Marco Ferrara, president of Universal Motion, and himself a quadriplegic user since 1984 puts it this way....."Our Company takes pride in our designs and the manufacturing and supply of mobility products for those of us who are physically challenged as well as their families. Our goal is to include quality, safety, convenience and innovation in every solution we provide. I continuously strive for superior products and service. "I wouldn't recommend it if I didn't use it myself" Besides his abilities as president of Universal Motion, Marco sits on the Licensing Commission Advisory Board for the Metro Toronto Accessible Taxi programme; he is past director of the Canadian Paraplegic Association and sat, for years, on the organizing committee for The Canadian Seating and Mobility Conference. Marco is also a steadfast philanthropist, immersing himself in many local charities. First Name*Last Name*Email*Zip Code*PhonePlease indicate the products/services in which you are interested:Interest - Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle
Interest - Wheelchair Lift Interest - Chair Topper Interest - BraunAbility Finance Get to know the most trusted name in mobility. Sign up for the latest BraunAbility news, special offers and more! Universal Motion offers an extensive variety of conversions and products to make transportation easier for all physically challenged individuals. We have a stellar reputation for providing innovative and comprehensive answers to the mobility problems faced by individuals and institutions. We also offer a complete vehicle maintenance program to ensure your conversion and your vehicle will provide years of trouble free motoring. We make available customized financing packages, leasing, funding and pertinent tax information and, if needed, rental wheelchair accessible vans. If you no longer require the use of your accessible vehicle, Universal Motion will refurbish your van and resell your vehicle for you. Call us or visit us today! Bradford West Gwillimbury, ON
New & Used Wheelchair Accessible Vans BraunAbility Side-entry Wheelchair Vans BraunAbility Rear-entry Wheelchair Vans Full Sized Wheelchair Vans EZ Lock Wheelchair Tie Downs Wheelchair & Scooter Lifts Hand Controls, Foot Controls, & Steering Devices Sales – new and used wheelchair accessible vehicles and automotive mobility accessories 24/7 Emergency Service & Repair National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) NMEDA Quality Assurance Program (QAP)Ruta Andrulis got no takers when she tried to donate her late mother's wheelchair. She couldn't even give it away for free on Kijiji. Order this photo When her mother died in January 2011, Ruta Andrulis decided to give away her mom’s wheelchair. After all, the $5,000 wheelchair was practically new and had been used only about a dozen times by her mother, who had suffered a debilitating stroke. There must be someone, perhaps a stroke survivor with limited mobility, who could use the specialized set of wheels, thought Andrulis.So she set out to find a home in need of the wheelchair.
But it proved to be a frustrating task for the Mississauga woman.Andrulis didn’t know that many health care centres, nursing homes and seniors’ agencies decline donations of assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches — regardless of the need — because of safety and liability concerns. They simply don’t have trained staff to inspect, refurbish, clean and sterilize the equipment. Initially, she inquired about donating at the health care centre where her mom had been a patient. But the hospital refused because most patients there require personalized equipment that is extensively customized to meet individual needs.They suggested Andrulis give it to an agency that would send it overseas. But she preferred finding someone in the community who could benefit from the wheelchair. So she contacted the Lithuanian nursing home where her mom had volunteered, but they didn’t want it. She then reached out to a handful of other nursing homes, which also declined.Andrulis appealed directly to families, posting flyers on bulletin boards at long-term care facilities.
She highlighted the many features of the Supertilt manual chair, including its head rest, deep U back and special padding. Still, there was no interest.She even placed an ad on Kijiji emphasizing a key feature: It’s free. After a string of rejections, Andrulis grew discouraged and tucked the device into a corner of her home, where it collected dust.“It would’ve been so easy to just put it out with the garbage,” says Andrulis. “But I just can’t. It would be such a waste.”The wheelchair is in excellent condition, she says, and would be a “godsend” to someone who needs it. (Even though the province generally helps pay for assistive devices, the amount that the individual must cover can be prohibitive.)The need is tremendous, with thousands of people across the province requiring the use of a mobility aid. But it can be challenging for donors to get their equipment and devices to those who need them when so many agencies decline the offer.There are, however, organizations that accept recycled health equipment, including the Canadian Red Cross, United Way, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Ontario.
In most cases, agencies can pick up items at the donor’s home and in some cases, a tax receipt is issued. Depending on the agency, the item is loaned, rented or given to those in need. (Devices may be declined if they are unsafe.) “This equipment is fitting a niche that is so important,” said Eric Adriaans of the Red Cross, which relies on donated medical devices and aids for its Health Equipment Loan Programs, one of the country’s biggest and oldest recycling programs. Often, equipment goes to seniors who have a short-term or immediate need following a health incident such as surgery or a fall. In Ontario, the Red Cross works primarily with manual mobility aids (such as wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, canes) and bathroom aids (such as bath benches, raised toilet seats and commodes). But it may accept powered devices if they are necessary elsewhere in the country. “Make the donation happen and we’ll ensure it gets to people who need them for short-term rentals,” said Adriaans, the director for community support services in Ontario.
In Canada, the Red Cross rents out more than 255,000 pieces of equipment to 225,000 people. In Ontario, it provides about 20,000 items to 15,000 clients. In the last year, the Red Cross in Ontario received 459 donated items, 350 of which were wheelchairs.“With the health care system going the way it is, with increasing demands on resources, it’s important we draw the most use out of equipment that is purchased, which means recycling and getting more users for every item,” said Adriaans.At ALS Ontario, the agency processed 1,195 item requests during the first six months of this year, says spokesperson Kathryn Dunmore. The agency accepts equipment valued at more than $250, such as press-relief mattresses, scooters, wheelchairs, ramps and lifts.“There’s always a need,” she says, noting that every day two to three people in Canada are diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. “Because ALS is a progressive paralyzing disease, people go from needing a cane to a walker to a wheelchair, to a power wheelchair, to a hospital bed, to a lift.