Choosing a Wheelchair, A Guide for Optimal Independence
by Gary Karp

Reviewed by DeanOP
MSWorld Book Reviewer

Gary Karp fell from a tree when he was a young man, becoming paraplegic. So he is experientially qualified to write this book. And he has written a very comprehensive and interesting book about all aspects of everyday-use manual and power wheelchairs. While the book is not specifically for people with MS, there is plenty of useful information for the MS sufferer in need of a chair. He also acknowledges some of the differences between MS and more "static" disabilities which might influence the type of chair a person with MS chooses.

The historical information is intriguing... who developed which kind of chairs, inspired by what events. I didn't know that two of the major chair manufactoring companies were founded by disabled people who wanted to build a better chair. One becomes so used to snarling about the shortcomings of large corporations, and it's arresting to realize that behind them are people with disabilities who once tried to find a better way to get around in the world. Mr. Karp also presents cogent arguments for looking into the offerings of smaller companies, and he describes a number of useful devices, noting that dealers who work with the major companies are often unaware of these, though they may prove perfectly sound alternatives for the customer.

Although financing and funding for chairs are covered, and several alternative sources of funding are suggested for those with no, or too little, insurance coverage, the focus of this book is on the chairs themselves. Funding is discussed apropos its influence on the quality of chair to which one has access.

There are chapters on fitting and using each type of chair (manual and power). And Mr. Karp writes clearly on some of the more technical aspects of chair design, function and maintenance. I sometimes use a manual chair, myself, and had always found my brain turning to sludge whenever my dealer tried to explain some technical matter to me. However, I found myself able to learn from Mr. Karp's presentation. He also covers many of the accessories a chair-user might need. At the end of each chapter he presents the information covered in table form, comparing and contrasting the alternatives discussed. This makes the information easy to glean without necessarily reading the book word for word (though I did, I promise.) His book has excellent appendices, listing manufactorers, online resources and publications, as well as a checklist of important points when choosing a chair for oneself.

Whether you are new to wheelchair use, or are in need of a replacement chair, this book will prove up-to-date and informative. As Mr. Karp suggests, the more informed one is the better one's choice is likely to be.

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