Wheelchair Nerds
Welcome to Wheelchairs Nerds – a podcast to connect and inform people who utilize, prescribe, and provide seating and wheeled mobility equipment. Have a question, suggestion, or comment? Email us at wheelchairnerds@permobil.com. The information in the podcast is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be medical, billing, or legal advice.
All Episodes
Episode 48: Innovating for Independence with Mark Fuglevand from Abilitease
Join host Angie Kiger and Hawken Miller on Wheelchair Nerds as they interview Mark Fuglevand, founder of Abilitease. Mark, a C6 incomplete quadriplegic, shares his journey from a diving accident at 18 to creating affordable adaptive tools. We talk to Mark about transitioning from accounting to 3D printing, developing products that solve everyday problems and allow for independence. His innovations have impacted hundreds of lives, and we get to hear some of those incredible stories. Mark has been through at least a dozen manual wheelchairs, so he also shares his thoughts on the importance of personalized wheelchair adjustments, and his vision for the future of adaptive technology.
Episode 47: The Importance of On-Time Mobility with Lisa Kenyon
We welcome Lisa Kenyon, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS, and professor at Grand Valley State University, to this episode of Wheelchair Nerds, where we discuss all things on-time mobility. This conversation ranges from Lisa's wide-ranging experience in pediatric power mobility to stories about kids she's helped independently move to why she does it all. ***SHOW NOTES*** Andrina Sabet et al. article "ON Time Mobility: Advocating for Mobility Equity" (2022) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35943383/ Lisbeth Nilsson 2014 article about Assessment of Learning Powered Mobility Use tool - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25357100/ Heather Feldner, Sam Logan, Bethany Sloane et al study on Ride-On Car usage - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7529107/ "Short-Term Powered Mobility Intervention Is Associated With Improvements in Development and Participation for Young Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Clinical Trial" - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39450982/ "Powered Mobility Device Use and Developmental Change of Young Children with Cerebral Palsy" - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37232636/ Wheelchair Skills program - Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia - https://wheelchairskillsprogram.ca/en/
Episode 46: The Process Behind Creating a Unique, Custom-Designed Wheelchair with Ken Winward
In Episode 46 of Wheelchair Nerds, I sit down with Ken Winward, a legend in the TyLite world, to explore the fascinating process of creating custom-designed wheelchairs. With nearly 25 years at TyLite, Ken shares his journey from a temporary job to a lifelong mission of enhancing mobility. We delve into the Creative Mobility Division (CMD), where user-first innovations transform unique requests into reality. Ken discusses the importance of safety, quality, and engineering standards in crafting personalized solutions. Listen as we explore how CMD takes ideas from napkin sketches to fully realized, safe, and functional wheelchairs, ensuring that each chair is tailored to the individual needs of its user. Join us for an inspiring conversation about the art and science behind custom wheelchair design.
Episode 45: Rolling into the Kitchen: Cooking with Gabby DiSalvo
Join me, Angie Kiger, on Wheelchair Nerds for Episode 45: Rolling into the Kitchen: Cooking with Gabby DiSalvo. In this engaging episode, I chat with Gabby DiSalvo, a junior at UConn who is making waves with her blog, Cooking on Wheels. Gabby shares her journey of adapting her kitchen to suit her needs as a wheelchair user and discusses the challenges and triumphs she has faced along the way. We delve into her passion for cooking, sparked during the pandemic, and her dream of hosting a cooking show with a focus on disability advocacy. Gabby also opens up about her transition from a manual to a power wheelchair and how it has impacted her independence. Whether you're a therapist, caregiver, or someone who uses a wheelchair, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration. Tune in for a lively discussion that might just inspire you to start cooking from your chair.