A good comfortable wheelchair makes life easier and enjoyable. A professional therapist’s opinion should be the best source of information. However, they too decide on the inputs that you provide. This checklist is put together only to help you to consider all factors before investing on a wheelchair. Happy riding.

Know your vendor

• Does your Vendor have good knowledge about wheelchairs?
• Have you compared top vendors before choosing yours?
• Does the vendor you have chosen provide a good after sales service support?
• Does your vendor provide after sales service at your doorstep?

Who is going to pay?

• How do you wish to pay for your chair?
• IF you need outside financing, does your vendor helps you to get one?
• Is your vendor knowledgeable about Medicare and other insurance routes to cover the cost of the equipment?

Measurements

• Wheelchair’s height ______ Width _________Seat length_________
• Weight _____ Color ______ Seat Tilt _______ Foldable __________

Maintenance

• Does the vendor provide regular maintenance for the chair for a nominal cost?
• Otherwise, who will maintain the chair?
• Is the wheelchair “growable” ( for Pediatric wheelchairs)

Wheelchair usage

• Does the pusher have enough training to handle the wheelchair in different terrain?
• Are the Wheelchair’s pushing handles placed comfortable for the pusher?

Travel

• Transfer techniques (for yourself) (ramps / lifts / transfer boards _______________________________)
• Transfer techniques (for the wheelchair) _______________________________
• Self-driven?
• Do you have enough headroom in your vehicle?
• Should the wheelchair frame be
• Lightweight, for easy pushing and lifting?
• Heavy - why ?
• The user is more than 250 pounds
• severe tone issues
• very active
• Frame design
• "tilt-in-space"
• reclining
• Low to the floor (for enough head space while traveling and transfer into automobiles)
• Attachment support (if required)
• oxygen tank
• ventilator
• suction machine
• communication device
• Should the armrests be
• Removable (for easier transfers)
• Height adjustable (for supporting a lap tray and to get close to tables )
• Flip back so it is (for easier wheel reach)
• Should the foot support be
• Removable (for easier transfers and comfort adjustments)
• Swing-away (for easier transfers)
• Height adjustable
• fixed front end for excessive tone issues)
• Should the rear wheels be
• Size ____________ (12," 20," or 24" )
• Tires Solid tires / pneumatic tires (inflated)
• Provided with Hand rims for self propulsion
• Solid, pneumatic, or semi-pneumatic?
• Should the front casters be
• Size ____________ (5," 6," or 8" )
• Tires Solid tires / pneumatic tires (inflated)

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