Features of Handicapped Scooters
Handicapped Scooters
A step up from the electric wheelchair are handicapped scooters. These scooters allow disabled persons and the elderly to regain their independence and get around with ease. They offer comfortable seating and sensitive user controls. These vehicles are so popular you will see catchy commercials on television for certain stores and manufacturers. Rather than run out and buy one of these vehicles, do some research to find out if they are truly all they are hyped up to be. This type of research is easy to do on the Internet.
Check forums and message boards for disabled persons and the elderly, and see if you can find any discussions on scooters. Here you may discover all the information you need to make an informed decision about what brand to buy. While some people may try to sell a certain brand, this rarely happens in forums and usually the reviews are objective and from actual users of the product. Sites like Epinions also have objective user reviews of many different products.
You want to make sure the scooter you select checks out with ADA standards. ADA stands for the Americans with Disabilities Act. This organization releases specifications for all kinds of handicapped equipment like wheelchairs, bathrooms, ramps and more. It is thanks to the ADA that every new public building must have a ramp entrance for the disabled. Make a list of the handicap scooters that catch your attention, then find vendors that sell these scooters. Check the Internet or your local Yellow Pages for medical supply stores and disabled scooter stores. If there are no scooter stores near you your medical supply store may be able to help you through special order, or perhaps they will have what you want in stock.
Although you may see many mail order offers, you want to test drive a scooter before you purchase it. While not as expensive as automobiles, handicapped scooters are still pretty pricey. Sometimes insurance will cover the cost, it all depends on your policy. Test driving a scooter before making a final decision is important because you want to make sure you feel comfortable with the vehicle. Once you choose the scooter you want, you will find that over time you become more accustomed to using it and are able to navigate and operate your scooter with ease.