How to: Source a Chair

by

Where To Look:

  • Check with your school board for their preferred mobility vendors and contacts.
  • Check for a local supplier by looking at the label on your local Walmart’s wheelchair.
  • Ask them if they have child size chairs to rent or loan.
  • If the board doesn’t have a preferred vendor ask the school (or school board) who the Occupational Therapist is that supports your local mobility challenged students. They will know a local supplier. Your Special Education Resource Consultant (SERT) will be a good place to start
  • Check with online retailers like BestBuy or Amazon.
  • Request your board of education procure one or several chairs for use in schools for this program
  • Contact your local Easter Seals (in 8 Canadian Provinces) or other service organizations who fund wheelchair purchases for children. They will not pay for your chair, but will know suppliers who can access a chair for you.
  • In the Greater Toronto Area, Mobility Specialties: mobilityspecialties.ca 
  • For National rentals or purchase:  Motion motioncares.ca

 

Sizing A Chair:

Make sure the chair size you get will fit the largest student in the class. This will avoid embarrassment and further exclusion.

Take into account the following:

  • WIDTH – Measure (or generously estimate) hip width
  • DEPTH: FOOTREST HEIGHT: Measure back of knee to base of
    their heel
  • Paediatric chair sizing generally recommend 14” x 14” Grades
    4-6 and 16” x 16” Grades 6-8. 12″ x 12″ is also available for younger grades with no large students.
  • Adult chairs for students over 250 lbs.

 

Considerations:

If you don’t wish to purchase a chair and can’t rent one, you may wish to partner with another local school to share a chair for different parts of the year.

  1. Do not get a motorized wheelchair
  2. Make sure the chair has brakes
  3. Make sure there is a seatbelt
  4. If you rent a chair, it should be tested first for safety
    an on-site safety check is available through local Vendors. For a
    chair approx. $80-$100 for safety test
  5. If purchasing a chair, get an extra seat cover, so one can be
    washed if soiled
  6. The underside is vinyl so it can be wiped. (No
    embarrassing downtime)
  7. Don’t grease the chair’s wheels, or submerge it in water.
    (okay if it gets wet outside on the playground)

 

Costs:

A paediatric/youth wheelchair can range from $300 to much more ($3,000). No need for advanced features like tilt for someone sitting in the chair for 3 hours. You do want them to be able to wheel themselves around independently, (even if they may ask for help from their assistant) Look for a self propelled model.