Buy Wheelchair for UX Testing?

[nelsonic]

In-line with the "golden rule" we want to be proactive about accessibility @home (see: #23 )
with that in mind, I propose that we purchase a Wheelchair for UX testing ASAP.

e.g: https://www.queralto.com/pt/21565-cadeira-de-rodas-de-autopropulsao-dobravel-mod-alcazaba-mobiclinic.html

@iteles when do you think a good time to make this purchase is?
(is it likely to disappear from the building site if someone accidentally leaves a door unlocked...?) 🤔

[iteles]

@nelsonic Once we have finished the main building issues and changed the locks on the front door.

I would also consider whether we need to buy one. Anyone who needs them within home is likely to have their own (and if not, we can consider it then). I would rather not have to think about storing one of these until we need to as well.

We can also rent them for €1,50 a day plus a one-off €15 delivery charge:
https://www.maisquecuidar.com/aluguer-de-equipamentos-cuidados-domiciliarios/aluguer-de-cadeira-de-rodas-modelo-1/

[nelsonic]

@iteles agree that renting would be a good solution (thanks for sharing!) if our time was not a factor
(time spent receiving and returning the chair more than once will be more than the cost of buying one)
and we only planned to use it once ... I should have made it clearererer above that my long-term plan:

I plan to have a wheelchair permanently in the building and encourage people to take turns using it in order to role-play physical accessibility constraints in order to get into the accessible mindset.
Think "method acting" but for software development. 🎭 Similarly we will have a blindfold 🙈that we will encourage people to use while testing their features on screen readers. 📵

Having spent a couple of weeks in a wheelchair when I broke my leg and could not walk,
I briefly felt the pain/frustration of being limited by stairs and heights of counters and book shelves ...
most people never experience sitting in a wheelchair for any length of time,
so have difficulty empathizing with wheelchair users.

The first step in the Design Thinking process is Empathize.

Learning about the "target audience" or "users" is the first thing people need.
I guarantee you that none of the "coding bootcamps" out there have incorporated this step into their learning journey. The estimate of world population who need a wheelchair for mobility ranges from 1.85% and 5% (depends on country and level of war they have seen...)
see: https://www.wheelchairfoundation.org/programs/from-the-heart-schools-program/materials-and-supplies/analysis-of-wheelchair-need/
In the UK 1.9% of the uses a wheelchair disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/wheelchair-stats
Due to extended war (civil and colonial) and the number of land-mines in the countryside,
it is estimated that 20% of the 12 million people of Angola are disabled. 😮
https://www.wheelchairfoundation.org/angola-the-most-disabled-people-on-earth-get-help/

We have acquaintances who openly dismiss wheelchair accessibility 😞 but we definitely won't.
We're spending a chunk of cash to ensure that wheelchair-bound people can access the house. ♿️🏡
We need to go way beyond hiring a wheelchair once and token-testing the accessibility, we need to make it part of the daily routine and having a "rota" that requires people to live in the chair for a full day including the accessibility elevator and cooking in the accessible kitchen.

Hope this gives a bit more insight on why I think we should own and use a wheelchair in the house. ✨

[iteles]

Once we have finished the main building issues and changed the locks on the front door 👍

[nelsonic]

@iteles yesterday when I was reviewing the kitchen design for wheelchair accessibility,
I could really have used the wheelchair specifically to check arm-rest and lap height.

I was using this image as a guide:
https://www.karmanhealthcare.com/how-wide-does-a-doorway-need-to-be-for-a-wheelchair/

It conforms to the ADA Spec: https://www.ada.gov/descript/reg3a/figA3ds.htm
But I don't know if it's representative ...

Also, as a "price check", I found this chair which I think has nicer wheels. 😉 ♿️
https://www.quirumed.com/pt/cadeira-de-rodas-dobravel-em-aco-cromado-rodas-traseiras-macicas.html

On the basis that it's foldable, fits neatly in the back of the IQ:

Which means it can be taken to the site for testing and brought back to the flat for storage.
What do you think of ordering it next week so that we can begin UX-testing?
I feel that there are quite a few things that we need to test in the house for true wheelchair accessibility
and the sooner we have the physical device the sooner we can UX-test things.

[iteles]

Sounds like a plan, let me know if you need the house bank card for ordering 👍

[nelsonic]

@iteles way just going to use my own PayPal account for simplicity.
But if you feel that it's a "house" expense, I will bug you for the card on Monday to order it.
I think delivery to the building site should work as there are always people there ... (thoughts?)

[nelsonic]

I am currently in the process of designing the Accessible Kitchen #54
and could really use a wheelchair in order to test a few of the ideas for under-counter storage ... ♿️

Buying just the Wheelchair from https://www.quirumed.com/ means €11.69 of shipping ...

So I went looking on their site for a product that we actually need to make up the difference.
Found this Bathroom Support Rail for the accessible bathroom:
https://www.quirumed.com/pt/dupla-barra-abativel.html?sid=56513

This is actually a good price for this item (in PT).
For comparison, the cheapest one on Amazon (UK) is:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Homecraft-Bathroom-Handicapped-Disabled-Stability/dp/B004V4VIJI

Sorry that this is unrelated to the Wheelchair (directly) ... but it is relevant to MR bathroom. 💭
Thoughts? (can I place the order?)

[iteles]

A bit of a tail that wags the dog situation but in this is actually something we need because our bathroom set didn't come with one.

Could you please check:

• Whether post installation there is still enough of a turning circle to get into the shower
• I'm pretty sure that the bars on the sink are inox

And please get card details from me so that it comes out of the right account.

[nelsonic]

@iteles the bar has a fulcrum so it folds up against the wall, so there's no issue with mobility.
But I agree, this is the tail wagging the dog. I just hate paying for shipping!! 💸

We can open a separate issue for the accessible bathroom when we are finalising it.
Found this comparable product cheaper:
https://ortomed.pt/SA%C3%9ADE/Sa%C3%BAde-Ajudas%20Higiene%20e%20WC/ajudas-de-higiene-apoios-e-barras/Ajuda-rebat%C3%ADvel-com-porta-rolo

The wheelchair is still a good deal ... I will look to see if there's an alt supplier without shipping. 🔍

[nelsonic]

In light of the price hike in the SKU shared above:

I'm considering getting the "Basic" one instead:
https://www.quirumed.com/pt/cadeira-de-rodas-dobravel-de-aco-basic.html

However the "Basic" model will only be in stock next week, which means delivery the following week.
I want to get cracking with the kitchen design and ergonomics testing now! 💭

I've definitely wasted more than £15 worth of my time on this issue ... 💸
This chair is a tool for getting a specific job done. (and re-useable for "accessibility mindset" training)
We just need to order it so we can get the accessible kitchen done ASAP.

@iteles as much as it pains me to pay more for the chair than I was expecting and pay for shipping, I think we just need to get this done today so we can crack on.

[iteles]

Agreed!

[iteles]

Bought 👍