can fit into my car's trunk. The problem is every time I lift up the pieces I re-injure myself. This past Sunday I ended up in a local hospital for 6 hours with a severely strained hip and pelvis. I need my power chair because I have osteoporosis, degenerative disk disease, degenerative facet joint disease and spinal stenosis. I really need a used trunk lift for my car, or a lift that keeps the power chair together and keeps it attached to the back of your vehicle.

The problem is that I am disabled and live on a very small social security disability check each month. I cannot afford to pay full price for a power chair lift. I’m looking for someone who sells used power chair lifts that can attach to my Toyota Camry.

~George

Answer:

There are programs and websites to facilitate the sale, exchange and re-use of pre-owned assistive technology, including wheelchair lifts for cars and vans. Disabled Dealer Magazine and the Medical Equipment and Mobility Auction are two sites where you can find used items for sale. Individual states have recycling, matching or exchange programs for assistive technology, through their State Tech Act Projects or Technology Access Programs. It’s worthwhile looking into what’s available in your area.

Question: Our Church has started its new building and has included a ramp for the stage area (as required) but this 11 m ramp will create issues in the hall area - where kids play, kids programs are conducted, etc. What other methods of providing access to a stage area can we provide - i.e. open lift, wheel chair raiser similar to taxis, etc. - that is more cost effective, practical and convenient, but still meet the regulations?

Thank You,

Neville

Answer: A vertical platform lift would be an alternative to a wheelchair ramp. It sounds like a portable model might be worth considering - several manufacturers (Ascension, Ameriglide, Adaptive Engineering, Garavneta, National Wheel-O-Vator, ThyssenKrupp Access) make portable lifts designed for providing access to stages and similar raised areas. The most obvious benefit with these lifts is that they can also be wheeled out of the way when they’re not needed. It’s important though to familiarize yourselves both with the requirements of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and with local regulations, to make sure that your church makes the right choice.

Answer: For some conditions, positioning aids or a postural support system might be the answer, because they’re designed to help people sit upright in their chairs without falling or slipping. If positioning or posture support isn’t an option in your sister’s case, or if you want to use positioning aids along with a recline feature, there are several options to choose from. Several companies make reclining manual wheelchairs, including Invacare, Sentra, Everest & Jennings, Millennium and Karman. Convaid specializes in stroller-type folding chairs - their line of wheelchairs includes a reclining model as well as chairs with advanced seating systems and tilt-positioning - and Dreamer Design makes Axiom Mobility strollers for adults. Reclining power wheelchairs are also available. In addition wheelchair positioning belts are also an option for stability in a wheelchair.

Question: We are designing a ramp for disabled access at our College which will have to turn back on itself by 180 degrees. What is the general turning circle for an electric wheelchair please? 

Ian

Answer: In comparison to front-wheel drive and mid-wheel drive models, rear-wheel drive electric wheelchairs have the largest turning radius, averaging at 33 to 36 inches. However, if you wish to accommodate electric scooters you’ll have to factor in a wider corner. Many scooter models have a turning radius of 40 to 45 inches - even 64 or 70 inches in some cases. To read more about front-wheel, mid-wheel and rear-wheel chairs please consult our page on Power Wheelchairs.

Thanks so much! 

Sue

Answer: Have you seen our article on all-terrain wheelchairs? Equipped with sturdy frames and rugged, shock-absorbing pneumatic tires, all-terrain chairs are designed to handle the kind of groundcover a regular wheelchair gets bogged down in, like sand, grass or gravel. All-terrain chairs generally have fully rotating wheels in the front to allow full turning and maneuverability, and they come in both power and manual models The main drawback is the higher price - a quick search turned up models ranging between $2500 and $3300 - so be sure to look around at the different options (including wheelchair rental and used chairs).

Answer: Some of the power wheelchair models by Jazzy offer compact frames and quick and easy disassembly, which makes it easier to transport them in a vehicle. But taking your wheelchair apart every time you want to haul it in the car isn’t always possible or practical, so you do have other options. Pride Mobility - the company behind Jazzy chairs - has a division called Silver Star Lifts. Their products include lifts for power chairs. There are other manufacturers that specialize in wheelchair lifts, but you might also look into a wheelchair carrier or trailer that you can tow behind your car. Some of them are open trailers, in which case you’d want to get a wheelchair cover to protect the chair from the elements, but you can also find enclosed or covered carriers. Some of the more advanced models offer additional features like a tilt option for easier loading.

Today, I would like to share a special interview with readers of The Wheelchair Site. I first heard about an organization called Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled, a few weeks back. This nonprofit organization provides live-in-companion monkeys to individuals with quadriplegic, severe spinal cord injuries, and other mobility-impairments -to assist them with their day-to-day activities. 

Today, Megan Keppeler, the Director of Operations at Helping Hands, was gracious enough to answer some of my questions about the organization.

Enjoy, and I hope you’re as inspired by this interview as I was.

Editor: Can you tell us about Helping Hands, and how long you’ve been in service?

Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers for the Disabled is a national nonprofit serving individuals with severe physical disabilities and other mobility-impairments by providing highly trained monkeys to assist with daily activities. Our first monkey placement was completed in 1979.

Editor: Can you tell us a bit about the capuchin monkeys as a breed? Why did you choose this specific breed of monkey as helping partners?

Helping Hands: Helping Hands monkeys are capuchin monkeys (commonly known as “organ grinder” monkeys). Known for their intelligence and curiosity, capuchins have great dexterity that enables them to manipulate many objects.  They have an affinity to humans, and their small size makes them wonderful home companions.

Editor: What training do the monkeys undergo before being paired with a human partner?

Helping Hands: Helping Hands monkeys are raised in foster homes for the first 7 to 10 years of their lives, where they learn to live in a home environment and become accustomed to life in a human home. After foster care, the monkeys return to the Helping Hands facility in Boston where training takes 3 to 4 years. Capuchin monkeys in captivity live for 30 to 35 years, so our foster and training program allows them the time to mature for training and placement with a disabled recipient.

Editor:  How do you decide which monkey gets placed with which human partner?

Helping Hands: Matching a trained monkey with an applicant who has been accepted into our program comes in two main parts:

(1) Matching that applicants task needs with the task strengths of the monkeys.

(2) Matching personality traits between monkey and recipient.

Every monkey in the Helping Hands program has a different personality and preferences about the people in their lives…for example, some monkeys prefer more dominant individuals; while others are drawn to a quieter, more relaxed person. A personality match as well as a task requirement match helps ensure the success of the placement.

Editor: How do the monkeys contribute as helpers to the disabled individuals they are partnered with?

Helping Hands: A monkey can learn to fetch dropped items from the floor or out of reach spaces like countertops or shelves. The can put a DVD/CD into a player, turn lights on and off, help someone get a drink of water, scratch an itch, reposition an arm or leg if it falls off the wheelchair, and reposition a recipient’s eye glasses if they slip down.

Editor: How do the monkeys contribute as companions?

Helping Hands: In a recent study of our recipients, one of the most important things monkeys provide to the individuals in our program is companionship. Monkeys are great company for those who spend a majority of time alone in their homes…while they are extremely useful with certain day-to-day tasks, the companionship they offer our recipients is infinite. They are affectionate partners who often provide a laugh for those they are placed with.

Editor: This companionship likely goes both ways; in what ways do you see the monkeys flourish?

Helping Hands: Monkeys thrive in stable environments - they are most happy when they have one individual who they can clearly rank at the top of their hierarchy – this is where the recipient is so important to the monkey. The monkey counts on the recipient for protection, praise, care and affection – so our recipients can give back to the monkey in those ways.

Editor: You’ve worked with many people in the Helping Hands program, and have likely seen and heard many touching stories; can you share one with us?

Helping Hands: For me, the best part of a placement is when I see the light in a recipient’s eyes as they begin to bond with their new monkey. Often, it is a feeling of “is this really true?” for our recipients when the monkey can not only provide help with tasks, but also lots of laughs and affection.

I have had a recipient recently say to me, “This is my new reason to get up every morning – this is a new challenge in my life – something that needs me as much as I need her.” That is truly the magic of the Helping Hands program.

Editor: What special education programs does Helping Hands provide to the community?

Helping Hands: In addition to educating people about how monkeys can assist individuals who live with severe disabilities, Helping Hands also works to prevent spinal cord injuries from happening. Our Spinal Cord Injury Prevention Program (SCIPP) is presented to thousands of school children and young adults across the country every year, to inform and educate them about safety and the prevention of injuries during biking, diving, playground, and other recreational activities.

The SCIPP program highlights spinal cord injury prevention, disability awareness, and the human-animal bond. This safety and prevention information is critical to children at an early age, because most spinal cord injuries occur between the ages of 16 and 26.  The program includes community service activities meant to reinforce its learning elements and to encourage students to share their new knowledge with others.

Editor: Can you tell us about your Monkey Care program, and explain the Helping Hands support system for foster parents?

Helping Hands: All monkeys, whether they are in foster homes or placed with a disabled recipients, are followed throughout their lifetime. Helping Hands provides behavioral, medical and training support to recipients and foster families across the country. If a recipient ever becomes ill or their home situation changes so they can no longer care for their monkey, Helping Hands makes immediate accommodations to have the monkey return to the training facility in Boston where they can be matched to another recipient.

Editor: How can readers help contribute to your wonderful program?

Helping Hands: It costs Helping Hands approximately $35,000 to breed, raise, train and place a monkey helper – all at no cost to the recipient. All of Helping Hands’ placements are supported by individual donors…readers interested in supporting Helping Hands can know that their donations will directly benefit our recipients and training and placement program. With every dollar that is donated, Helping Hands can further serve our recipients across the country.

Editor: How can our readers benefit from Helping Hands?

Helping Hands: Readers who are interested in more information about becoming a monkey helper recipient should visit our website at www.monkeyhelpers.org for more information. Under the Placement section of the website, we have listed the initial criteria for placement and instructions on how to begin the application process.

Editor: Can you tell us about some of the wonderful events you have on the horizon?

Helping Hands: Helping Hands frequently holds fund raising events in the Boston, New York and Los Angles area. Readers who are interested in attending an event in one of those metro-areas should contact Janice Cooper, Director of Development at Helping Hands.

Editor: Thanks again Megan, for taking the time out of your busy day to share your insight with the readers of The Wheelchair Site.

 For more information about this wonderful organization, or on how to donate please visit MonkeyHelpers.org.