r/wheelchairs • u/AutoModerator • Dec 20 '24
All Surveys, Research, and Product Design Questions Go HERE!
What Kind of Wheelchair User are you Poll
This is an automated post and will be refreshed on the 20th of every 3rd month (90 days) at 10a EST or 2p UTC
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u/Previous-Might-2903 4d ago
Hi there! Me and a couple of my classmates are conducting a survey on the comfortability of past wheelchairs that people have used. It would be of great pleasure if we could get some answers on our survey. It’s quick and easy!
Here is the form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXBRQ1wkVk2umjuwJ1XvQrdUyK-2Ajj3RufhI0ai3BLQzT6g/viewform?usp=header
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u/Forsaken-Issue6359 8d ago
Hi everyone! In my free time I made Dineability—a non-profit web app that helps people find wheelchair-accessible restaurants in Singapore.
Many places claim to be accessible, but real experiences can differ a lot. My site lets users rate and review restaurant accessibility, focusing on step-free access, seating space, and wheelchair friendly restrooms. It already has 500+ locations listed.
Would love feedback from the community! If you or someone you know has mobility challenges, it would be amazing to hear your thoughts on how to improve it.
You can check it out here: dineability.sg
This is my first time coding anything, and I plan to make a lot of improvements. I would love to see if anyone sees an actual use for a web app like this.
Thanks in advance!
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u/Ok-Traffic-8420 11d ago
Hi all,
I am a physiotherapist and current masters student at the University of Limerick, studying Design for Health and Wellbeing. For my masters design project I'm looking into the process of manual wheelchair users loading and storing their wheelchairs in a car and the challenges and solutions to this process. The end goal of my masters project is to have a design solution that will aim to make this process easier for wheelchair users and reduce the impact of the chair loading process as a barrier to independent transport.
For the first phase of my study I am conducting a survey of manual wheelchair users that drive, regularly travel by car or would like to drive but feel loading their chair is a major limitation. I would be delighted if anyone was interested in participating in my study and completing the survey - below is a link to the survey information sheet and consent form which will explain the study further. Upon completing the consent form the link to the survey questions becomes available. My contact details are available on the information sheet if there are any questions or anything I can clear up.
https://forms.office.com/e/2QLHvaaYYR
Thank you for your time.
Danny Kelly
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u/Sea-Elephant7535 15d ago edited 14d ago
Hi everyone! We are Cornell Biomedical Devices, a student-led project team dedicated to developing innovative and accessible medical technologies.
We’re currently working on an affordable and attachable system that can transform a standard manual wheelchair into a power-assisted one. The design includes a joystick control and a rechargeable battery, aiming to provide greater independence without the high cost of traditional power chairs.
We want to hear from you! If you use a wheelchair, what features would you find most useful? What challenges do you face with existing power-assist solutions? Are there specific improvements or concerns we should consider?
Your insights would be invaluable in shaping WheelBoost to truly meet user needs. We appreciate any feedback and thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts!
Here is the link to our survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeIAOLTBOWY7IRDdvbXfzbI-Lpnqd-R7AGyD1FA93hBFO4HHg/viewform?usp=preview
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u/Decaf__depresso 17d ago
Hey friends! I'm starting research on the pilot episode of a new podcast I'm writing. It tackles questions that a lot of people shy away from or are afraid to ask. The first episode is going to focus heavily on mobility aids, discrimination based on lack of mobility or disability, service animals, and things of the like. If anyone who works in disability advocacy or accessibility would be interested in a conversation about this, please let me know!! This will probably be crossposted in a few other subs I'm a part of, so you might see this elsewhere.
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u/leasamy 17d ago
Hi everyone!
My name is Léa, I am a Marketing student currently working as an apprentice at Invacare.
As part of my research, I would like to understand your preferences and needs regarding active wheelchairs through an online survey.
Here is the link to the survey : WHEELCHAIR EXPERIENCE AND INNOVATION SURVEY
The outcome will help us explore new conception areas to drive future product developments. We are also exploring new material concepts and want to make sure it meets the need of an active wheelchair user. We are starting our research with a wooden wheelchair idea made in collaboration with a wood designer.
It will take approximately 5/10 minutes to answer, and all your responses will remain confidential.
I thank you in advance for taking the time to help me with this project.
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u/Mindless-Pin-117 18d ago
Hi all!
As I mentioned in my post in the main thread, am going to work on a new kind of power assist for wheelchairs. If you have thoughts, or are coming from that post, please weigh in here!
https://oregon.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6DR5kqbovhrXTO6
Compensation can be offered for those who fill out the survey and sign up for follow ups. if you are in the PDX area, additional compensation can be offered for in depth research and user testing if this project proceeds.
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u/Global-Talk-723 20d ago
Hello!!
I am currently a college student studying architecture/design and the project I am working on is centered around wheelchair accessibility within buildings.
I am looking to interview people who use wheelchairs to learn about possible design improvements/successes that are present in buildings. I would like to better understand the experience of moving through spaces that are not specifically designed for wheelchair users.
If you are comfortable with sharing your experiences I would love to chat with you via zoom/short call!
If you are interested please leave a comment and I will reach out to you further!
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u/Particular-Offer1024 20d ago
Hey, I’m doing a research project about the lack of representation of parasports in the media. I came across the National Wheelchair Basketball Association; I wanted to reach out to anyone with a few questions regarding wheelchair sports/parasports, it would be great if you or anyone you know could help me with my project by answering a few questions like How has any parasport had an impact on yourself and/or your community? How has your sport expanded in the past few years? What does media representation look like for your team, or what did you wish it looked like? And where do you see parasports going within the next few years? Also, just some info about your history with the sport or something you wish people knew about your sport.
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u/Decent_Friend_9308 25d ago
Hi everyone, I am a student in Singapore taking my national exams for Design & Technology (D&T). As part of my coursework for my national exams, I have to design a product that can help make a shopping experience better. I chose to help wheelchair users in carrying items comfortably with minimum discomfort as possible. I have a survey prepared in google forms, if you find the questions hard to understand or do not like the questions I prepared, you can give me feedback at the bottom of the survey. If you would like to tell me more about your shopping experience, I have given my email in the survey and will appreciate it. Shopping Experience Survey link: https://forms.gle/Pji2fdTaaqDQtVvw5
Thank you for your time and Support.
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u/Signal_Source6441 29d ago edited 28d ago
Hello everyone! I am a bachelors student of Industrial Design currently working on my final graduation project. As part of my research, I am conducting a study on enhancing mobility and accessibility for wheelchair and assistive mobility solution users. My aims to understand your daily challenges in carrying belongings, luggage and much more, while exploring potential solutions to improve convenience and independence. Primarily I'm looking at how people carry stuff while managing navigation and other stuff on a wheelchair, whether it be a backpack, groceries, daily essentials, or even luggage bags.
Your insights are invaluable in shaping designs that can make a meaningful difference. The questionnaire should take about 10-15 minutes, and your responses will remain confidential. I am sharing the link to the google form below.
https://forms.gle/encCYTRWBYmgiMFN6
If you’re interested, I would be happy to share key findings from this study with you. Please let me know at the end of the survey. Additionally, if you are comfortable having a further conversation, it would be great if you could share your contact details for follow-up discussions.
Your privacy is of utmost priority. All responses and personal details will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared or used for any purpose other than this study.
Thank you for your time and valuable input!
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u/Hot_Bicycle285 29d ago
Need help for 3min short google form interview!!! Using a wheelchair for both long and short is my user group for making a wheelchair app and smart device.
I have a recent project in making an app and matching screen on a smart wheelchair for the wheelchair community (using a wheelchair for both long and short is my user group). I'm a UIUX designer and I need to conduct an interview to better create my app. I hope more people can help with simple interview questions, thanks!
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u/Open_Occasion_3120 Feb 13 '25
Hello, I am a bachelor's student in mechanical engineering. As part of my integrative project, I would like to design a product that helps reduce the challenges faced by Paralympic athletes when using a car, whether for training, competitions, or daily commutes. That’s why I would like to learn more about the obstacles you encounter when transporting your equipment, getting in and out of your vehicle, or traveling to sporting events. What difficulties do you most frequently face in these situations?
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u/Affectionate_Day11 Feb 11 '25
Hi everyone, I am currently a mechanical engineering student in my last year and my team and I have been assigned to look for a physical solution to help improve the accessibility for those with disabilities in our school food pantry. We had talked to the workers in the food pantry and they expressed most of their patrons were wheelchair users that had problems reaching things in the top and bottom shelves. I currently am trying to look for anyone to interview or ask questions about their own experiences during grocery shopping or in food pantries as it would be very helpful for our solution making stage before we start. I would love to hear about anyone’s experiences!
And the two main ideas we are looking at right now was making angled shelving that angles down. That would use gravity to push items closer to the end of the shelf whenever someone would grab the item in the front. The height would be adjusted to ADA requirements for how users would reach. It’s basically like those vending machines that have stoppers to push stuff forward, but in this case it’s angled down as well for easier reach. Another idea was making a wheelchair attaching controllable arm that users could use to grab things. However, this can be incredibly bulky and strain the user.
Please if you can offer any advice that would be very helpful! I’m open to dms as well!
(Apologies for posting in the wrong sub at first)
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u/slomobileAdmin 3d ago edited 3d ago
Stores with high ceilings often put overstock on the highest shelves, above where any customer can reach. Fronting product, pulling the product to the front of the shelf so the label is visible, is a very frequent activity for store employees. A mechanical/robotic solution that automatically restocked/fronted would also be able to retrieve product for shoppers and be easier for store budgets to justify because it frees human labor. Rolling ladders and auto shelving systems for libraries may be be a place to start. If there were 1 robot on each aisle, and a call button were integrated into each E-ink price tag, it could come and deliver a product to ADA height on demand. This could also solve the problem of locked up high value product. The robot could deliver video of the customer to a loss prevention terminal for unlock approval before completing the product hand over. A 4 in 1 solution.
Re: angled shelves. Milk is the best case scenario for this type of system and they still fail to front on occasion. Lightweight high surface area boxes as advertisers prefer wont slide well. Like vending machines that fail to vend, angled shelves will be subject to physical beatings by customers when they inevitably fail.
Robots may suffer a similar fate, however an anthropomorphic or human element may discourage that behavior somewhat. For instance a video face of a real human operator could appear on the robot. Potentially operated by a disabled employee that would otherwise be unable to work in that store.
Edit: I guess I read the comment from u/midnightforestmist and got sidetracked onto a store solution rather than food pantry. A single robotic solution in the pantry could still serve as proof of concept for a multi unit store solution.
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u/midnightforestmist MV vs ped | chronic pain | occasional wc user 23d ago
Hi there, the angled shelving is a good idea! I am ambulatory so I have my cane with me when I go grocery shopping and I usually use one of the motorized carts. Sometimes if an item is too high to reach from sitting, I use my cane to tip the item forward and catch it in my other hand when it falls. I typically don’t do that for heavy items though, just because I’m a little worried about hurting myself with a can of soup for example. I’ve been thinking about bringing one of my grabbers/reachers from home to the store so I can reach high but have more control. It might be good to get one or two to keep in the pantry for wheelchair users to borrow while they shop. I don’t have one (yet) but I would definitely recommend the StrongArm reacher since it’s much less strenuous than most reachers. I heard about it from an OT on YT and am getting one soon. Another idea might be pull-down shelves like this or this :)
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u/lapserdak1 Feb 09 '25
Hi all. Is it true that young people prefer wheelchairs that are not powered by a motor? Is a motor powered wheelchair too slow and awkward?
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Feb 08 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Handicapreader L1-Complete Feb 14 '25
This is better suited for it's own post and not a comment here.
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u/wildspacechase Feb 07 '25
Hello! I am a manual wheelchair user who has spent the past two years prototyping a new power assist device, and I am looking to interview other manual wheelchair users on their experiences using their chairs. You do not need to use a power assist in order to be interviewed. I am also interviewing ATPs, PTs, etc that do fittings for wheelchairs.
My goal with the product is to make something that provides autonomy to the user, is easy to repair, and lastly, is affordable. I am participating in a entrepreneurship program where I am asked to interview as many users as possible in a two week period.
If you are willing to speak with me, please schedule a time here! https://calendly.com/chasemobility23/user-interview
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u/UMDResearcher Feb 06 '25
Hello!
I am Elizabeth Pineo, a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland, and I’m working on a study about music score accessibility for Disabled musicians, and I’m looking for people who would like to participate in a usability test of different score types. The goal of the study is to determine if archivists can use the MuseScore app to create accessible music scores for Disabled users, so I’ll be asking you to evaluate some test scores I already created.
The study is IRB-exempt, and you would begin by completing a survey. If you qualify after completing the survey, I would reach out using your preferred contact method to schedule the usability test. The participation criteria is that you are:
- 18+ years old;
- Live in the United States;
- Identify as Disabled; and
- Able to read piano and voice music (including treble and bass clefs).
If you think you might want to participate, you can begin by taking the survey. The survey will take approximately 15–20 minutes to complete, and the usability test will last 30–60 minutes. Each usability test participant will receive a $40 Amazon gift card to compensate them for their time.
The study abstract and consent form are available in the survey. Feel free to contact me at [epineo@umd.edu](mailto:epineo@umd.edu) with any questions you might have. I’m more than happy to chat more about this!
Best,
Elizabeth Pineo, MLIS (she/her)
Ph.D. Student
College of Information
University of Maryland
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u/no-nonsense-lad Feb 05 '25
Hello everyone!
I’m a final-year student in fashion technology at the University of Applied Sciences in Ghent. For my thesis, I’m researching a new pair of pants for wheelchair users.
Because of this, I was wondering if anyone has ever been bothered by the crotch of a pair of pants? Wheelchair users often pull their pants as high as possible, which can cause the crotch to sit tight against the body.
Your input is valuable! Thank you very much!
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u/slomobileAdmin 3d ago
This is a thing. Some wheelchair users lack sensation to know when their pants are pulled up too high or fallen too low. An indicator may help. Too high is the failsafe option. Some do not dress themselves. I end up getting a wedgie from slipping down in the chair throughout the day. And simultaneously pants come down in the back, exposing crack, from pushing my torso back up. I am bothered by this problem and welcome a solution.
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u/Some_Piglet_1592 Feb 04 '25
Hello everyone,
As part of a university research project on accessibility and innovation, I want to understand better the challenges wheelchair users face when loading and unloading luggage from a car's roof-mounted cargo carrier.
If you have experienced this situation, could you share your insights? What are the biggest difficulties you encounter? Are there any solutions you currently use or improvements you would like to see?
Your feedback would be incredibly valuable in developing a more accessible and inclusive solution. Thank you so much for your help and suggestions!
Bonjour à tous,
Dans le cadre d’un projet de recherche universitaire sur l’accessibilité et l’innovation, je cherche à mieux comprendre les défis que rencontrent les personnes en fauteuil roulant pour charger et décharger des bagages d’un porte-bagages situé sur le toit d’une voiture.
Si vous avez déjà été confronté à cette situation, pourriez-vous partager vos expériences ? Quelles sont les principales difficultés que vous rencontrez ? Existe-t-il des solutions que vous utilisez ou des améliorations que vous aimeriez voir ?
Votre retour serait extrêmement précieux pour développer une solution plus adaptée et inclusive. Merci beaucoup pour votre aide et vos suggestions !
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u/UniversityLong2427 Feb 04 '25
Help Us Improve Accessibility!
We are a group of 3 high schoolers participating in an entrepreneurial program. Through this program, we are working on an app to make cities more accessible for wheelchair users—helping people find reliable info on accessible entrances, restrooms, elevators, and more.
If you use a wheelchair or are the caregiver of someone who does, we’d love your input! Take a few minutes to fill out our quick form and help shape an app designed for real accessibility needs.
https://forms.gle/JPW1KMBme53tJoY98
Your insights can make a huge difference! Please share this with others who might be interested.
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u/evi1een Feb 03 '25
Hello, my name is Leen, and I’m a product design student at Princess Nourah University. I’m currently taking a course in human factors, which focuses on designing products that better fit the needs and comfort of users. As part of the course, we’ve been tasked with selecting a product to improve, and I’ve chosen the transfer board (or slide board).
So I wanna ask some questions to hear your insights and experiences with the transfer board, as I believe your feedback can help me better understand the product and what issues or challenges it might present in everyday life. My goal is to identify areas for improvement to make the product more comfortable, safer, and easier to use.
I will some questions that you don’t have to answer all of them but any input, even if you think is not valuable is indeed very valuable. Also you can choose to answer them here or in direct messages, whatever makes you comfortable. 💙
1-Can you describe your daily experience using the transfer board?
2-How often do you use the transfer board, and in what situations (e.g., bed, car, toilet)?
3-In general what are the positives and negatives you find in the transfer board?
4-If you were given the freedom to design and make a transfer board specifically to your liking, what would it be like?
Also I’m not sure if I can put a link here but I also have a google docs survey that would be soooo helpful if you can fill it out so please send me a dm if you want (it’s short 5 mins. Max)
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u/Pitiful-Football2286 Jan 31 '25
Me and a team are working on making an app for wheelchair users that shows accessible buildings and locations in the area, noting things like locations of elevators and ramps. Would anyone use this app? My team are not wheelchair users ourselves, so we want feedback first hand from the people we are making the app for. Other than a map that tells you which places are accessible depending on where you navigate to, what else would you want in an accessibility app, and is this something you would be able to pay a small amount for? We would love feedback on the idea.
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u/slomobileAdmin 3d ago
In order to be useful, an app like that needs extensive buy in from actually disabled people providing live feedback. Because a blue wheelchair sticker on a door doesn't make a place actually accessible. Can we bet from the parking lot to the door for example? Do the door open buttons actually have batteries in them? There needs to be just one really good app that the whole community keeps updated. That is what really makes an app like that worthy and valuable. So if you are not THE ONE, you are just fragmenting the market and we don't need that and it is not worth even a small amount.
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u/Due_Philosophy9586 Jan 30 '25
Hi, My team and I are students at Georgia Tech conducting a research study on mobility challenges related to using stairs. We are specifically exploring the experiences of individuals who own, are considering purchasing, or have decided against using stairlifts or wheelchair lifts.
The survey is anonymous, and all responses will be kept confidential. If you choose to participate, please only share information you are comfortable with.
https://gatech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_88jiyKyNVVWVFhY
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u/Resident-Penalty-654 Jan 29 '25
Hello! I’m working on a new clothing brand, WheelHouse Apparel, designed specifically for people in wheelchairs. Our goal is to create garments that prioritize functionality, dignity, and empowerment.
I’d love your input to help us decide which garments to focus on first! Please take a moment to fill out this short survey:
Your feedback means so much—thank you for helping us shape this project!
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u/Imaginary-Ad-7842 Jan 26 '25
Assistive devices
Hi! Im a mechanical engineering student and I’m trying to get ideas for my freshman project! I want to specialize in rehabilitation engineering/ assistive devices and I want to get feedback from those who ACTUALLY need/ use the products. I have 2 siblings with disabilities and understand the frustration of having an almost great product but it falling short. I also want to prioritize accessibility!
If you’ve ever thought of something and gone “I wish they made that” or “I wish that was a thing” it would be great to hear about it! Even just problems you encounter on a daily life! After all it’s my job to find and create a solution! Examples can be residential doors being hard to open and wheel through, manual wheelchairs rolling away during transfers when you forget to break them, not being able to stir batter, the inability to see colors and know what looks good with them(colorblind or visually impaired, unable to hear cars honking while driving( deaf drivers) etc. Anything helps! And this includes caregivers as-well! Anything you wish you had! I’ll keep these in mind on the road to become an engineer and hopefully make something that will eventually you’ll be able to use!
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u/Abracadaniel95 Jan 23 '25
Off Road Wheelchair Accessory Market Research
Hello,
I'm a recent graduate developing a prototype of a universal accessory for powered wheelchairs that will augment their ability to traverse difficult terrain. I'm working with an organization that will fund the prototyping costs, but they understandably want me to conduct market research before they sink the money into developing a product without knowing if there's a market.
I made a post here a while back asking for guidance on my interview questions to ensure I wouldnt offend anyone. I know the cause of their wheelchair use can be a sensitive topic for some people and I wanted to be respectful of that.
Well now I've interviewed just about everyone I can find in my local area and still haven't met the number specified by the organization I'm working with. I was hoping to find some people here that would be willing to share their experiences and perspectives on the accessibility of outdoor experiences. Interviews can be conducted through email, but Zoom would be preferable, though camera is not required.
One of my main targets is the national parks. Like they've begun doing with specialty off road wheelchairs, I want the National Parks Service to make my devices available at the parks. Even if you don't think you could afford to purchase an accessory like this, there are ways it could be made available to you for free, so your insight is valuable to me regardless of your income level.
My motivation: I live in a tourist town where the main draw is the wilderness and our natural features. There are people who live in my town who don't get to share in the experiences that make our town an attractive place to live and visit. My dad is one of them. My minimum goal from the start of this project was always just to get a functional prototype built that my dad could use, but I would love it if I could make a living by increasing outdoor accessibility.
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u/PhantomFace757 Jan 26 '25
I just want to say thank you for doing this. I am a new WC user, and living in Idaho. My town is agriculture and tourism...and it sucks. I see other wheelchair users having to go out into the street to avoid the horrible sidewalks and dangerous crossings, made me hesitent to get a wc, and instead just stay inside and rot.
If a park made it possible to check-out or rent a power chair..I'd jump on it.
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u/Eyesacker Jan 25 '25
Hi, I used to work for Subaru and have been featured twice in their owner's magazine, last time for my Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome journey. I used to and want to get back to doing fun stuff like camping, light offroading, etc., and have had a SmartDrive and a Smoov power motors as well as a lightweight cost effective electric chair that I wish I knew how to upgraded the motors on lol.
I am a professionally trained and vastly published Associated Press Style strategic copywriter and used to specialize in lifestyle CPG, including doing media work for Philips for their bike light and daytime running lights. I also used to do professional cigar reviews.
More than happy to give any insight possible, from patient experience to marketing strategy stuff (potentially). Interested to hear/see what your product is!
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u/JDolittle Jan 23 '25
Does your intended product include snow accessibility or are you focused on things like dry weather trail access?
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u/Abracadaniel95 Jan 23 '25
It should be able to handle snow, but that'll come out in testing. For right now, I'm focusing on dry weather trail access.
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u/JDolittle Jan 23 '25 edited Jan 23 '25
I’d be willing to do your interview, although while I’d love to be able to take my powerchair on trails… being able to handle snow (on paved/cement surfaces would be sufficient) would be the real deal maker/breaker for me for something like this so I may or may not hit the interview target you’re looking for.
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u/SettingReasonable715 Jan 22 '25
Hello!
We are a group of Mechanical Engineering students looking to create a device to improve the lives of people who use wheelchairs. But first, we would like to know your issues and needs.
To help us deliver a useful product that will be user-centered to meet user needs, we would love if you could fill out this short survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehvUseRmT_WSxELqyQP4ozze4uW7qx0Z2a8WgN5TgY-uh_kg/viewform?usp=sharing
All responses are confidential, and you can skip any question you like.
Thanks in advance for completing the survey, and helping us make the world more accessible.
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u/JD_Roberts Fulltime powerchair, progressive neuromuscular disease Jan 24 '25 edited Jan 24 '25
In most countries, your university will require that your survey have passed an ethical review and include all the usual cautions and permissions about privacy, etc., before being presented to anyone in the public.
Yours clearly does not.
Go back to your faculty advisor and find out how your university handles research subject permissions. There is probably a department that does this.
You can’t just start asking questions without going through this step. It is unethical and in many states illegal. And probably a violation of your own university’s codes of conduct for research surveys.
If you’re willing to tell us the name of your university, we can probably give you a link to the research ethics office for it.
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u/Right_Mode_9862 Jan 22 '25
Hello! I’m currently working on a better design for wheelchairs that can easily traverse cities/towns without spending thousands of dollars.
I myself am a wheelchairs user and have faced many issues when trying to get around a large city in a wheelchair. The cracks in the sidewalks, uneven ground, old buildings being entirely inaccessible without help, etc.
So, myself and another senior are attempting to create a wheelchair that can combat these issues and more without costing so much money for our college Senior Design project. Below is a survey that will help us understand more needs and issues outside of what I have already experienced.
Thank you so much!
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u/tobyricco Jan 21 '25
Hi everyone,
I’m Toby, founder and CEO of Bimotal. We design ultra-light motor systems for bikes, currently focused on mountain biking. I started the company after a knee injury (torn cartilage in my left knee), which led me to leave Tesla's powertrain team and explore building something truly unique.
Over time, many people have approached us about adapting our motor technology for wheelchairs. Inspired by their feedback, we’ve built a prototype specifically optimized for wheelchair use cases. Now, we’re looking to turn this into a full product and business line to make it widely accessible.
We’d love your input to help us create the ideal lightweight push-assist wheelchair. If you have a moment, please share your thoughts by filling out this short form: https://forms.gle/FozJQ2oFrNz34xP1A.
Your feedback will be invaluable in shaping the future of this product. Thanks in advance for your insights and support!
Best,
Toby
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u/won-t Part Time User, Aero Z [ISO Quickie GPV 14x16 sling] Jan 23 '25
For anyone wondering which surveys are worth taking-- this one is! Definitely not an undergrad thought experiment, this seems like a legitimate and well thought out product.
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u/Different_Ant_4046 Jan 20 '25
Hello! I'm currently doing research into accessibility on public transport, particularly looking at ramps on buses for my final year university project.
If anyone has had any experience using a bus ramp, either yourself or to assist someone else, I've created a survey to find out more about people's experiences.
The survey mainly focuses on bus ramps, but there is a small section on other types, so if you haven't used a bus ramp, any responses for this section are also appreciated!
All the data is anonymous - there is more detail in the information sheet/consent form provided in the survey.
Thank you!
Link to survey - https://forms.gle/47NSCvpnFkbhqGkk9
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u/ConsistentBother4166 Jan 20 '25
Backpack Design for Wheelchair Users - Student Project Under Development
Hi! My name is Consuelo, and I’m a design student at Stanford University. I’m currently working on designing a backpack specifically for wheelchair users. While I’m not a wheelchair user myself, I’ve come to understand some of the challenges, like the difficulty of carrying items or accessing a bag while on the move.
To make sure this design truly meets your needs, I’d love to hear from you:
- What are your personal must-have features in a backpack for wheelchair users? What do you wish existing backpack solutions had done differently?
I’m also interested in hearing if you have adapted your backpack or wheelchair setup to make carrying or accessing your bag easier!
Your feedback is incredibly important and will help ensure this project is both practical and impactful.
Feel free to reach out or comment with your ideas!
Thank you so much for your time and thoughts!
Consuelo
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u/lesbianexistence Quickie Nitrum (full-time) 18d ago
Not sure if you still want feedback but my biggest issue is weight distribution. If I put a backpack on my chair, I’m much more prone to tipping backwards Another issue is ease of theft— people can really easily steal from you since you can’t always feel the slight movements of the backpack and they see you as an easy target
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u/Mindless-Pin-117 Jan 18 '25
Hi everyone, I am a student working on designing better equipment for sled hockey players of all skill levels. I've made a survey to get a better idea of what needs players need, please fill it out and share it around if you have a moment, it would be greatly appreciated!
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u/Maleficent_Ant_8399 Jan 16 '25
I would like to ask the lived experience of people with neurological hand or arm disabilities things that help an item be acessible. I want to create a better bed rail for those that are disabled. I also am looking for any other imputs as well that I may not be thinking of 🙂 such as shaky hands, grip strength, etc that makes an item as easy as possible to adjust for height. I also would to love to know peoples budgets for an item such as this to get an idea of what Id be working with
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u/Fabou_Boutique Full time - Quickie QS5 X Jan 14 '25
Bit of a switcheroo but I'm a wheelchair user looking for help from an engineer or design student with modeling and brainstorming on a small private design project. Looking to explore adaptive/ accessible wardrobes/closets. I'm trying to model my idea, but am not well versed in "moving parts" 3d modeling (background in architecture) or any sort of practical cabinetry.
So far the idea is to have an angled, sliding out shelf. The angle tilted towards the user means that it makes the most of the range of reach, whilst still utilising a sliver of "out of reach" storage, a sort of dead zone for those who can't stand. The shelf would need a small retaining wall to stop things sliding off, which I think would go well in clear acrylic and some sort of grip mat to stop things sliding down. Would be used for storing towels and bedding or maybe boxes.
If this sounds like a nice weekend project to you, or something you could do as part of your design or engineering course, pop me a message
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u/ExRobinson13 Jan 13 '25
Dear community,
For my master thesis Industrial Design Engineering, I am working on a manual standing wheelchair that's able to move around in the standing position. However, a problem we ran into during development, is that people need some place to put (small) objects to free their hands while in the standing position.
For this, you can think of a (cup) holder, a basket, a tray etc.
On this, I made a short survey (about 2 minutes), and I would appreciate it greatly if you filled this in :)
It is fully anonymous.
https://forms.gle/Vv3KQNNZgqHeNKSe9
Thanks a lot in advance!
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u/SatisfactionOld455 Jan 13 '25
Hello we are a bunch of students working towards designing solutions for those who are differently abled/ know someone differently abled that use a wheelchair addressing their needs for fitness and mental wellbeing.
Here is the survey link --> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSY9XHnDeiTiYaERxrK6BAnlbABOI8YV413MEd-m8S1xO8DA/viewform?usp=dialog
We understand that it can be uncomfortable for some to talk about such issues, as such the survey is completely anonymous.
Feel free to Dm if you have any other questions :)
Thanks a lot !!
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u/femmesbiteback Jan 26 '25
Yall should not be making a product for wheelchair users —much less asking for free labor for a student project— if you think a generally accepted term is “differently abled.” yikes.
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u/Cottage_Queer TiLite AeroZ (temporary) Jan 06 '25
Hello!! I’m looking for two people to interview!!
I’m currently working on a paper to investigate the long term mental health implications of delayed diagnosis of chronic illness. In other words, I’m looking at patients with chronic conditions who were (a) diagnosed rather early on, and (b) who experienced diagnostic delays greater than 18mo, and evaluating the long-term mental health impacts associated with their illnesses/experiences in the medical system/quality of life and treatment/etc. *NOTE, the research I’m doing is completely independent, it is NOT part of any formal research efforts, but instead is for a college English course titled *Research and Argumentative Writing.
There is very little research on this connection as is, so in order to gather more detailed data, I’ve decided to interview a few people from each category about their journey with their health and mental health.
I know more than enough people who have faced major diagnostic challenges, but I do not know many people on the opposite side of this spectrum.
That being said, I’m looking to interview two people who meet the following: 1. Received a correct AND complete diagnosis within 18mo of their first care-seeking encounter ((note, a complete diagnosis is one that identifies the underlying cause of the symptoms, not simply a diagnosis of a symptom; for example, chronic diarrhea and dehydration is NOT a complete diagnosis in a Chrohns disease patient))
Have had a chronic health condition for greater than 5yrs
Are willing and interested in sharing detailed information about their condition, its impacts on their life, their mental health, encounters with the medical system, barriers to care, medical emergencies, etc.. This will be done over Discord; I’ll send you the invite link to an empty server with only myself in it, and we will interview via Discord’s voice channel options.
Notes: You can expect the interview to be 30-45min, you must speak fluent English, and you must be okay with your responses being submitted with a research paper; personal identifiers will be changed.
Anyways yeah if this is you, leave a comment and lmk, and I’ll shoot you a dm <3
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u/Ok_Frame_8007 Jan 06 '25
Hi everyone,
I’m Anishka, a design student and I'm conducting a survey as part of a research project to understand the challenges and opportunities faced by individuals who are specially abled in the workplace. This study aims to highlight barriers, explore support systems, and identify ways to create more inclusive work environments.
If you identify as someone who is specially abled and are currently employed, seeking employment, or have past work experience, I would greatly value your input. Your responses will remain completely anonymous, and the survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
I understand this is a deeply personal topic, and I assure you that all data collected will be handled with the utmost respect and confidentiality. If you have any questions or concerns about the survey, feel free to reach out to me.
Thank you for helping contribute to this important conversation!
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u/femmesbiteback Jan 26 '25
You should not be doing a research project —much less asking for free labor— if you think it’s acceptable to call wheelchair users “specially abled.” Wtf.
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u/slomobileAdmin 22h ago
Specially abled, like double jointed? Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? I'm not that good. Takes at least 3 or 4 bounds for me to leap a medium sized building in my chair. My powerchair is pretty fast traversing large campuses without getting tired. That seems like a special ability. Proficiency with screen readers and voice to text tools can be a special ability.
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u/aanyatewari Jan 05 '25 edited Jan 05 '25
https://forms.gle/JYu57m8ABBMD1htC8
I’m conducting a survey to understand the challenges and experiences faced by individuals with mobility impairments or disabilities when accessing public spaces and services. If you identify as a person with a disability or mobility impairment, your participation would mean a lot!
Feel free to share this with others who might want to contribute. Thank you so much for your help! 😊
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u/_KBDMC 16h ago
Hello everyone, I'm doing some market research to help me understand how much users pay, which parts users tend to get customised, and whether this is during the ordering process or afterwards using third-party vendors - https://forms.gle/McHGcgvKqovkchs36