Considerations need to be made on specific user of power wheelchairs, too. There are disability and impairment categories that involve safety risks on using power wheelchairs.

•low safety risks – paraplegics and amputees •moderate risk – people with weak or poorly controlled upper bodies •high risk – people with little or no upper body movement, paralyzed small people like children and “small” adults.

Now that you know safety risks on various disabled users of power wheelchairs, there’s some safety information that you need to know in order to avoid further risks:

1)Mechanical brakes – necessary item in power wheelchairs and an absolute must for outdoor models 2)Front-wheel configurations – outdoor models must have powered large wheels in front and indoor models with front-wheel casters must be used only on flat, level surfaces. 3)User Arm-Stabilization – for wheelchair users with impaired arm and hand function 4)Safety Shut-off and Braking controls – must be provided for users who use mouth, breath or other than hand controls

Several things, like traversing inclines, avoiding ground obstacles to wheels, fully charged batteries, having a mobile phone, avoiding rain and snow and having rechargeable batteries must always be kept in mind by power wheelchair users, too. -30-

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Kay Zetkin discovered the pleasure of writing through her daily journals as a teen-ager. Writing in it helped sort out her thoughts, relieve her feelings and record what she observes of the world.

According to Medicare Rights Center president, Robert Hayes, CMS remains old fashioned in its ways and becomes more so by proposing to retain inhumane coverage policy that leaves people with disabilities isolated in their homes and from their communities. In his heavy criticism of proposed coverage criteria, Hayes repelled practice of Medicare as a continuing affront to policies of Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush who, respectively championed Americans with Disabilities Act and New Freedom Initiative. Unlike CMS policy, Hayes said that two presidents’ steps were aimed at liberating people with disabilities from isolation and dependence.

Even as they criticized criteria being proposed, Hayes acknowledged that they applaud some aspects of it including function-based determination of medical necessity and effort to develop new codes for paying wheelchair suppliers. Still, they are demanding that White House review new policy especially those that breed on isolation and dependence. -30-

For comments and inquiries about article visit http://www.wheelchairspower.com

Kay Zetkin discovered the pleasure of writing through her daily journals as a teen-ager. Writing in it helped sort out her thoughts, relieve her feelings and record what she observes of the world.