Wheelchair Revolution! My life with the iBOT.

iBOT - A wheelchair that climbs stairs, travels over uneven terrain
and sand, and can put the user at
eye level to an average standing adult.

DEAN KAMEN - The inventor of the
iBOT. Kamen also invented the Segway.

DEKA - Dean Kamens's company. The
iBOT was designed by engineers at
DEKA.

J&J - Johnson and Johnson. The
company producing and marketing
the iBOT.

IT - Independence Technology.
A division of J&J. Provides
tech support for iBOT users.
-----------------------------------

I 've been using a manual wheelchair to get around since I was 8 years old. In September 2007, I got my first power wheelchair. This is no ordinary wheelchair though. The iBOT can climb curbs and stairs. It can travel over terrain such as sand and gravel. It can raise me so that I am eye level with an average standing adult.

I am writing this blog to share this
exciting time in my life with my
family and friends. I'm also doing
it to raise awareness. Not many
people know about the iBOT. I've
found that most people in the
medical field have never
even heard of the iBOT before.
I've also found that many
wheelchair users themselves
have never heard of it.  There
are currently only about 400
iBOT users. I would like to
see this number go much much
higher. Unfortunately, the cost
of the iBOT is $26,100. That's
a price a lot of people cannot
afford (including myself - I got
lucky and purchased mine used).
I know many wheelchair users
who would love to have an iBOT,
but they simply cannot afford to
buy one. Most insurance companies
will not pay for even part of the
iBOT.   They say the iBOT is a "luxury".
I wish everyone who wanted an iBOT,
had an iBOT.

As wonderful as the iBOT is, there
is definite room for improvement.
This blog is about the good AND
the bad.

*Please note: Everything in this blog is my opinion, unless otherwise stated. I am not being paid to promote the iBOT.*

For more information, please visit http://ibotnow.com/

Wheelchair Revolution! My life with the iBOT.

Friday, January 19, 2007

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