Disability is not inability. This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t create certain limits and challenges for the person in question, but there are also many helpful solutions that create more opportunities for independence. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, nearly 15% of the world’s population lives with some kind of disability. This number shows us that there is a real need for more solutions for facilitating disabled people’s lives. Let’s take a look at the most popular ones.
Crutches
Crutches are used as a part of one’s rehabilitation process. For instance, people use them after they have undergone a surgery on the lower limbs of the body which means they are used only for a relatively short period of time. They are designed to be used in a pair so that good coordination can be achieved.
Walkers
Walkers are a type of aids for disabled people used after a knee or hip injury. Additionally, individuals with poor balance and weak legs should also use them on a daily basis in order to be able to move around safely. Usually made up of a metal framework with four legs, they provide stability and support. An amazing fact is that they can transfer 64% of a person’s body weight throughout the arms of the frame.
There are three main types of walkers:
1. Models with 4 wheels called rollators which include hand breaks as a safety feature;
2. Models with 2 wheels called walker-cane hybrids which is a cross between a cane and a walker;
3. Models with no wheels at all intended for the people who can walk on their own, but still need of support.
Wheelchairs
These are the best choice for people with severe disabilities, especially for the purpose of traveling. There are two main types of wheelchairs: manual (pushed by the user or another person) or electrically powered. Thanks to some recent technological findings in 2016, a mindreading wheelchair that can be propelled by neural impulses was designed.
Mobility Scooters
This is one of the most useful inventions for bettering the life of the physically impaired. These aids for disabled people are similar to the wheelchairs and have a seat on top of 3,4 or 5 wheels. Most often, they are battery powered and have handlebars or steering wheels for controlling direction. They are most beneficial for disabled people who lack upper body strength or flexibility to use a manual wheelchair. One very important thing about using this type of aid for disabled people is training. There are rules for how to properly use them on sidewalks and roads which vary a lot depending on a specific location.