"As the son of a father who has used a wheelchair for as long as I can remember, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges and toll that seemingly simple, everyday tasks take on his body. Many people do not understand the complexity and advance planning required for every action, whether it is getting into the shower or moving from the wheelchair to the bed, all while constantly fearing that something might go wrong in the process." Hans, father of Dean de Groot, 33, has been disabled for many years due to a muscular dystrophy condition.
Dean had a childhood dream: to create an advanced wheelchair solution that would ease his father's life. 2 View gallery Hans and Dean de Groot "Entering and exiting a wheelchair are physically damaging and exhausting tasks for users due to the fixed nature of wheelchair components," Dean explains. "To move from a wheelchair to a sofa, another chair, a bed or a toilet, users must perform a 'jump' that can lead to a loss of balance and friction against the wheel, potentially causing the chair to tip forward.
This process involves a significant physical effort. "Many people fear falling because of the 'jump' they are forced to make multiple times a day, leading them to avoid performing daily activities independently and becoming dependent on caregivers," he adds. Despite this pervasive and significant problem, current developments in the field of accessibility focus on manufacturing technologies, ergonomics and appearance.
Until now, a practical.
