Question: Is there a device that can be added to a manual wheelchair that will reduce the speed at which it rolls? A cognitively impaired person is able to roll their wheelchair at a rapid rate of speed; which is not safe for other individuals in the vicinity. ~Toni

Answer: As far as I know there is nothing on the market that is built specifically for reducing the speed of a manual wheelchair. I suppose the wheelchair may be slowed down if you tried different wheels or tires on it, or if the wheelchair was made harder to propel. However, you should never try to modify or change somebody’s wheelchair for obvious safety reasons. Changing or modifying a wheelchair may also void the warranty on the chair and it could also make you liable if the person using the wheelchair is involved in an accident or injures themselves using the wheelchair. If the person agrees to it, I would try the wheel and tire change to see if that works. If not, I would recommend talking to the person regarding your concern for other people’s safety. The only other solution I can think of would involve buying the person a chair that doesn’t travel as fast, as long as they agreed to it.