Finally, some good news for a change! Though one particularly noteworthy bit: I'd never thought about wheelchairs falling under this. That's particularly horrifying to me since they're pretty...
Finally, some good news for a change!
Though one particularly noteworthy bit:
Gov. Bob Ferguson signed two bills guaranteeing Washingtonians' right to access tools, parts, and information so they can fix personal electronics, appliances, and wheelchairs.
...
Meanwhile, advocacy from groups including Disability Rights Washington and the Here and Now Project made the case for the wheelchair's inclusion in the right-to-repair bill, bringing their personal stories to Olympia to show why this bill was so important.
I'd never thought about wheelchairs falling under this. That's particularly horrifying to me since they're pretty necessary for their users to live their lives. They're quite possibly the most vital item impacted by these regulations.
There have also been stories of folks where companies have refused to service (or provide service materials) for powered prosthetics. This guy couldn't walk until the Internet found someone that...
There have also been stories of folks where companies have refused to service (or provide service materials) for powered prosthetics. This guy couldn't walk until the Internet found someone that did the fix, but not everyone gets their story publicized like his. As the story below notes, the medical device industry has lobbied hard against right to repair for such devices.
I think they might mean motorized wheelchairs. I would be surprised if simple hand-pushed wheelchairs were made without the ability to get replacement parts. Maybe not that surprised though….
I think they might mean motorized wheelchairs. I would be surprised if simple hand-pushed wheelchairs were made without the ability to get replacement parts.
I figured it likely refers to motorized wheelchairs. There are still some conditions that require motorized wheelchairs more than manual ones, at least if the users want to have any degree of...
I figured it likely refers to motorized wheelchairs. There are still some conditions that require motorized wheelchairs more than manual ones, at least if the users want to have any degree of independence.
Fun little anecdote: several years ago, my grandparents met an Amish family at the hospital who were there to get their very young daughter (I think she was 2 or 3?) a motorized wheelchair due to a birth disability. The parents stayed with my grandparents during the process since they'd had to travel from out of town to visit the local children's hospital, and my grandparents visited them for one of her birthdays.
I remember being stunned because... Well, they're Amish. Electronics and newer technology are usually banned, so I feel like getting a motorized wheelchair meant they found it to be a genuine necessity for their daughter. Briefly looking it up I can't find any other instances, just someone on YouTube mentioning they'd heard about someone with a powered wheelchair. My cousin's wife coincidentally met them when they went to the hospital a couple years ago for a checkup, and confirmed the daughter still uses the wheelchair.
Do not get me started on how much of a pain in the ass motorized wheelchair repair is - or how they sell bariatric chairs without bariatric tilt actuators, or how even if I could repair it, it...
Do not get me started on how much of a pain in the ass motorized wheelchair repair is - or how they sell bariatric chairs without bariatric tilt actuators, or how even if I could repair it, it would void the warranty. Or how to get the software if needed...
Sigh. Partner has had a loaner chair as often as his regular one in the past two years.
My understanding is that Amish bans on electronics are completely family centered and decided on by a group from the church. No phone in the house because it distracts from family time, but that...
My understanding is that Amish bans on electronics are completely family centered and decided on by a group from the church. No phone in the house because it distracts from family time, but that same family might have a website where they sell quilts or chairs, using a computer in an office somewhere outside the home.
I’m not at all an expert, this is based off of general curiosity that led me to read about them on and off.
To my knowledge the policies vary by community, but the general trend seems to be that using technology is considered okay while owning it is more taboo. Long article, but an interesting read!...
Looking it up, I think the biggest hurdle with them owning a motorized wheelchair would be charging it, since the Amish typically reject the public power grid. It says they do use some electricity, via means like using diesel generators and solar power, and... I do not know enough about those or motorized wheelchairs to say how efficient or effective those would be to charge them that way compared to outlets attached to the power grid. Given this was probably ~15+ years ago, motorized wheelchairs also may have gotten more efficient and extended their battery lives since they got the first one.
In any event, I think that highlights that motorized wheelchairs are a necessity for some people versus a manual one. The Amish try to limit their technology use to what's necessary and add restrictions to avoid becoming overly reliant on it, so that suggests they decided a motorized wheelchair was specifically necessary for their daughter rather than just a "luxury" upgrade.
Chairs can generally go for days on a charge but it's advised to plug in nightly and for extended periods not short hops. It also depends on the type of chair - from scooter-esque to highly...
Chairs can generally go for days on a charge but it's advised to plug in nightly and for extended periods not short hops. It also depends on the type of chair - from scooter-esque to highly supportive; functions available - does it have a lift, standing function, tilt, or is it designed for off road; and how much work it has to do - flat vs incline, type of surface, use of those other features, weight of chair and the user. And while I'm assuming the batteries are all the same, that is probably not true. It's probably manageable from a generator if that's the best option for them (and our solar battery is on a circuit to change my partner's chair, but really only for emergencies, it's not a huge battery)
I think it's also worth noting that most people can't readily distinguish between Amish people and Mennonites, especially not solely by their dress, and Mennonites are doctrinally much more open...
Looking it up, I think the biggest hurdle with them owning a motorized wheelchair would be charging it, since the Amish typically reject the public power grid.
I think it's also worth noting that most people can't readily distinguish between Amish people and Mennonites, especially not solely by their dress, and Mennonites are doctrinally much more open to use of electricity -- they will often have specific limits on its use in the home or limits on its use for entertainment (as opposed to strictly useful purposes), but that can vary a lot between groups.
I worked briefly with an Amish woman who was in the hospital for disordered eating (and exercise) and given that she was in the hospital, she was fine using the treadmill for her (very unhealthy)...
I worked briefly with an Amish woman who was in the hospital for disordered eating (and exercise) and given that she was in the hospital, she was fine using the treadmill for her (very unhealthy) exercise habit.
It varies (often by bishop or equivalent to "parish" (maybe community) as well as household) and some groups like Mennonites can be even more liberal while still visibly being confused for Amish due to dress/beard style, etc.
Finally, some good news for a change!
Though one particularly noteworthy bit:
I'd never thought about wheelchairs falling under this. That's particularly horrifying to me since they're pretty necessary for their users to live their lives. They're quite possibly the most vital item impacted by these regulations.
There have also been stories of folks where companies have refused to service (or provide service materials) for powered prosthetics. This guy couldn't walk until the Internet found someone that did the fix, but not everyone gets their story publicized like his. As the story below notes, the medical device industry has lobbied hard against right to repair for such devices.
https://www.404media.co/paralyzed-jockey-loses-ability-to-walk-after-manufacturer-refuses-to-fix-battery-for-his-100-000-exoskeleton/
I think they might mean motorized wheelchairs. I would be surprised if simple hand-pushed wheelchairs were made without the ability to get replacement parts.
Maybe not that surprised though….
I figured it likely refers to motorized wheelchairs. There are still some conditions that require motorized wheelchairs more than manual ones, at least if the users want to have any degree of independence.
Fun little anecdote: several years ago, my grandparents met an Amish family at the hospital who were there to get their very young daughter (I think she was 2 or 3?) a motorized wheelchair due to a birth disability. The parents stayed with my grandparents during the process since they'd had to travel from out of town to visit the local children's hospital, and my grandparents visited them for one of her birthdays.
I remember being stunned because... Well, they're Amish. Electronics and newer technology are usually banned, so I feel like getting a motorized wheelchair meant they found it to be a genuine necessity for their daughter. Briefly looking it up I can't find any other instances, just someone on YouTube mentioning they'd heard about someone with a powered wheelchair. My cousin's wife coincidentally met them when they went to the hospital a couple years ago for a checkup, and confirmed the daughter still uses the wheelchair.
Do not get me started on how much of a pain in the ass motorized wheelchair repair is - or how they sell bariatric chairs without bariatric tilt actuators, or how even if I could repair it, it would void the warranty. Or how to get the software if needed...
Sigh. Partner has had a loaner chair as often as his regular one in the past two years.
My understanding is that Amish bans on electronics are completely family centered and decided on by a group from the church. No phone in the house because it distracts from family time, but that same family might have a website where they sell quilts or chairs, using a computer in an office somewhere outside the home.
I’m not at all an expert, this is based off of general curiosity that led me to read about them on and off.
To my knowledge the policies vary by community, but the general trend seems to be that using technology is considered okay while owning it is more taboo. Long article, but an interesting read!
Looking it up, I think the biggest hurdle with them owning a motorized wheelchair would be charging it, since the Amish typically reject the public power grid. It says they do use some electricity, via means like using diesel generators and solar power, and... I do not know enough about those or motorized wheelchairs to say how efficient or effective those would be to charge them that way compared to outlets attached to the power grid. Given this was probably ~15+ years ago, motorized wheelchairs also may have gotten more efficient and extended their battery lives since they got the first one.
In any event, I think that highlights that motorized wheelchairs are a necessity for some people versus a manual one. The Amish try to limit their technology use to what's necessary and add restrictions to avoid becoming overly reliant on it, so that suggests they decided a motorized wheelchair was specifically necessary for their daughter rather than just a "luxury" upgrade.
Chairs can generally go for days on a charge but it's advised to plug in nightly and for extended periods not short hops. It also depends on the type of chair - from scooter-esque to highly supportive; functions available - does it have a lift, standing function, tilt, or is it designed for off road; and how much work it has to do - flat vs incline, type of surface, use of those other features, weight of chair and the user. And while I'm assuming the batteries are all the same, that is probably not true. It's probably manageable from a generator if that's the best option for them (and our solar battery is on a circuit to change my partner's chair, but really only for emergencies, it's not a huge battery)
I think it's also worth noting that most people can't readily distinguish between Amish people and Mennonites, especially not solely by their dress, and Mennonites are doctrinally much more open to use of electricity -- they will often have specific limits on its use in the home or limits on its use for entertainment (as opposed to strictly useful purposes), but that can vary a lot between groups.
I worked briefly with an Amish woman who was in the hospital for disordered eating (and exercise) and given that she was in the hospital, she was fine using the treadmill for her (very unhealthy) exercise habit.
It varies (often by bishop or equivalent to "parish" (maybe community) as well as household) and some groups like Mennonites can be even more liberal while still visibly being confused for Amish due to dress/beard style, etc.
This is so cool! I hope this makes it more likely for other states to follow suit. Something something legal precedent.