Most newer chairs are much more than the typical cart you around the
hospital chair.  The lighter frame, better bearings, cushion, etc.  The
other chairs the African women use are based more on bicycles and are a
triage effort of its better than crawling on the ground.  RESNA, the Rehab
engineers society of North America sponsors a student contest to develop
cushions using materials one would find in a third world country.

Beth t the OT

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kathy
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 9:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: wheelchair foundation

The markup's probably right as my insurance paid 80% of it and I paid the
rest.  Ouch!  But I don't have any leather on mine - just aluminum, rubber
and vinyl.  No leather at all.  Man, I feel cheated.  Humph.

But I have seen chairs that cost something like $200 and must say they look
awfully flimsy to me.



On Monday 29 November 2004 8:03 pm, Tamar Raine wrote:
>  Kathy,
> 3,000 for a manual chair - that is like a huge mark up --- think about it.
> After all, what could possibly be so expensive, a lot of plastic, a
> bit of metal, and some leather.  I just got my new power chair, it is
> a pronto sure step. and it is wonderful! it can go up three inch lips
> on driveways, etc.
>
> I imagine they get the chairs at cost and then give them away. I saw a
> film about how African women with disabilities are forming co-ops to
> make wheelchairs themselves, and you can bet they don't cost  3 grand.
>
> ~Tamar Mag Raine
> [log in to unmask]
> IM: tamarmag48
> Oakland Mayor's Commission on People with disabilities