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Wheelchair RecyclerWheelchair Recycler and Refurbisher of Pre-Owned WheelchairsWhere can you go for help getting a wheelchair when you are un- or underinsured? What if you are insured but can't afford to wait the months it takes to get approval?
More than 45 million Americans are currently without health insurance, a large percentage of who have a disability. To a person with a disability, insured or not, a mobility device is often crucial. But, as any person with a disability knows, the costs of a wheelchair, scooter, walker or any other mobility device can be astronomical. If they qualify for assistance, the equipment can often take months to be approved and even longer to be delivered. This is where Wheelchair Recycler comes in. Wheelchair Recycler is a non-profit organization that does just what its name indicates. The company recycles and refurbishes pre-owned electric wheelchairs and scooters for resale at a fraction of the cost to those whom the government and insurance have let down. Wheelchair Recycler also provides services to those who find that their equipment maintenance is not covered or will take too long to complete. David Heim of Marlborough, Massachusetts, began Wheelchair Recycler in January of 1998 after doing a favor for a friend. David was supposed to pick up a chair from a repair shop and deliver it to a friend in rehab. When he picked the wheelchair – a sip & puff for a high-level quad – up, he noticed what disarray it was in. David took the chair home, cleaned it up and added a few finishing touches that the repair shop had forgotten. David had worked as a machinist and fabricator until his own injury in late 1995. Being naturally mechanically inclined has helped David in repairing pre-owned chairs and even come up with some designs of his own. Being in a wheelchair himself allows David to bring a unique perspective to his business. . He knows firsthand how stressful it can be being without a means of mobility and is doing all he can to help The major obstacles that David faces with Wheelchair Recycler are limited space, lack of funding for transportation of the wheelchairs and office equipment. He has also encountered problems with day-to-day bills, such as heat and electric. David’s long-term goal is to take Wheelchair Recycler national and help uninsured or underinsured people with mobility issues all over the country. Since its inception in 1998, Wheelchair Recycler has given away, or sold at low cost, 200 refurbished power wheelchairs and scooters. Visit Wheelchair Recycler for more information or to contact David.
The copyright of the article Wheelchair Recycler in Disabilities is owned by Megan Drummond. Permission to republish Wheelchair Recycler in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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