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Oct 25, 20242 min read
Amount of Assistive Technology Assistance – Erik Kondo
When most people think of assistive technology (AT), they view the AT device as a tool that can help people with disabilities do...
Sep 21, 20243 min read
Understanding the Difference Between Robust and Resilient Wheelchairs, and Why it Matters - Erik Kondo
Wheelchairs that are sturdy and don’t break easily are Robust. Wheelchairs that are easy and affordable to repair are Resilient....
Sep 21, 20242 min read
Why Are Low Cost and Functional Manual Wheelchairs NOT Widely Available? - Erik Kondo
If we are to believe the marketing of the Legacy Wheelchair Industry, there can be only two types of manual wheelchairs, either very...
Aug 15, 20243 min read
Going to “The Beach” as a Wheelchair User – Erik Kondo
Ah, there is nothing like a relaxing day at The Beach. Well, that is if you can walk without difficultly. For wheelchair users, going to...
Jun 17, 20243 min read
Inappropriate Assistive Technology Disease (IATD) – Erik Kondo
We are all familiar with the stories of the amazing things that assistive technology (AT) enables people with disabilities to do. What is...
Apr 17, 20242 min read
Wheelchair Science: The Problem of the Not-a-Wheelchair-User, Part I – Erik Kondo
I have encountered a large number of manual wheelchairs users who are dissatisfied with the setup and function of their wheelchair....
Feb 13, 20245 min read
Wheelchair System Archetypes - Erik Kondo
Once you recognize that the mobility outcomes produced by a person using a wheelchair is the result of the interactions of a Complex...
Jan 29, 20243 min read
The Wheelchair System - Erik Kondo
The mobility performance of a person using a wheelchair is the result of the output of a complex adaptive system made up of the...
Jan 25, 20244 min read
The Tradeoff Between Wheelchair Comfort and Mobility – Erik Kondo
The primary purpose of a manual wheelchair is to provide mobility for replacing walking in the environment. The more active a wheelchair...
Oct 24, 20234 min read
The Manual Wheelchair as a Personal Mobility Device – Erik Kondo
A few days ago marked my 39th year as a wheelchair user. That means for about 2/3rds of my life I have been using a wheelchair as my...
Jul 28, 20232 min read
Authenticity Matters! Stop Using Inauthentic Stock Photos to Depict Wheelchair Users - Erik Kondo
Who plays wheelchair basketball in a hospital chair wearing street clothes? These examples below are just some of the contrived and often...
Feb 12, 20233 min read
Habitual Manual Wheelchair Slumping - Erik Kondo
Many manual wheelchair users and industry professionals claim that a rigid orthopedic backrest automatically prevents a wheelchair user...
Feb 3, 20232 min read
The Need for Improved Wheelchair Literacy - Erik Kondo
Imagine you wanted information on the workings of a bicycle, you would seek out an experienced bicycle technician and rider. Someone who...
Feb 6, 20193 min read
Stop Using Wheelchair Users as Foils for Your Lesson - Erik Kondo
“Be thankful for what you have, it could always be worse”. This is a fairly common message used to remind people about how “lucky” they...
Aug 19, 20183 min read
Why Are Wheelchair-Users Still in the Dark Ages? – Erik Kondo
Over the years, we have seen dramatic improvement in the development of artificial limbs for amputees. Prostheses have progressed from...
Jul 2, 20183 min read
Are you a Pilot or Passenger? - Erik Kondo
A comparison of mobility types, and what wheelchair users really want. When it comes to personal mobility, there are different ways to...
Jun 11, 20183 min read
Increasing Mobility for Active Wheelchair Users - Erik Kondo
A wheelchair is an overall effective means of mobility for active people with lower limb paralysis. It is most effective on flat hard...
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