (QAP) requirement anyway. We have electrical training I and II so they have enough electrical training because most of our equipment is electronic. They need to

understand the QAP and the rules and the guidelines that NMEDA puts forth — and those are living documents that are reviewed monthly and annually and updated on a regular basis so that we’re setting the standards in the industry and our technicians are up to speed on those.”

Technicians also take a final test to achieve certification, and need to requalify about every two years.

It’s a worthwhile investment, Hubbard believes, to demonstrate that mobility dealer technicians are uniquely qualified.

“There’s a big difference between a mobility technician and a stan-dard automotive technician,” he points out. “[Standard technicians] don’t know anything about ramps and hand controls and the elec-tronic controls. They learn how to deal with a car, but they don’t know how to deal with the mobility equipment. People have to understand that it’s different, and that the people who install hand controls, for instance, know exactly what they’re doing.”

National Mobility Awareness Month: Year 4For all the effort going into providing day-to-day education for both consumers and dealers, the event that garners the most attention all year is the industry’s National Mobility Awareness Month.

The most popular and well-known part of the campaign is the contest in which consumers compete in an accessible vehicle give-away. Last year, NMEDA tweaked the contest’s structure to ensure, for instance, that one of the winners would be a senior.

This year’s contest will renew those rules, with consumers submit-ting applications and the public voting for their favorites.

Along the way, the Awareness Month each May generates publicity for NMEDA dealers while educating consumers, clinicians and the mainstream public about options available for people who have mobility impairments.

The 2014 contest “garnered 1.4 billion impressions throughout the course of the campaign,” Hubbard says. “And again, huge positive results from the mobility market in terms of participants. We had over 1,400 participants, so we’re getting the word out.”

In the lead-up to the May winners’ announcement, Hubbard says NMEDA plans to have adaptive automotive technology displays at major rehabilitation hospitals. Mobility dealers are being encouraged to reach out to their communities via open houses and media events.

The major goal is to educate the current generation of consumers not just for the benefit of today’s seniors, but so tomorrow’s seniors already know their options when they need support.

“Most baby boomers are not in the senior mobility market,” Hubbard says. “They’re still 10 to 15 years away from that. What they are is children of parents in that market, and making them aware of what’s available for their parents will keep them aware, hopefully, and they’ll be prepared when they get to that age.

“We’re still one of the best-kept secrets I think in the country in the sense that people don’t necessarily want to know about mobility because it’s not something they want to have to deal with. But when they do, it’s good to know and important to know where to go.” l

Technology Series

0215mm_NMEDA2124.indd 22 1/13/15 11:37 AM

www.mv-1.us (877) 681-3678© Mobility Ventures LLC

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NYC Adds Nearly 150 MV-1 Vehicles to Paratransit Fleet

Technology Series

Rollx Vans, a direct-to-consumer manufacturer of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, has earned International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 certification, the company has announced.

The 9001:2008 type of certification is known as Quality Management Certification and focuses on the customer experience, said Mike Harris, president of Rollx Vans.

“We’ve always been a customer-focused company and committed to continual improvement, so this certification with ISO was a very logical step for us in our progression to ensure our customer satisfaction and continuous improvement,” Harris said in an interview with Mobility Management. “ISO is truly the gold standard across multiple industries: the automotive industry, the medical industry, the service industry. Worldwide, they’re the gold standard, and that’s one of the reasons we reached out to ISO. They’re inclusive, unbiased, independent and ultimately customer focused in what they do, so ISO made sense for who we are and what we wanted to do and continue to do with our customers.”

ISO creates voluntary international standards that organizations can then be audited on. American Management Technology conducted the Rollx Vans audit, which Harris described as a comprehensive look at the company’s activities, communications and education processes.

A Nine-Month Process“From start to finish for us, it was about nine months,” Harris said of the ISO certification process. “And we’d been thinking about it much longer than that. The actual audit certification was a full four days, and that was after we had a preliminary two-day conference with them. It’s

a very in-depth process.”The audit included examining Rollx Vans’

actions in minute detail, as well as talking to Rollx Vans employees to gauge their under-standing of and compliance with company procedures.

“They check into everything from the initial contact with a customer, if the customer contacts us, through production design processes, build processes, delivery processes

to the customer, after-sales service, employee training and certifica-tions,” Harris said. “Employees were interviewed to ensure they under-stood our quality policy and their interaction with our customers. Quality-inspection processes regarding design, build, sale, delivery, service, all paperwork processes, build processes, customer follow-up, customer feedback and corrective actions are very big things with ISO. It’s not just the quality of the product or product design, it’s the entire process and the interactions with the customers and the feedback from the customers.”

And now, Rollx gets to look forward to maintaining the certification.“It’s an ongoing process; we have to achieve this every day,” Harris

says. “And we have to go through the audit again in 2015. It goes back through everything you’ve done; everything’s inspected from the previous year. Once the bar’s raised, you have to hold it up.”

But he says the process is worthwhile because of the ultimate benefit to consumers. “ISO is part of every day, and it’s part of every action we take. Hopefully, it creates more options for consumers. The more choices they have, the better it is for them, in any industry. I think the ISO standard is extraordinarily beneficial to the end user.” l

Rollx Vans Achieves ISO 9001:2008 Certification

When thinking about major cities with wheelchair-accessible transportation, New York City hasn't histori-cally sprung to mind. While cities like London were boasting in 2012 about having 100-percent accessible taxicab fleets, for instance, just two percent of New York City's cabs were accessible in 2013, according to Capital New York reporter Dana Rubenstein.

Thanks to a December 2013 settlement, the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission has agreed to make half of all its taxicabs accessible by the end of 2020. And as a mark of progress, Mobility Ventures has announced that New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has expanded its fleet of wheel-chair-accessible vehicles by adding 147 MV-1 vehicles to its collection.

With this new order, there will be nearly 400 MV-1s in the para-

transit fleet of 2,000 vehicles.In a Dec. 11 news announcement, Mobility Ventures said,

"Replacing small buses with the MV-1 in the MTA fleet has saved the MTA millions of dollars thanks (to) the MV-1's greater fuel economy and reduced maintenance needs. This delivery represents the third order the MTA has placed for MV-1s."

John Walsh, Mobility Ventures' VP of sales and marketing, said about the new order, "It provides a sign of continued confidence and trust in our company and this revolutionary vehicle. The MV-1 is the premier accessible vehicle, unmatched in safety and efficiency, meeting the needs of wheelchair passengers like no other vehicle on the road today."

Last summer, Mobility Ventures launched a "luxury" LX version of the MV-1. l

Full Speed Ahead

0215mm_NMEDA2124.indd 24 1/13/15 11:37 AM


Armada Ramp SystemThe modular Armada ramp system is designed to be extremely light and flexible to make installations easier than ever. The ramps can also be moved or reconfigured as needed. They assemble with a 1/2" wrench, and thanks to all-anodized, high-strength aluminum, the ramps don’t chip, rust or flake. Heavy-duty welded construction is enhanced with a bidirectional knurled tread that’s skid resistant and won’t wear off. Sections are 36" wide in 4', 5', 6' and 8' lengths with custom sizes available.

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Crytico ReviewsLaunched in September, Crytico.com is a consumer review site devoted to mobility prod-ucts — including vehicle conversions, ramps and stairlifts as well as wheelchairs — but providers can benefit from the feedback, as well as the ability to dispute grievances and thank happy customers. Crytico says each consumer reviewer is authenticated by a third-party call center.

Cryticocrytico.com

Rear-Entry MinivansAutoAbility offers its Advantage series of rear-entry, wheelchair-accessible minivan conver-sions for the Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country and Toyota Sienna models. Several seating configurations are offered to provide greater flexibility for both wheelchair users and other passengers. AutoAbility says its vehicles are fully crash tested and exceed FMVSS and CMVSS impact requirements for frontal, side and rear offset and rollover standards.

AutoAbility(248) 620-4200autoability.com

Vehicle RampsThese scooter and wheelchair ramps are avail-able in a range of sizes to meet many different needs. Perforations prevent water from collect-ing on ramp surfaces. When the ramps aren’t needed, they can be easily removed and stored in their carrying bags until the next use.

Drive Medical(877) 224-0946drivemedical.com

Escape Plus BathtubA redesigned curved door, control switches and faster drains are among the improvements in this new version of the Escape Plus, a walk-in bathtub that now allows the user to slide directly into the tub and easily close the door while seated. The new design also offers greater seat height and width, along with a standard heated seat, eight water jets and extra depth for full body soaking. Control switches now have air buttons that are easier to read and reach.

Best Bath Systems(800) 727-9907best-bath.com

Passport Vertical Platform LiftThe Passport Vertical Platform Lift features all-aluminum construction with powder-coated steel support legs. It has a 750-lb. weight capac-ity, but a total weight of just 380 lbs. — and since the tower portion weighs just over 200 lbs., most installers can maneuver it with just a hand truck to reduce the number of personnel needed. Available in 52" and 72" straight or turn platforms.

EZ-ACCESS(800) 451-1903ezaccess.com

accessibility marketplace

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GRIP Lap BoardThis non-slip device provides a stable platform to help wheelchair users to transport food items, drinks, electronics and other personal belongings while on the move. The Lap Board — which does not have a tacky surface and can be carried on the lap or by hand — is available in an 11x14" size in black, yellow or blue, and in 8x18" in black.

GRIP Solutions(814) 525-5362mygripsolutions.com

LifeTrikeWith a travel range of 150 miles or more at speeds up to 30 mph, LifeTrike was designed to provide longer-range independent mobility to manual and power wheelchair users. Wheel-chairs can roll in and out of the LifeTrike to make trips more efficient. The LifeTrike is 72" long, 67" wide, features twin 49cc engines, and has weight limits of 250 lbs. for the consumer and 256 lbs. for the wheelchair.

Mobility Technologies(765) 983-8711lifetrike.com

Superarm LiftThe “platform-less” Superarm lift can be transferred from vehicle to vehicle with minimal modification needed and fits most minivans and full-sized vans. The Superarm lift can wield up to 600 lbs. and has also been adapted to fit applications such as yachts and homes — so contact Handicaps to ask what sorts of custom-izations are available.

Handicaps Inc.(800) 782-4335handicapsinc.com

MV-1Designed from the ground up to be wheelchair accessible, the MV-1 rolls off the assembly line with a side-deployed power ramp and is equipped with a spacious interior and an extra-wide door. The ramp deploys from within the floor in two different lengths. The MV-1, built in Indiana, is available in SE, DX and LX models that meet all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Mobility Ventures LLC(877) 681-3678mv-1.us

Vantage StairliftProviders will appreciate the Vantage straight-style stairlift’s quick delivery and installation, while consumers will enjoy the stairlift’s smooth operation, constant speed and comfortable seat design. The Vantage’s seat folds to 13.6" when it’s not in use, and the non-handed unit can be installed on the left or right side of the stairway without needing reconfiguration. It has a rack-and-pinion drive system, a 90° swiveling seat and holds up to 300 lbs.

Harmar(800) 833-0478harmar.com

INDE2PVI’s TrekAway Independence platform lifts are loaded with features to enhance user efficiency. The lifts feature SmartPoint technology, so they know when to fold out of the way during opera-tion. A Plug-N-Play option and a “quick-charge” removable lithium battery can get consumers back on the road in 30 minutes or less. The lifts have a 350-lb. lifting capacity via a platform measuring 27.5x39". They’re compatible with Class II or III hitches.

Prairie View Industries(800) 554-7267pviramps.com



Serving the Seating & Mobility Community

Bringing you more online every day

Join 12,000+* industry professionals who receive eMobility, our three-times-a-month rehab & mobility e-letter.

mobilitymgmt.comVisit our site daily for all the complex rehab information you need in one place!

Increase industry knowledge with our webinars, offered f requently throughout the year. Also available on demand.

For more information, contact Karen Cavallo [email protected]

*Publisher’s Own Data


http://www.mobilitymgmt.com


Milford Person LiftThis highly adaptable and versatile wheelchair-to-vehicle transfer system is designed to be quick and easy to operate for a wide range of consumers. With a lifting capacity of 330 lbs., the Milford Person Lift can be used to transfer consumers to their own personal vehicles, or consumers can use the Smartbase option to take the Milford Person Lift with them when they travel.

Pride Mobility Products(800) 800-8586pridemobility.com

QLK-150Designed to provide maximum independence, the QLK-150 docking system is ideal for wheel-chair users who drive their own vehicles or want to quickly secure their own chairs via a single-point system. The QLK-150 has been success-fully crash tested to higher WC19 loads, and has been tested forward, rearward and sideways. It features a compact design with a larger touch area and embedded LED indicators to show system status. A “flush” surface eliminates snags and gives 3/16" of additional bolt clearance.

Q’Straint(800) 987-9987qstraint.com

Toyota Northstar Access360This side-entry conversion for the Toyota Sienna provides 360° of wheelchair maneuverability inside the cabin, plus industry-leading head-room inside and at the door, especially helpful for large power chairs and tall passengers. Entering/exiting the Sienna occurs at the touch of the OEM vehicle remote. When the ramp is deployed, the Powerkneel system lowers the vehicle and reduces ramp angle.

VMI(855) 864-8267vantagemobility.com


The Pathfinderrrrr

Enjoy the freedom to do...

888-687-3552www.aquacreek.com

[email protected]


http://www.aquacreek.com

http://www.alumiramp.com


Swash Bidet SeatsAs seen at the San Jose Abilities Expo: The Swash system fits most existing toilet fixtures and then delivers cleansing water at the push of a button on the remote control. All Swash models offer posterior and anterior cleans-ing, adjustable water pressure, aerated wash spray, self-cleaning nozzles, and a gentle-close seat and lid. Deluxe models also offer adjustable water pressure, water heating, heated seats and a warm air dryer, among other features, to maximize users’ independence in the bathroom.

Brondell Inc.(888) 542-3355brondell.com

DARIOS Hand ControlsAs seen at the San Jose Abilities Expo: Combining function with beautiful form, DARIOS driving controls feature a digital ring installed on the steering wheel — without interfering with steering wheel airbag deployment. A wired connection between the steering wheel and the dashboard transmits the position of the accelerator ring to the gas pedal. KEMPF says DARIOS was tested in Daimler AG labs in Germany and found to be immune to electromagnetic noise, thus preventing unin-tentional accelerations.

KEMPF(888) 4KEMPF-USkempf-usa.com

Shower StoolThis stool provides a stable seat in the bathtub or shower, but swivels 360° to make it easier to bathe and to reach for items. For safety, the stool also locks at 90° intervals to restrict swiveling motion. The padded, rotating top can be easily removed for cleaning. Includes a removable tray for storing personal items. The seat height adjusts in 1" increments from 16" to 23".

Drive Medical Design & Mfg.(516) 998-4600drivemedical.com

Sienna with Auto Access SeatAs seen at the San Jose Abilities Expo: Built by Toyota specifically for its popular Sienna minivan and installed by the manufacturer, the Auto Access seat lifts up and rotates to provide easier transfers for consum-ers. It’s available for the Sienna LE or XLE models, and since the seat is designed and made by Toyota, it perfectly matches the rest of the Sienna interior. The Auto Access Seat, with a weight capacity of 330 lbs., is covered under Toyota’s factory warranty.

Toyota Mobilitytoyotamobility.com

Amplitude MagazineAs seen at the San Jose Abilities Expo: Advocating powerful, practical and positive living with limb loss, Amplitude magazine’s preview issue features Dancing with the Stars alum Amy Purdy, a double below-the-knee amputee, on its cover. Inside are stories such as “Loving Yourself Again After Limb Loss,” “Pain, Pain, Go Away,” and “Turning Your Passion Into the Career of a Lifetime.” All articles, resources and departments emphasize the possibility that the sky’s the limit for people living with limb loss. Subscriptions are free to qualified consumers and professionals.

Amplitude Media Group(303) 255-0843amplitude-media.com

product revue

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Group Publisher Karen Cavallo(760) 610-0800

Publisher’s Assistant Lynda Brown(972) 687-6710

Advertising Fax (866) 779-9095

ad index

AlumiRamp Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Aqua Creek Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

HurryCane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

MAX Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Mobility Ventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Ottobock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

advertisers’ indexCompany Name Page # Company Name Page #

accessibility marketplaceAlumiRamp Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

AutoAbility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Best Bath Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Crytico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Drive Medical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Company Name Page # Company Name Page # Company Name Page #

Out-Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Permobil Inc./TiLite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Pride Mobility Products/Quantum Rehab . . . . . 3

Q’Straint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

ROVI Mobility Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

EZ-ACCESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

GRIP Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Handicaps Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Harmar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Mobility Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Mobility Ventures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Prairie View Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Pride Mobility Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Q’Straint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

VMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Your Favorite ThingsThe Mobility Project highlights the best resources and educa-tion on topics ranging from accessible travel to pediatric technol-ogy innovations, advocacy groups, and events in 2015 for people who use wheelchairs, their families, friends and caregivers.

Technology SpotlightNew products and services for people with mobility-related disabilities.

PLUS: News & Commentary by Industry Experts

Available at 2015 Abilities Expos & Online at TheMobilityProject.com.

Coming in March 2015

0215mm_AdIndex30.indd 30 1/13/15 10:39 AM


http://www.mobilitymgmt.com


The SmartDrive® is a revolutionary power assist device that gives greater freedom and power to chair users.

• POWERFUL: Cruises up hills and over thick carpet.

• INTUITIVE: Push to go. Brake to stop. It’s that simple.

• SIMPLE: Plug in and go for days between charges.

• FLEXIBLE: Moves with you for wheelies and curbs.

• LIGHTWEIGHT: So light, you won’t even know it’s there.www.max-mobility.com

http://www.max-mobility.com

Black is the latest look in mid-wheel drive. Get ready to make a statement with these non-marking drive tires and casters. Available on the M300 and M400, the standard package includes silver rims with either 6” or 8” casters as well as solid or pneumatic drive tires. For something a bit edgier, go for the custom matte black casters and drive wheels. You’ll always be on trend with Permobil.

Learn more at Permobil.com

Go behind the scenes

Jen Goodwin Permobil user since 2013

http://www.permobil.com

February 2015 • Vol. 14 No. 2 Serving the Seating...

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