Independent Perspective 1715 with guest Kimberly Maus about the Vive 2 in 1 Rollator Transport Wheelchair Walker Combo.

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Kimberly Naus, Director of the University at Buffalo’s Center for Assistive Technology, and I'm your host Ernie Churchwell. Welcome back to the program Kim.

Guest:  Thank you Ernie for having me.

Host:  It's our pleasure. And as always, we must of necessity acknowledge your sponsorship by TRAID. And in case people have missed you previously just what is that?

Guest:  TRAID is an acronym for Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities. The good news, it’s your tax dollars going to work for you. The goal is to keep people in their homes, to allow people to be aware of technology that is out there to either help them independently with a physical disability. It could be a cognitive disability. It could be a communication barrier. Assistive technology can be any item or a piece of equipment to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of an individual with disabilities. It can be as simple as a modified toothbrush handle. It can be as complex as voice activated software.

Host:  Marvelous. And, as always, there's a particular nifty assistive technology device that you're going to showcase for us today. And based on the description sounds like it might be the Swiss Army knife of mobility devices.

Guest:  Yes, I think you hit the nail right on the head there, two in one.

Host:  it's the Vive 2 in 1 Rollator Transport Wheelchair Walker Combo. What all does this thing do that its predecessors have not?

Guest:  Well, if you're navigating, say you have to go to the doctor's and you're just rehabbing, a lot of times your loved one may take a transport wheelchair to wheelchair you into the facility. But yet, you know that doctor wants to see you walk so you better have your walker with you too. So now the loved one is not only trying to push you in a wheelchair but also carry a rollator walker. So this is a two in one. We call it dual purpose mobility. You can safely walk, rest and ride. It's comfortable mesh seating. It’s foldable, it is dual brake system. Very lightweight, weighs 20 pounds. Easy to lift, transport from one place to another. It's durable, it's safe to store and it also independently can give that person, I know I had a client here yesterday borrowing a transport wheelchair, but then they struggle with getting around where they were because they have the transport wheelchair and they don’t have somebody to push them. So, in this case they can use the transport wheelchair, get pushed into work, and then they have the walker to navigate around work when needed. We have them available for loan, our loans are by appointment. It has footrests on it, foldable footrest, removeable. I just think it's like you said it's the Swiss Army knife for disabilities.

Host:  And I guess it has an unusually large weight capacity?

Guest:  Yes, it holds up to 300 pounds and being aluminum and holding up to 300 pounds, I mean that's, that's very user friendly, most definitely.

Host:  Great, in our remaining seconds how can people contact you to find out more?

Guest:  They can give us a call at 716-836-1168. We do work with five counties: Erie, Genesee, Niagara Orleans and Wyoming. There are a total of 12 centers, so if you live in another community, please call and we can share that information with you. Thank you.

Host:  Wonderful. Thanks so much for being with us. Kim.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie, and have a great day.

Host:  You too. You have been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today has been Kimberly Naus, Director of the Center for Assistive Technology at the University at Buffalo and I've been your host Ernie Churchwell.