ASSIGNMENT 5

BARRIER FREE ARCHITECTURE

MOBILITY DEVICES:

Attendant propelled
• Have handles at the back which help an attendant to push the wheelchair
forward.
• Wheels are usually smaller than the self-propelled variety.
• Sometimes brakes are provided in the handles for the attendant.
• detachable swing away footrests.
• flip-back armrests.
• a center of gravity adjustment.
• a wide profile caster.
• Seat Size 22'' inch (558.8mm) & 20'' inch (508mm)
• Total Weight 17 K.G.

Power propelled
• Powerchairs are propelled by electricity.
• The wheelchair frame incorporates batteries and electric motors that spin the
wheels.
• Such chairs are controlled by a joystick installed on the armrest.

Self Propelled
• Most widely used type.
• users who have enough strength in the upper portion of the body, especially
arms.
• consist of four wheels (two small caster wheels in front and two large
sidewheels), push-rims, footrests and back cushion.
• further types are – folding and rigid plane
Stair lifts. These devices move people and wheelchairs up and down stairs, either through the floor or
along the staircase.
Canes

Types of Canes

There are different categories of canes on the market today, each providing a slightly different amount of
assistance. The cane you use should fit well with your current needs and functional level. Using a cane
that isn't right for you can cause you to develop poor walking postures and may lead to injury from a fall.

● White canes:

These are designed specifically for assisting people who

are visually impaired. White canes are longer and thinner
than traditional canes and enable the user to detect
objects in their path. They also inform other people that
the user is blind or visually impaired.MANUFACTURER
– Kripa Exports Inc., Noida

● "C" cane. The C cane is a single straight walking cane with a curve
forming a handle at its top. This is the most simple of all canes. It
assists in improving balance by the mechanism described above.
Straight canes should be used by the patient needing only slight assist
with balance or only minimal unweighting of the opposite leg. They are
typically available in your local pharmacy or medical supply store.

● The functional grip cane. Functional grip canes are similar to the C
cane except for the handle. A functional grip cane has a straight grip
handle rather than a smooth curve. This allows for a better grip by the
patient and an improved grip allows for better cane control and hence
offers more support than the C cane. Functional grip canes are
appropriate for the patient who needs slightly more balance assistance
than the C cane provides.
 ● Quad cane. A walking cane with
a rectangle base and four small
supports that contact the floor is
called a quad cane. This large
base provides more support than
the above two canes. Quad
canes come in two varieties
depending on the size of the
rectangle base. Appropriately
they are categorized as small
base and large base quad canes.
The quad cane is helpful for
patients needing much more
balance assistance than provided
by the C cane and functional grip
cane. Quad canes are often used by a person with hemiplegia, or paresis, of one arm, leg, or
both. Another added benefit of the quad cane is that you don't need to set it up against something
when you're not using it. The large base and four feet allow it to stand on its own.

Ramps.

Access ramps are especially important as some people, including

those with wheelchairs and scooters, cannot manage stairs. People
with walkers, canes, and crutches may also find that ramps provide
easier access than steps.

a. Permanent Ramps - Such ramps are constructed in places where

they are to be used by many people like in a disabled hospital. They
can also be built in a place where few people get into but frequently.
Concrete is the perfect choice for these ramps, but steel and wood can
also be used.

b. Semi-permanent Ramps - The semi-permanent

wheelchair ramps are meant for temporary usage. They are
mostly needed for a short period of time like in a trade fair or
exhibitions to make such events accessible for people using
wheelchairs. The semi-permanent ramps can also be set up in
a place where people using wheelchairs are expected to
arrive for a certain occasion.

MANUFACTURER – Vin Grace, Delhi

c. Portable Ramps - They are portable, and one can move with
them from place to place as needed. The portable sizes can be
folded to help reduce their size. The material that is commonly
used to construct this type of a ramp is aluminium. This is
because it is light in

weight and strong. The heights of these kinds of ramps differ just
as much as the heights to be to be climbed.

MANUFACTURER – Elumalai wheelchairs, Chennai

d. Platform Ramps - They are always flat and large to allow

the chair to roll over the surface area. They may be folding or
non-folding.

MANUFACTURER – Elumalai wheelchairs, Chennai

CRUTCHES

a.Axillary underarm crutches:

One part of an axillary crutch is placed against the ribcage under the armpits, while
users hold onto the hand grip. These crutches are typically used by those with
short-term injuries.

B. Loftstand Crutches:

This type of crutch involves placing the arm into a metal or plastic cuff and holding a hand grip. Forearm
crutches are more commonly used by people with long-term disabilities.
C. Platform Crutches

With platform crutches, the hand holds a grip while the forearm rests on a horizontal platform. Platform
crutches are not commonly used, except by people with a weak hand grip due to conditions such as
arthritis or cerebral palsy.

3.WALKERS -

Walkers, also known as Zimmer frames, are made up of a metal framework with four legs that provide
stability and support to the user. Basic walkers have a 3-sided frame that surrounds the user. Users lift the
frame and place it further in front of them, they then step
forward to meet it, before repeating the process. Some
walkers have wheels or glides on the base of the legs,
which means the user can slide the walker rather than lift
it. This is especially helpful for people with limited arm
strength.

A. Rollators. This common style of walker consists of a

frame with four wheels, handlebars, and seat so the user
can rest as needed. Rollators also include hand breaks as
a safety feature.

MANUFACTURER – Relief Orthotics, Bangalore

B. Knee walkers. Like a rollator, this device allows the user
to rest their knee on a padded cushion while propelling
themselves forward with their stronger leg.

MANUFACTURER – KRF Healthcare, Noida

C. Walker-cane hybrids. A cross between a cane and a walker, this mobility aid has two legs rather than
a full frame. It can be used with one or both hands and provides greater support than a standard cane.

MANUFACTURER – India medico instruments, Delhi