$200,000 for open source wheelchairs; Mobility Independence Foundation, Thomas Quiter
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- Опубліковано 8 тра 2024
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to video
03:35 - Introducing Thomas Quiter
05:23 - Question: What does wheelchair repair & Apple repair have in common?
06:27 - Answer: What does wheelchair repair & Apple repair have in common?
07:22 - Question: Costs of wheelchairs
07:38 - Answer: Costs of wheelchairs
09:28 - Louis follow-up on costs - Throwing away a $65,000 wheelchair?
10:18 - Thomas answers on costs
11:30 - Louis follow-up on costs of joystick (HID)
11:55 - Thomas answers on HID replacement
13:15 - Louis asks for clarification on parts availability for wheelchairs
13:50 - Thomas answers on parts availability
13:55 - Louis asks more questions on parts availability
14:10 - Thomas says parts vendor not allowed to sell you a part
14:39 - Exactly like Apple product repair :(
15:55 - Wheelchair manufacturers break the law - Magnuson Moss Warranty Act
16:13 - Louis explains the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act
16:57 - Wheelchair manufacturers break lemon law
18:25 - Louis asks for clarification of specific problem
19:08 - Is the Colorado wheelchair bill useful or useless?
19:58 - Thomas explains "provider of medical equipment" situation
20:30 - Parts providers & equipment providers beholden to manufacturers
21:16 - Entrepreneurial DIY spirit of wheelchair users
22:13 - Goal of Mobility Independence Foundation
23:32 - What is Mobility Independence Foundation doing to solve these problems?
24:45 - Why can competitors not make wheelchairs?
25:24 - What are the barriers to competitors making wheelchairs?
27:24 - Louis asks for clarification on barriers
27:49 - Thomas answers about barriers
28:14 - Louis tries again
28:24 - Thomas answers
30:07 - Wheelchairs seem engineered for repairs like MacBooks
31:01 - Some wheelchairs aren't even engineered to go over door moldings
31:23 - Louis asks clarification on Thomas' solution for price problem
31:38 - Benevolent supply chains
31:58 - Charitable element of foundation's wheelchair designs
32:06 - Pricing on open source wheelchairs
32:49 - Why are wheelchairs more than a Corvette?
33:56 - Forced markets & how this increases expense
34:53 - How do I get this wheelchair?
37:21 - TL;DR - How this works
37:48 - Thomas is the crash test dummy
38:28 - The problem with people who don't use wheelchairs making wheelchairs
38:56 - What will you be doing with Eron's $200,000?
40:02 - Thomas' message to the audience
43:45 - Louis' final words
44:22 - Where to find Thomas
45:20 - Will I try a wheelchair in the desert with a rocket on it?
45:30 - Absolutely :D
I hear what you're saying about not trusting you, I work in IT security and often promote zero trust myself, and I see daily that most creators I enjoy don't give a shit about me trying to send me to "free" mobile games and "better" help... but you can't tell me what to do. I don't know how you are in real life, and I know that you don't care about me specifically, but I love you. You are a positive force on this world. Thank you!
Be patient for the final rugpull. I'm all about the long con.
13 years of no sponsors, no Raycons, no better help was to build trust so you get your guard down. Just wait until 2030, man. It's all about the big rug pull. You'll never see it coming...
@@rossmanngroup I'll wait lol
I have been following your channel since you 1st started publishing
@@rossmanngroup if we reach that point , Clinton the cat will be the new chairman.
@@rossmanngroupwhatever the rugpull will be like. I just hope its at least funny
I'm currently outfitting a 26,000sq ft rigid manual wheelchair factory to produce inexpensive manual wheelchairs. Come out and visit later this summer.
Beat me to dropping your name :). Fyi, the combat robot community has all the motor and wheel parts needed to make a killer electric chair. Would just need some electronics work to interlock everything so uncommanded motion can never happen. (or hell, the industrial servo systems in the machine tools you've bought could easily beat a 65K price and run for a lifetime)
I was wondering how far down the comment section I would see you. Hopefully they take you up on your offer.
Thanks Zack! I'd love to make my way out there sometime; maybe even bring a prototype of my own to share with you! I'm impressed with what you've done for mobility and can't wait to see what you're building. I'll reach out to you by email!
-Tom
Knew this would probably happen.
And 90s style hard tails on the graveyard shift?
That is beyond any level of insanity that disabled people in the US are not allowed to have more than $2k at any moment of time otherwise they lose their social payments. This is some sick joke that people who most need to have some kind of financial cushion for bad days aren't allowed to save money.
SSI is for people in poverty who are not hireable and typically on other benefit programs like food stamps and subsidized housing. If you have the means to earn $2000 you simply do not need ssi.
@@mike4402 I think they meant have it saved, not earned in x/short amount of time. It could take 10 years to save 2000, I wouldn't exactly call that "leeching off state benefits"
Lol @@mike4402
@@mike4402 I am not from the US, but from what I've seen disabled people who can't work seem to be on that SSI program for their entire lives, please correct me if I am wrong. But if that's true then these people can't ever have more than $2k on their account otherwise they lose their primary source of income. Not income per month, they are not allowed to actually save any money. How does that idea sit well with people? This is beyond my level of understanding.
I couldn't believe what I was reading when I read this; and when I got to the part in the video I couldn't believe what I was hearing. So I looked it up:
There are asset limits for individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits:
SSI beneficiaries may have no more than $2,000 in assets for individuals and $3,000 for couples, with certain exceptions.
The asset limits have been frozen since 1989, preventing many older adults and disabled people in need from qualifying for SSI.
As it turns out, it's disgustingly unbelievable, which explains that strange feeling I was having. I'm so glad I figured that out and also that I don't live in that shit hole.
What's remarkable is that the two of them are so accustomed to the US Modus Operandi that neither of them even flinch when Thomas makes this point.
For those that might not care about those that are disabled... Just remember this...
Your insurance is more expensive because the people who need equipment like this, clearly don't have the money for it, otherwise they wouldn't need the insurance to cover it, right? So where does the money come from for an over inflated wheelchair price? It comes from people that don't need the equipment. There is no reason an electric wheelchair should cost more than a premium NEW, latest generation vehicle, that can go over 20 times the speed, and actually tow more than a thousand pounds. So if you're greedy and don't care about disabled people, just think about how much money you could be saving if you didn't have to pay for the predatory expenses generated from all this garbage.
I partially have an idea of what it's like to not be able to leave your home for years because you're waiting on a fix to your problem, that you have no idea when it might occur... It should be classified as a type of psychological torture, when a solution could be had in as little as a few weeks.
Not caring about people who have problems you don't, is why others won't care about problems that affect me. This is how the world goes 'round, and it gets worse every year. Or, as I've said before: ua-cam.com/video/RqUiVkDeGk8/v-deo.html
Selfishness and greed are how people are controlled.
I think the problem with your argument is, that the people who don't care for disabled people might rather see non of their money used for them.
you can say a very similar thing not just about wheelchairs, but about any other medical stuff, at least in US, a large amount of medicine is overpriced.
If you're relying on Insurance to take care of basic medical needs, you're using it WRONG. It's more because of inane things like Medicare only paying 35% of billed, etc.
You don't have a single clue and yet you act like you do.
You can buy a whole electric car for $65k. Freaking insurance scam.
it's likely not too dissimilar to the cost of medications and medical procedures. The provider claims an over-inflated price, insurance pays a (still over-inflated) portion of the cost and then the provider writes off the difference as a "loss" for tax purposes.
Cost = $
Price = $$$$$
Insurance covers = $$
tax writeoff = $$$
You don't need to spend 65k for an electric car😂.
Actually if you build just one car and it is electric and safe to use on public road it won't cost you up to a million that means if you build it from scratch.
Everything about health care is grossly inflated, price-wise. A big reason for this is, in fact, third party intervention, be it insurance or government. Medical, pharmaceutical, entities charge whatever the traffic will bear--and that's now a great deal more than any individual could handle. Study some history. It wasn't always that way.
The same thing happened to higher (college) education.
Tom was unable to explain his $65k chair. For interviews, he needs a spokesman who can better answer questions. Normal powered chairs do not cost anywhere near that. Best to ignore that number unless further information is available.
open source wheelchair is trully something I've never thought I would read. This world is damned if we the people don't take control of it once and for all.
Medical devices are a money pit, including glasses and hearing aids.
Mine were and are
Can't see your comment because my glasses are scratched and I need to wait a year to get a resonably priced pair.
Got someone bent over a barrel? Might as well take advantage :(
@@TheScorch191 Have you tried over the counter readers? Or used glasses from the optometry store?
@@Absaalookemensch yeah I have, mainly making the point about how ridiculous the insurance rules are
yea its sad im trans and trust me I've looked into that abyss its DEEP money pit and I DO NOT live in a state that will make insurance pay so it will be out of pocket
So I am an ATP and work as a supplier in this industry (for many years now) and man this video hit my passion button so hard. I could really get on my soapbox, but don't have room in these comments. Feel free to reach out privately for that. But just coming to say that yes, my industry is pretty broken, along with US healthcare in general. I have SOOOOO much to say on the wheelchair specific topic. The industry is an absolute mess. And it's only getting harder to fix as time passes. Louis I'd be happy to help answer some of these questions from this side of the table (and definitely not to defend it either) to help further conversation and clarification on this topic.
Created this alt account just to post this comment without possibly losing my job lol. Long time subscriber.
"being able to get over the threshold of the entrance to my house so i can leave my house is not adequate justification for a better wheelchair"
right, because to the "system" if you're disabled, you're just a burden and shouldn't exist.
it's disgusting.
I know a man that can't get through his front door of his leased apartment without scratching the door. This is because he is so wide that the chair must be wide, and the wheel base even wider so he doesn't topple over. Hardly the fault of the wheelchair.
And, while he makes it over the threshold (half inch) with his Jazzy chair, he does hang up on on the 1 inch baby curbs always included at the base of driveways. This is because wheelchair users demand a chair no more wide and long than they themselves are, thus giving them the best chance of making it through doorways or able to maneuver in their apartment. The only way to achieve this size is to place the batteries under the person, setting a minimum height for the chair. With the short wheelbase, toppling over becomes a problem, thus they provide a minimum of clearance between batteries and ground to minimize height, resulting in hangups when the ground is rough. Not the manufacturers fault, just reality.
Keep in mind, Tom has difficulty clearly stating his thoughts. Do not turn his lack of explanation into grounds for attacking the manufacturers.
@@jrstf1) ever heard of innovation? better design? people have made and doen things in the last 10 years alone that would have been considered fantasy 20 years ago.
2) at what point did I "attack" the manufacturers? he said he was _denied_ a new chair specifically because being able to leave his house was NOT a good enough reason. that has nothing to do with the design nor the manufacturers.
3) if the doors of your own home are too narrow, widen them. people get railings and ramps and bathroom customizations and whatnot literally all the time. if you're going to do all that then complain the doors are too narrow and there's nothing you can do, it's just "reality" then there's a screw missing upstairs...
4) his difficulty in clearly stating his thoughts does not mean he is not right or that there is no problem. if you paid attention to anything he said or anything Louis has ever said about right to repair, you would understand there is a very clear, obvious problem.
@@DragoNate - I did say "leased apartment." He cannot modify the building in any way. Others have mentioned the years long wait for subsidized apartments, that is what he's up against. He took what he could get after waiting a couple years, did not want to wait years more for the perfect apartment.
Jazzy chairs, which are the ones with low clearance, would allow Tom to leave his home. His case is special, he did not elaborate on that. Why not simply have the doorway modified so he could get through it? He sits in a $65K chair, and, as he said, he cannot move to a different chair which is why he wants one chair that does all. This man is severely handicapped, not the normal case.
Yet robots are allowed to repair themselves - 🤔
@@jrstf here in canada, if one is renting and has medical need, they are allowed to make modifications. the landlord simply won't pay for it.
so i guess that's another problem then needs to be changed where you/the person you know are.
what does Tom's case matter? is he not allowed to care about everyone else's possible case/situation? he simply has personal experience that he wishes no one else should ever have to go through.
(or perhaps you're talking only about the modification thing in which case, you're completely ignoring 3 other points i made previously)
I love that he points out, that this not only benefits those people who need the wheel chair, but also those who care for them and society as whole.
I like the way bro thinks... "I'm not a wait in the corner type of guy" Thomas Quiter
Quiter is not a quitter.
@@DoktorJammified Maybe that's why he is not one.
Dude is a fucking boss, why sit and wait when you can make change….?
I'm sitting in a manual piece of crap from Meyra, and when I complained about it when I got it new, they just replied they "can't relate" to any of the issues I mentioned, and that "feedback is usually favorable". Of course, if you ignore all the criticism of the actual design errors, AND the wrong parts shipped, what's left is positive feedback. Genius!
God I swear my shitty manual wheelchair will be the reason I just give up on mobility and lay on the floor like a worm for the rest of my life. I'm an ambulatory wheelchair user currently but, the more I wear out my muscles now, the worse it'll be in 5-7 years once I likely lose the rest of my leg mobility, so I'm actively speeding up my degeneration by forcing myself to walk around and avoid my wheelchair.
Thanks for warning the community about the company you bought it from btw, they sound like assholes.
Cheers to hoping we can both land ourselves some electric wheels sometime soon, things seem to be looking up with more abled folks noticing our plight!
The fact the abusive mentality spreads even on handicapped people is seriously concerning. What's next, forced arbitration on surgeries or medication? No compassion even to people in trouble.
Unfortunately, as a disabled person, I can say that we're already at that point. Fighting medical malpractice and falsified patient records within the U.S justice system leads to very similar circumstances that occur under forced arbitration, especially if you are noticeably physically or mentally disabled. We're constantly fighting with a system and a world that not only isn't made for us, but refuses to even move an inch to allow some of us to live more safely and with access to repair our mobility aids.
@@thinecuprunnethoverwithblood I'm really sorry to hear that. The system was made to help people, not put them deeper into issues and problems, we all understand that.
This movement is one of the ways to change at least some parts of the system we can control. I wish it succession and further progression, to provide ease and support people like you. 🙏
i am actually going to go over the forced arbitration on surgeries thing in texas in a future video. working out details of that story now.
@@rossmanngroup notifications are enabled 👀
Look up the maximum amount someone on disability can have total in their bank account, then look up the prices of required medical items. It’s insane
In my personal experience with helping a wheelchair user, having $900 seat covers for a device that will definitely wear out is just a crime. Getting a replacement battery for a dead chair, no you need a new $6000 chair. Helping manage repairs and upkeep is also very undocumented. I applaud your efforts and my son would love to do this type of thing.
WTF? That's more that a ' 4090!
I'm just getting into the video but, as a disabled person who can't afford a properly working wheelchair, thank you so fucking much for speaking on this. Disabled folks are at a significantly higher risk for being taken advantage of in general, but especially when it comes to business practices and RTR. We need our mobility aids and other accessibility devices to live, and we sometimes have to go to great lengths to get them repaired (if at all). Many people see this as an opportunity to price gouge or make faulty repairs so we continue to need their services for longer. This is about our damn autonomy, it's far past due that we have the tools (both physically and metaphorically) to navigate the repair space ourselves, even if we do still need other people to assist with the process itself.
Have you experienced something similar to what Eron talked about in this video? And you mentioned being significantly at risk of being taked advantage of, can you tell us more? Like, how have you been taken advantage of? In different business or even pharmaceutical practices?
I think we need to bring more attention the issue.
You are so right brother we know this is hard enough with out being taken advantage of
Can't believe the wheelchair industry is so anti-human towards the people they are supposed to help. This is great! I want nothing but success for Thomas and this project.
Nearly every industry under capitalism is extremely exploitative. If it isn't yet, it will be. A system which prioritizes profits for investors over the labor of the workers who actually do the thing, the customers who benefit from the thing, and the concept of providing a good thing, is a bad system. We could work together and enjoy far more benefit and far more progress as a whole. But we have religious groups holding us back, rich people holding us back, wealthy corporations holding us back, and years of propaganda meant to stop other nations from becoming more powerful holding us back.
And people will vehemently defend the very system that holds us back and harms the masses.
Man, that is funny. You're looking at it like the industry came about as a means to help people, when in fact, it sprung up because it had people they can take advantage of since they have no choice.
@@p5eudo883 - Provide an example of a non-capitalistic society that treats the disabled better than the US. Did you miss in the video where he said there are rich people and religious organizations willing to help? Why are you so negative?
@@jrstf Provide an example of an aspect of life that capitalism doesn't exploit...
@@stuartralphson539 - Your words are beyond my comprehension. I've never known anyone who was exploited. Give an example of an aspect of life that capitalism exploits, maybe that would aid my understanding of your language.
How the hell are they blocking manufacturers from selling stuff at cost, that should be illegal
this video is now archived to the wayback machine 👍
I was told my daughter's chair is 88,000 dollars. Mind-blowing.
wheel chairs, even complex ones, should not be more than a few grand. yes, large motors can be expensive, but 60 grand? 10 grand should be the price of the top of the line
the problem is if you need custom metalwork and on top of that a light one but yeah kinda mad
@alterego2421 custom metal work and stuff is optional though, the basic wheelchairs should be cheal and affordable so people can..ya know...move
@@whenimmanicimgodly4228 yes but my point is that u are not really manufacturing on a scale like the car industry its just gonna be hella expensive because its all custom im not saying 64k seems fair just sayinf maybe 10k is fair which is still expensive
@@alterego2421 I agree completely with that, but custom metalworks and stuff would never artificially inflate the price by 45 thousand fucking dollars. A few grand, maybe (if you're getting fucked over) but nothing close to what they ask. Even 10k is pushing it for a wheel chair.
@@alterego2421 coustom metal work for a wheelchair comes it at no where near 10k. Not even 5K makes sense.
I AM A DISABLED WHEELCHAIR ENABLED PERSON
Years ago I found an electric Cobalt Wheelchair sold new everywhere online for $1500.
Medicare said they will buy me one. They paid $5300 for the same $1500 chair.
I have asked but nobody can tell me why this happens. Something is Wrong !
It will always confuse me how we are told we do not have the right to repair our stuff in the same world that is pushing so hard for sustainability and environmental friendliness. Would it not be the best for the environment if we all just maintained and repaired the stuff we have instead of throwing away and buying new stuff all the time? Disabled or not, we are not made out of money and are all struggling to keep ourselves alive as it is, when you need some special equipment to just be able to have a somewhat normal life you are more or less forced into a life of hard struggles over something you most likely had no control over. I'll be cheering you on Thomas, keep this good fight up!
34:50 WHAT?! im shocked, thats INSANE. If i spent 65,00 on a car id expect it to last up to 20 years with light use, if i spent 65,000 on a trialer id expect at least a decade out of it...65,000 on a chair?? At LEAST 25 years
This man is my hero.
It would be so awesome for some of the controls to have standardized mounting holes, so you could soup up a kid’s wheelchair with covered flip switches from a jet fighter, or a key lock with a real cylinder to secure the chair.
cost covered flip switches the real one there not cheap and if mean car more the work locker cupboard lock the same putting to a better joystick controller more beneficial
Thank You Mr. Louis for giving this guy a voice. You show time and again that you are a true Human
It's kinda fun watching Louis fight his urge to geek out on specs and reel himself back on topic
It’s insane how much it cost to be disabled. I know first hand lost my right leg and knee about 3 years now they wanted 10,000 for a ramp to get out of the house. Luckily I found a used one on Facebook marketplace for 2,800 still a lot of money for me think it’s great what that gentleman is trying to do I have a elec chair that’s 2 years old now and hope and pray it doesn’t break on me.
When I was growing up in the 90s people who were disabled in some way were given respect and a degree of entitlement for lack of a better word. Nowadays it seems like identity politics has hijacked that attitude so it's less about compassion and more about group power.
The ADA only became law in 1990 because disabled people threw themselves out of their wheelchairs and grabbed the ankles of congressmen walking up the steps to the House.
There has never been respect.
what is he up to now?
200 billion to Ukraine?
guess biden will always have one of his new border hoppers to lift him in and out of his day time chair for dinner.
We need to find a new way to hold these people accountable
Wow. Remember the one wheel problem. This is that on p.e.d's. Smh
8:06
>"I needed a new seat cushion once. Very very specific to me seat cushion- It had to be a flat rectangle. Right? Super complicated."
Ha! This guy has exactly my flavor of sarcasm.
We also need funding to upgrade housing for wheelchair access. My Mom has a hard time and she cant live with me because my old house only has 28 inch doors. My Mom says nobody builds housing for wheelchair access.
Why should there be funding from outside sources for that? It cost like 100-150$ max for supplies to build a small ramp, especially with stairs already being there. Thats something that should be on the owner of the house to do...most people dont have to use wheelchairs, it would be a massive waste of funding to build wheelchair access into every single house when a minority of people need it.
So because we are a minority we shouldn't be Expect housing to be built that works for us? We shouldn't want people to be motivated to build it or advocate for incentives to do so? There is a huge shortage of accessible housing right now. I was extremely lucky that I found my accessible apartment, but I always dread the day I might have to leave. I lived most of my life in an inaccessible house, which caused me physical damage and made it very hard to function. A lot of the time, even homeless shelters don't want to deal with us. Your immediately dismissive attitude is just ridiculous.
There should be outside funding sources for this because a lot of us are kept poor. People need Help. How do you expect people to be self-sufficient enough to not need help Paying for stuff, if they can't even get Something as basic as housing, They can function independently in.
@@nopenopenope7 if you want a house to be built to cater to your specific needs, you'd have to pay to build your own house,renovate it yourself, or hire a contractor like everybody else. I find it odd to expect wheelchair ramps in every building plan for every house when they're only NEEDED flr a small group of people, yes we should give them assistance in paying for it if they can't and need one installed, but it shouldn't be pre-installed in every house..
@@nopenopenope7 yes, people obviously deserve a house they can function in. And outside independent funding for independent cases in case by case style fashion is EXACTLY what I think we should do. My main issue with OP's idea is that all that lumber and time put into making the Ramps on every house we make would end up wasted time, money, labor, and resources that could have been used on someone that ACTUALLY needs it. If we just built the ramps and houses as needed, it would be way more effective. And that's the system we have right now, but sadly it's expected to entirely fall into the hands of the disabled to pay for it instead of any sort of help which should change.
Also, how many of those ramps we install on houses will be ripped out by the first second, or third owner of the property? It will just be making more useless lumber that could be used to house a homeless person...
Got one for you. Quantum Rehab discontinued the Q6 Edge 1st Generation chair, by simply RE-DESIGNING the motor mount and stopping production of the 1st Generation motor mount. Forced insurance companies to purchase new 3rd Generation Q6 Edge power-chairs for everyone who had the 1st Generation at $35,000 to $50,0000 a pop. Planned obsolence is alive and well.
My dad has some mobility issues. Insurance would only cover a handful of models, that had small wheels and a top speed of 5 mph. He than found recreational scooters that insurance would not cover. Out of pocket cost was around 3k which was much cheaper than the ones insurance would cover. Top speed was closer to 15mph, and the tires were large enough to go off road a bit..but its "no safe"
Its pretty much a 4 wheel E-Bike at a price in line with e-bike.
wow very interesting! I can't wait to see the follow up from this because I had no idea people suffered like that because of corporate greed.
I met Tom at ISFLC this year and donated to MIF. Louis' points immediately came to mind when I came across their booth
Toms a great guy! Nice to see him on the show!
Hopefully this man, gets what he needs to get around. 🙏 Please god.
Thank you Louis for highlighting an overlooked gap in the Right to Repair arena and spotlighting someone who is putting in work to make a difference.
Most problems in the U.S. IMO stem from lobbying. People are fighting all these individual battles when IMO they should be fighting the root cause of most of these problems - lobbying. Americans divide themselves on the individual issues but never seem to discuss the issue that most Americans agree on - lobbying. Whether I talk to left, right, center or not politically involved Americans they all agree lobbying needs to be fixed and yet where is the giant movement to change that?
The problem with wheelchairs, overcharging, is the same one seen with pharmaceuticals, health care, tech, military spending, prisons and so many other industries, and it all stems from lobbying.
This is a great idea. Actually genius
I am not a wheelchair user, I am a charge nurse that is also experienced on repairing Q series wheelchairs. I am not allowed to perform the repairs because the OEM prohibits it. My employer however understands the need of my patients. @Louis you can reverse engineer these easily.
Folks with your skills and empathy are sorely needed in this world, thank you so much for helping disabled people like myself get our mobility! (Also hell yes, we love nurses in this house, y'all are the ones really keeping my sick butt up and going)
Raise a stink about it in terms of the patient's well-being, and try to make it out to be patient abuse by these vendors.
This guy is great, so glad you were able to interview him!
That's what I would call a good cause. Respect and Thanx!
This is a neat idea. Using ubiquitous standardized parts to create mobility devices. EEV Blog calls these "jellybean" components. With the mass production of hoverboards and scooters, I can imagine decent brushless wheel motors have gotten super cheap and are pretty much universal.
Absolutely awful, people rely on their mobility wheelchairs and can't even keep them functional. Inhumane at the very least
What most people simply DO NOT understand: It's not just that you can't walk, its that your also in a great deal of pain.
As soon as he said eBay a question came to mind. What's to stop these companies that are price gouging, etc from trolling reseller sites and buying up any used parts before consumers in dire need can even get their hands on them?
There are often times where there are two products that are virtually identical, one labeled as for those who are disabled, the other isn't. The one labled for those with disabilites will be double the price or more automatically.
This country shamelessly profits off the disabled and marginalized in every way it can, it's rotten to witness and be on the receiving end of.
aaah das good shit. warms my heart to see people that actually care. My step-mom (passed a few years back) spent 30-something years in a wheelchair so I know of these issues all too well. Overpriced unobtanium is what they are
$1500.00 for a clients "custom" wheelchair brakes where I work.... $25 in parts at a bike shop got them installed, something is wrong here
If I was looking for an open-source joystick module, the very first thing that comes to mind is one from a commercial arcade game. Those can take a lot of punishment for a long time.
I would recommend hall effect jousticks
I recall, many years ago in the old Bloom County comic strip, there came a time that Cutter John had to get a new wheelchair. The supplier's idea of something fancy and zippy was purple armrests. His friends then build him a new wheelchair. They start with a recliner, and add a sunshade, drinks tray, huge wheels (about 18 inches wide), and all kinds of things that made it too big to be practical.
I’m amazed how skilled Lious is in getting this great interview subject to say what potential donors want to hear. More of this please!
Thank you so much about talking about the abuse of private accessibility device companies, the exploitation is absolutely insane
I can't even get my analog wheelchair repaired without going through an authorized Driver distributor. You can't even call the company and talk to someone as a consumer. It's insane.
I don't know anything on this topic but I noticed he said the big manufacturers charge $60,000+ for their wheelchairs, and he suggested the insurance companies and big manufacturers are affiliated. This is significant when you consider no insurance company will pay for a $30,000 Action Trackchair. So why would the insurance company refuse to pay for a $30,000 wheelchair and force you to buy a $60,000 wheelchair? I believe the answer is because the insurance company and the big wheelchair manufacturers are essentially the same company and the $60,000 wheelchair probably costs the insurance company almost nothing. This would prevent small companies from getting into the business, allow the insurance companies to justify raising your rates, and screw over everyone who doesn't have insurance
And the government made it this way. Regulation is great.
As a Owner/Tech for mobility equipment it is heartbreaking how broken the system is.
Louis, well done for putting this together!
I've had to use a wheel chair off and on for over 10 years. Starting with manual chairs and slowly having to progress to battery operated as the use of my arms deteriorates. My electric chair we bought very slightly used. That chair from day 1 way slower than my husband walking. It's more of a hassle for me to me independent than for me to be a burden on my husband.
I completely understand making the transition between manual and electric wheelchairs, I'd be doing so myself if I could afford it because it is sooooo much less painful when the chair can move itself.
Also as a side note, trust me, you're not a burden on your husband for being disabled and having your needs evolve and change over time. My lovely girlfriend is able-bodied and works as a pharmacist with 8-12+ hours a day on her feet helping patients, but she makes it very clear that having a disabled partner is NOT a burden in any way. Your husband loves you and has chosen to be with you, that includes you at whatever stage of mobility you happen to be at in each given moment.
Thank You Thomas & Louis 🤗❤👍😎👊✌
42:13 An excellent quote and words to live by, no matter what situation you are in. Well said sir!
Hey, you are looking really clean and put together today Louis. Good content, interesting topic.
I’m grateful that you and your Principal, were able to help get the open source wheelchair research and development project headed toward their goals.
Ok.... this is a real problem for right to repair. When someone who is in a wheelchair and absolutely has to have it in order to have some semblance of a normal life and even they can't get repair parts for the device they NEED then that is a real problem. This is why the right to repair movement is important. It starts with phones and computers, but where does it end? Wheelchairs? What about other medical devices that some people literally MUST have in order to just stay alive? It should absolutely be illegal for companies to have deals with factories that prevent other people or third party entities from getting repair parts. Legislation needs to exist to fix this.
Thomas Quiter is not Quitter. That dude has been working this issue for years now, got to talk to him a little when i was part of the libertarian party. One of the few guys who i look back on that time and go "he REALLY is doing something to improve the world, not just talking about it."
This kind of thing will land you straight to heaven, thank you so much for giving this gentleman a platform and a chance at making things right
The direction issue on the Jazzy chair is a damn 5 minute fix with the handheld programmer. That’s nuts that a guy waited 5 years and couldn’t get a tech to do it.
ResMed CPAP supplies and Phillips CPAP masks and nasal pillows prices are outrageous!
Yes, this too!!! My father has been hesitating to replace his DECADE OLD SUPPLIES because he, in his mind, just can't justify the expense. I wish it were more accessible so he can get back to actually resting and also stop breathing in whatever new strain of mildew he's created in that damn machine.
Thank you so much for promoting open source wheelchair manufacturing. There will be certifications to overcome - frame must meet force parameters, prove stability. But, if it is for yourself and you contract with independent welders and electronic hobbiests, then it is your responsibility and you will probably end up with a superior product.
My partner has 2 power wheelchairs. We live in the UK. Its a pain getting parts, even basic items require making a phone call and going through what feels like a mini interview to make an order. I just want to order basic parts online so I can order it, have it arrive in a few days and spend 5 minutes fitting it rather than the process taking weeks. The most irritating part of this is that I can order a new wheelchair online no issues, just not basic replacement parts for said wheelchairs.
I don’t understand why is this so hard in the USA … in 2010 I was able to fix the wheelchair of my friend, I called the manufacturer and ask them for the parts. I don’t remember the brand but it was a small French company and they send me the part (with payment on reception of the parts) and I was able to fix it the next day.
Why is it so hard for you guys ?
Probably because in America, the sleaziest, greediest company uses Wall Street money to buy out all the competition so you have no choice. We're just a country of monopolists now.
Sounds like OneWheel on four.
Sounds like this would be a good collab with Jerry Rig Everything and his company
real
$200,000 = :c
Interview with Louis Rossman on UA-cam = :D :D :D :D :D !!!!!
Here's a good court case argument ~ robots are allowed to repair themselves but humans struggle with the Right to Repair what they purchased.
Louis still insists on consumer not customer. consumer is such a condescending term and it denotes that you are a mindless cash cow for corporations with zero agency. Louis is 100% controlled opposition in insisting on using this term, yes words fucking matter and this one matters that much.
@@norwegiansmores811 consumers are not customers, you can be a consumer and not a customer, customers are almost always consumers, but not always, for example, if university buys books for you, university is the customer, you are the consumer, since you are the enjoys the benefits, customer is the one that pays, but not always the consumer.
Louis has really improved his interview skills. Respectfully and politely redirecting to the topic while letting the interviewee talk about their subject.
This is where gov should step in and insure there people are getting value for money but they dont seem to care anymore. Such a shame
The medical industry is definitely the least cost efficient industry there is.
Let’s fucking go, god I love you Louis.
This sounds like a fun project. I was designing Redman powerchairs in the 90's. when the FDA came to the door and shut down the business because we were custom fitting chairs with everthing the customer wanted including self repair. Then the FDA came to the door and over time shut down the business. We built a new company PWD from the ground up. It was great until the right to repair thing swun the other way and became an issue for me and had to quit. That was 2002! Must be worse now.
Why doesn't a ham doing this not surprise me? Some hams also built/designed/somethinged some respirators during COVID. ...
If you ever want to make something 1000x more valuable instantly just call it medical equipment
To get a flat fixed on a wheelchair in my town takes a week or more. there is one repair shop that takes medical insurance and not void the warranty. Any of the bike shops will do it in less than 10 minutes and some have done a free intertube change for free to help out a disabled person out.
As I said on the other channel, thanks Both
@rossmangroup I use a $6,000+ USD manual wheelchair fulltime. It's been damaged during air travel (this is a COMMON occurence), I've resorted to temporary fixes, etc until I return home and can wait for parts from the manufacturer. Ask anyone who uses a manual wheelchair with "scissor breaks" about the rubber band fix.
Additionally, the time it takes to get a new chair takes many, many months. I used an ill-fitting manual wheelchair for ~4 months after ordering a more custom one.
And re: cushions... The one I have is like 4 layers of foam, with some pressure-distrubtion layer on top. It's a $500 cushion. Ridiculous. Getting a new cover for the seat cushion took 2 months, and cost about a hundred dollars.
This might mark the first time I've seen Louis interact with another human being.
BEST LAWN MOWER EVAR.
Thomas needs to change his name cause this man ain't no Quiter.
Not a quitter and rarely quieter.
Best video in a long time, its such an important one as well..
if insurance companies had to provide a sutable replacement while waiting for repairs 1.waiting wouldnt be so much of a problem, and 2. insurance companies would demand a faster repair process. - if an insurance provider is responsible for providing a wheelchair they should be responsible for ensuring you continually have access to a working wheelchair.
I am _not_ having a lovely evening I keep accidentally overdoing it on whiskey but your caramel voice helps keep me grounded thank you.
We all overdo it sometimes. Remember to hydrate!
UK based manual wheelchair user here. 65K is astounding.
I was at an oscon many years ago an there was an amazing young lady called
Karen Sandler
doing a talk about how she had a closed source heart defibrillator she was not allowed any access to.
Thomas is amazing! I just adore him. I was so incredibly excited when I heard he was going to get to chat with you. I really enjoy your content.
If we can get this supply chain, I’d start repair service.
Feels like his heart is in the right place...
In Norway there was engineer that woke up one morning with pain in her arms. When she came back from the hospital she had lost both arms and both legs. And (I am assuming) since she did not have the correct servile attitude for a handicapped person she ended up being refused a handicap parking space. The government said she could go shopping outside normal store hours so she did not need one. Fully employed btw.
I salute people with the guts to stand up against this system.
I gotta say Louis, I've followed many causes and argued the good fight for a long time, but I can't even bring myself to watch a lot of your videos nowadays. Its like, they're all informative or about happy developments like this here, but it exposes the details of the faults of the world, that while I know they exist, getting to know them intimately is getting to me, I'm struggling to live as a cynic because of how bad so many things are. But, after spending so long caring so much, it feels like the largest form of betrayal is being like everyone else, ignoring the troubles of others and putting my blinders up. Too much care for too little return; you've adapted your standards well and have very low expectations of mobility in these topics, but I can't seem to detach myself at all.
so what are you going to do about it?
Hi have friends in chairs and looked at making them accessories whdn i found out what people were charging.
The issue is definitely one of insurance escalation.
Companies make chairs for the insurers, not the end user.
As was mentioned there are some great companies out there making kit that disabled people need but doesn't fit in with the insurance cover. This means they seem expensive but often are a bit more repairable and built to last longer.
Well deserved!
how did WHEELCHAIR right to repair not get anywhere? what the fuck is wrong with our representatives?
This is a good wholesome company and an example of a good American “company” fuck all the corrupt corporations
This is really enlightening. If I ever need a wheelchair I'm just gonna get family to slap a pair of bike wheels to the side of a stainless steel cushioned chair. From there I can just get a small motor and battery attached underneath and wire a bog standard dial switch to it. Cheaper than getting it off greedy CEOs.