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Adaptation - refers to finding other ways to do things to make the most of your abilities. Adapting to being in an electric wheel chair may involve making changes to your environment such as adding ramps and widening doorways.

Assistive Steering Devices - Assistive Steering Devices may vary depending upon the client's needs. They can range from reduced effort steering to compensate for reduced strength, to joystick steering for one-handed control of steering, braking and acceleration, to spinner knobs that allow steering with one hand.

Axle -the part at the center of a wheel; a wheel rotates around an axle with the help of a ball bearing.

Body Mechanics - refers to the study of proper body movement to prevent and correct posture problems, reduce stress and help accomplish a heavy task.

Casters -the two small wheels located at the front or rear of the electric wheel chair that swivel in all directions to contribute to the maneuverability of the wheelchair.

Camber - the off-vertical tilt of the larger electric wheel chair wheels, which increases stability.

Custom - referring to a frame or electric wheel chair built to a customer's specifications.

Dump - the angle between the seat rail and the floor.

Fork - the part that attaches the front wheels, or casters, to the frame of the wheel chair.

Footrests - the place where an electric wheel chair user can rest his or her feet, also sometimes called a foot plate.

Hemi Wheelchair - an electric wheel chair with a low seat-to-floor height that allows for foot propulsion of the wheelchair.

Pnuematic - referring to pneumatic tires; powered by or filled with compressed air.

Posture - the position of the limbs or carriage of the body as a whole; can affect how you feel and your ability to function in your electric wheel chair.

Propel - to move your wheel chair forward; either by hand or by an electric motor.

Push Handle - the handles on the back of wheelchairs that make it easier for an assistant to push the wheelchair from behind.

Push Rims - the rings on the sides of the rear wheels of a wheelchair that are used for hand-propelling

Quick-Release Axle - a push-button, removable axle that allows for easy removal of the rear wheel to transport the wheel chair .

Seat Angle - the angle between the seat rail and the floor.

Seat Height - the distance from the floor to the front or rear of the wheel chair.

Third Party Payers - applies to anyone other than the end-user who pays for the wheelchair. A third party payer could be a private insurance company, Medicare or Medicaid, the Veterans Administration, a charitable organization, or a private payer.

Wheelbase - the distance between the center of the front wheel caster to the center of the rear wheel caster.

Wheelchair Accessible - a building or public place that allows a person in an electric wheel chair easy access to all areas of that particular place.

Wheelie - balancing on the two rear wheels of a manual wheel chair. This skill can be useful when trying to deal with obstacles such as curbs and uneven surfaces. Not recommended on electric wheel chairs.

Contact Orbit Medical if you want to speak to a mobility specialist about getting an electric wheel chair for little or no cost to you!