Parapalegic now uses Segway XT

MzSegwayofHawaii · 02-06-2008, 06:37 PM

For those of you who enjoy miracle stories...

Currently we have a team of specialists who are customizing the XT model for a parapalegic gentleman who is determined to, and I quote "get the hell out of his wheel chair and back to living his life" I mean from the seat they made from scratch, to finding a way to stabalize the unit while he slides from the cage in his wheel chair to the cage on the XT. I should have some pictures here before the week is over with. They are even considering making a joystick like attachment to replace the dial on the XT so that he can turn easiar.

We had him on the prototype last weekend and he was moving that XT around our obstacle course like a champ. I was soooo stoked!!! And surprised that even he himself with such limited mobility, the things he was able to do... (almost like green eggs and ham)

02-06-2008, 06:47 PM

If this gentleman has no objections, I'm sure we'd all love to see pictures, if not actual video footage of this!

I hope when the prototype is finished and he makes his wheelchair-to-Segway segueway (sorry... just couldn't resist that!), someone does a media full court press, and not just the local news.

Call CNN Health; CBS, ABC, NBC, Discovery Health, The Learning Channel, National Geographic, the AMA, the Centers for Disease Control... everyone you can think of.

This may sound crass... but just think of the automatic press that would have been received if your guy were, say, the late Christopher Reeve, who made the same vow.

QuadSquad · 02-06-2008, 07:23 PM

Well, one might do it differently, they might even do it better, however the first Paraplegic to use a Segway with a seat on it was Mark Wellman in Cortina Italy in July 2005.

He was instructed in its use by the first person to put a seat on a Segway, Leonard Timm, who did that in January 2003.

Post pictures we'd love to see what new wrinkles you may have come up with.

debhal · 02-15-2008, 10:00 AM

Fabulous stuff.
I use mine in Singapore. I have failed back syndrome and limited distance to walk and so can get about.
Previously lived in Bombay for a year and was able to get around and about and be almost normal.
Before that an insurance assessor tried to tell me I should not use one.

Just upgraded to i2 and it is fabulous. Local distributor here Tom Navasero is wonderful and really helpful and traded the old model.

It must be like the penny farthing in the 19th century. People love them especially when they have not seen them before.

You have to hand it to the paras though - so brave - well done. At least you get out and around.

Keep it up!

nora k · 02-15-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debhal

Fabulous stuff.
I use mine in Singapore. I have failed back syndrome and limited distance to walk and so can get about.
Previously lived in Bombay for a year and was able to get around and about and be almost normal.
Before that an insurance assessor tried to tell me I should not use one.

Just upgraded to i2 and it is fabulous. Local distributor here Tom Navasero is wonderful and really helpful and traded the old model.

It must be like the penny farthing in the 19th century. People love them especially when they have not seen them before.

You have to hand it to the paras though - so brave - well done. At least you get out and around.

Keep it up!

where in mumbai were you? the sidewalks there are a challenge. did you use it mostly in the street?

02-06-2008, 06:37 PM	#1
MzSegwayofHawaii Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waikiki, Hawai`i (O`ahu) Posts: 130	Parapalegic now uses Segway XT For those of you who enjoy miracle stories... Currently we have a team of specialists who are customizing the XT model for a parapalegic gentleman who is determined to, and I quote "get the hell out of his wheel chair and back to living his life" I mean from the seat they made from scratch, to finding a way to stabalize the unit while he slides from the cage in his wheel chair to the cage on the XT. I should have some pictures here before the week is over with. They are even considering making a joystick like attachment to replace the dial on the XT so that he can turn easiar. We had him on the prototype last weekend and he was moving that XT around our obstacle course like a champ. I was soooo stoked!!! And surprised that even he himself with such limited mobility, the things he was able to do... (almost like green eggs and ham) __________________ ~Channelle~ Waikiki, Hawai`i In a world FULL of cheerios, be a fruit loop! Save gas, ride a Segway! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-06-2008, 07:23 PM	#3
QuadSquad Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO, USA. Posts: 479	First Para on a Segway was July 2005 Well, one might do it differently, they might even do it better, however the first Paraplegic to use a Segway with a seat on it was Mark Wellman in Cortina Italy in July 2005. He was instructed in its use by the first person to put a seat on a Segway, Leonard Timm, who did that in January 2003. Post pictures we'd love to see what new wrinkles you may have come up with.

02-06-2008, 06:47 PM	#2
Eric Payne Guest Posts: n/a	If this gentleman has no objections, I'm sure we'd all love to see pictures, if not actual video footage of this! I hope when the prototype is finished and he makes his wheelchair-to-Segway segueway (sorry... just couldn't resist that!), someone does a media full court press, and not just the local news. Call CNN Health; CBS, ABC, NBC, Discovery Health, The Learning Channel, National Geographic, the AMA, the Centers for Disease Control... everyone you can think of. This may sound crass... but just think of the automatic press that would have been received if your guy were, say, the late Christopher Reeve, who made the same vow.

02-15-2008, 10:00 AM	#4
debhal New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1	Fabulous stuff. I use mine in Singapore. I have failed back syndrome and limited distance to walk and so can get about. Previously lived in Bombay for a year and was able to get around and about and be almost normal. Before that an insurance assessor tried to tell me I should not use one. Just upgraded to i2 and it is fabulous. Local distributor here Tom Navasero is wonderful and really helpful and traded the old model. It must be like the penny farthing in the 19th century. People love them especially when they have not seen them before. You have to hand it to the paras though - so brave - well done. At least you get out and around. Keep it up!

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