The difference a wheelchair makes

SALT LAKE CITY--Jennifer Holland's new-to-her wheelchair from the Utah Assistive Technology Program gives her more than the freedom to go to the grocery store. It gives her the strength to shop once she gets there.

"Before, it took so much energy to use my walker to get to the bus stop or whatever, but then I couldn't do anything else. So this is great!"

Jennifer practices wheelchair yoga
on her new-to-her device.

Jennifer embodies the freedom that assistive technology offers people with disabilities. She received her chair after a visit to the Judy Ann Buffmire Building in Salt Lake City, where UATP coordinator Tom Boman worked with her to find the right fit for her needs. Ken Reid of the Utah Center for Assistive Technology also assessed Holland to make sure the chair was right for her.

The chair--like hundreds of others--was donated to UATP, then refurbished in its Salt Lake warehouse. Holland received it after paying a service fee. Typically the fee for a chair is less than an insurance deductible.

After one month in her new wheels, she has more freedom to participate in favorite activities, like wheelchair tennis or other adaptive sports offered through the TRAILS (Technology Recreation Access Independence Lifestyle Sports) program in Salt Lake City.

It also maneuvers over bumps, offering a smooth ride she didn't have before. "I do more now than I did before I accepted [I had] disabilities," she said. "It makes it so I can go places, especially in this particular chair, because it makes the ride so much easier. ... I feel safe."

An added feature doesn't have much to do with mobility, but it adds a lot to Jennifer's quality of life. The chair reclines, making it easier for her read. She can find the right angle, making a favorite activity happen with a lot less strain.

Salt Lake's Utah Assistive Technology Program Coordinator Tom Boman said that soon after he and Ken had assessed Jennifer's needs, the perfect device appeared at the warehouse. It doesn't always happen that way, but when it does, it's a beautiful thing to see.

"It came in, we cleaned it off, put new batteries in it and kicked it out the door," Boman said.

If you need mobility equipment, the Utah Assistive Technology Program can help. Hundreds of people have received wheelchairs, scooters and other devices though UATP's operations in Salt Lake, Logan and the Uintah Basin. The affordable fee-for-service program helps people regardless of whether they have insurance.

To find out more, call 800-524-5152.