Many of us at Mobius Mobility don’t face the same mobility challenges that our ibot® PMD users face. These challenges often go unnoticed by much of the world; a treacherous sidewalk for example poses no challenge to someone who can walk around it but could prevent a wheelchair user from getting to their destination entirely. Our team is passionate about raising awareness and bringing these issues to light to begin to address many of these barriers for our community.
All thoughts expressed in this piece are of its author, a Mobius Mobility Assistive Technology Professional, who is deeply ingrained in the disability community, helping our ibot® PMD users learn to use their new devices.
Most people that use manual or powered wheelchairs run into common obstacles in their environment. For example, while they may have a ramp to access their own home, there isn’t one at their friend’s houses; sidewalks can have cracks, roots, and fire hydrants blocking the way; construction on sidewalks and roads can leave someone in a wheelchair stranded or having to travel longer distances to find an accessible route. These challenges are only the beginning for people with mobility issues.
In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). This was one of the largest bills in U.S. History passed to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities. Within the larger act, Title III states that businesses must provide accessible accommodation for those with disabilities. However, many older buildings did not have to adhere to these policies and therefore do not follow these guidelines. This means that some buildings even today are still not truly accessible.
ADA Compliance is just the tip of the accessibility iceberg. According to Medicare guidelines, all (Complex Rehab Technology) CRT is considered for home use only, and “Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers power-operated vehicles (scooters) and wheelchairs as durable medical equipment (DME) only if the doctor treating your condition submits a written order stating that you have a medical need for a wheelchair or scooter for use in your home.” (Medicare Factsheet) Outdoor or community use isn’t considered a medically necessary justification which can make finding funding more challenging.
Environmental factors, older buildings, and funding are all common hurdles people with disabilities must overcome, leaving many wheelchair users stuck at home. Staying at home so often can lead to isolation which no one should face due to factors beyond their control. COVID-19 and the resulting quarantine taught the world that isolation can lead to depression, and while most have returned to normal levels of community activity today, isolation is still felt by those facing disabilities who are likely unable to get out in their communities.
According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, “People with physical disability experience multiple risk factors for depressive symptoms, including stereotypic social and personal attitude; abuse; loss of roles; and stressors related to poverty, environmental barriers, and/or lack of access to appropriate health care.” Not everyone with a disability may experience depression, but the risk is more likely in the disability community due to this lack of community access and social isolation. The CDC reports that “Adults with disabilities report experiencing frequent mental distress almost 5 times as often as adults without disabilities.”
Wheelchair users facing these struggles are simply not set up for success; So, what can be done? We can’t tear down historical buildings to make them accessible for all, and not all buildings are structurally practical to be in full compliance with the ADA. So, if we can’t change our environment, why not change technology? Changes and improvements in mobility technology can lead to increased community participation and improved health, well-being, and quality of life outcomes for people living with disabilities. Another potential outcome is an overall reduction in healthcare costs by decreasing medical complications as a result to inaccessibility or isolation.
An overnight fix to these issues doesn’t currently exist, but if we work to raise awareness and advocate for change, we can help those facing disabilities get out of their homes and out into the community.
