by: Nerissa Cannon

Nerissa’s journey with continual sickness has made her captivated with serving to different folks get essentially the most out of life regardless of a disabling situation. In her new sequence, “It’s a GRIT Life,” she shares how the GRIT Freedom Chair helps her have interaction in her favourite actions and stay a lifetime of journey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries

Click on the above video to look at Nerissa display the methods she discusses on this article.

The GRIT Freedom Chair is synonymous with off street mobility, therefore its catchphrase “Transfer Past the Pavement.” Nonetheless, the Freedom Chair can be essentially the most versatile, all-terrain wheelchair in the marketplace, so what precisely are it’s capabilities on pavement?

One factor that I actually love concerning the Freedom Chair is that I can simply journey straight off of a curb.

Whereas cities are SUPPOSED to have curb cuts for easement, many locations have an extended solution to go to align themselves with primary accessibility requirements. Inaccessible spots shouldn’t hold you from with the ability to take pleasure in your time out, although. One factor that I actually love concerning the Freedom Chair is that I can simply journey straight off of a curb. I can wheelie in my normal wheelchair, sure, however there’s at all times this margin for error. I really feel a lot safer, and my motion is way more fluid after I use the Freedom Chair to sort out curbs.

Driving up curbs takes follow to get the timing and steadiness proper, however it’s completely doable.

Driving up curbs takes follow to get the timing and steadiness proper, however it’s completely doable. One thing I at all times had a tough time with in my ultralight chair was hopping a curb the place there was pure terrain on the opposite facet. It tends to decelerate your momentum, and then you definitely don’t have the momentum that carries you thru. With the GRIT Freedom Chair, I don’t have to fret about that. It simply powers by means of any kind of sentimental terrain that is likely to be on the opposite facet of the curb.

ADA Data: Ever marvel if an outside house meets ADA necessities? Look no additional than the US Entry Board’s full description of the rules, situated right here. This web page options ten chapters of particular pointers, together with however not restricted to path width, facet slope, signage necessities, fishing piers, firing ranges, and parking heaps. It’s useful to see what requirements outdoorspaces are being held to (and, in fact, to see how far so a lot of them need to go).

The Freedom Chair makes it straightforward to compensate for side-slopes. I usually maintain one degree and simply pump further on the alternative facet.

One factor you’ll encounter with pavement is the side-slope, or camber. That’s an angle within the sidewalk for drainage. Lots of people, after they first begin utilizing a wheelchair, uncover this. In the event you’re ambulatory you don’t actually discover that the sidewalks slope. Nonetheless, the second you get right into a wheeled machine gravity desires to work, and it begins to tug you somewhat. The Freedom Chair makes it straightforward to compensate for side-slopes. I usually maintain one lever and simply pump further on the alternative facet. I do wish to journey the middle crown, however that’s not at all times attainable, or secure.

Continued Studying: There’s no scarcity of knowledge on how difficult facet slope, or camber, might be for wheelchair customers. Whereas camber is nice for water run-off, it may be an absolute bear for anybody propelling themselves with a mobility machine. Click on right here to see “Results of facet slope on wheelchair efficiency,” an article that discusses simply how severely impactful facet slope might be.

The Freedom Chair is a superb software for going over broken-up pavement and rocky terrain.

Pavement shouldn’t be at all times easy and maintained. There are loads of locations which have actually damaged up pavement. The Freedom Chair is nice about going over damaged up pavement as a result of it’s nice about going by means of rocky terrain. There’s not a lot distinction!

Bonus Function: Dave of Lively MSers wrote this overview of off-road wheelchairs like (and together with) the GRIT Freedom Chair. This text offers some clear, concise, and candid suggestions on how completely different merchandise deal with completely different terrains. Of the GRIT Freedom Chair, Dave says, “The GRIT Freedom Chair eclipsed expectations, and can take you to locations on three wheels you by no means thought attainable. Its design is elegantly easy—and sensible. The unshackling of the restrictions of being mobility challenged underscores its releasing identify.”

The Freedom Chair helps me get round even on actually smooth mulch.

I like to take my canine to the playground. It’s good for confidence constructing, and it’s only a completely different outing for him. It retains issues fascinating, however loads of playgrounds are difficult to get round due to the turf that they select to put. The Freedom Chair helps me get round even on actually smooth mulch. Generally panorama architects attempt to assist out, however they don’t actually perceive accessibility wants. At my native park, there’s this ramp that goes down into the playground, however there’s nonetheless this enormous curb drop that goes down into the mulch. If you’re unable to wheelie, usually your casters will get caught within the mulch if you go down that ramp. Properly, with the Freedom Chair it’s simply easy crusing.

ADA Playground Data: In the event you’re searching for extra details about what makes a playground “accessible,” try this text from Playgroundsafety.org, which mentions among the necessities and directs you to the total writeup.

Wish to proceed the dialog?

To talk with riders like Nerissa in real-time about their expertise with the GRIT Freedom Chair, come on all the way down to Past the Pavement, the Fb group devoted to all issues out of doors journey. There, you’ll be capable of ask questions and join with GRIT Freedom Chair riders and many of us who use mobility tools to get outdoors and do what they love. Click on right here to view and be part of the group at this time!