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A mobility scooter has a seat over 3, 4 or 5 wheels, a flat platform for the feet, and handlebars in front for steering. The seat often swivels to allow easy access. Mobility scooters are nearly always battery powered. Batteries are charged by an onboard battery charger of by plugging in to a standard electric power socket.

Gasoline-powered scooters may also available in some countries, though they are rapidly being replaced by electric models.

Invention of the Mobility Scooter

In 1968, Allan R. Thieme developed the first mobility scooter, in Bridgeport, Michigan, which he dubbed the “Amigo.” Created to assist a family member suffering from multiple sclerosis, Thieme went on to found Amigo Mobility International Inc., which is still headquartered in Bridgeport.

Amigo Mobility International, Inc. products are shipped to countries around the world, but all Amigo products are 100% American made. The Amigo line of products includes mobility scooter models for:

• Active-lifestyles
• Travel
• Healthcare institutions
• Retail stores
• Sports and leisure
• Double occupancy

Amigo Mobility International, Inc also provides a full line of electric vehicle lifts for transporting the Amigo.

Benefits of Mobility Scooters

Scooters are generally more powerful and durable than motorized wheelchairs, and are much more suited to outdoor environments. Scooters are also useful for persons without the strength or constitution to handle a hand-powered wheelchair.

The swivel chairs common to mobility scooters are generally easier to manage than the stand-up, sit-down method of entering and exiting a wheelchair, making the mobility scooter, in conjunction with a lift chair, a superior solution for individuals who are unable to move freely, but still have the dexterity to steer.

Another major advantage of a mobility scooter over a wheelchair is that scooters simply do not look like wheelchairs. No one wants to appear helpless, and mobility scooters often impart in their users a sense of self-reliance and positive mental attitude that tend to be lacking in individuals who use wheelchairs.

Lift Chairs

Often used by those who require mobility scooters, lift chairs are motorized recliners that ascend or descend a significant distance to and from the ground, assisting individuals who do not have complete freedom of movement.

In fact, Pride Mobility Products Corp. has just introduced a combination product called the Jazzy, which is an extra-comfortable chair mounted on a mobility scooter frame. Pride Mobility lift chairs and Pride Mobility scooters are sold throughout the country and around the globe.

Whether it’s the Amigo or the Jazzy, the wide range of mobility scooters and lift chairs available on the market have increased the quality of life for millions of individuals worldwide.

About the Author

Jan Heinen is a mother of three adult sons who now each have families of their own, and has a soft spot for cats. She loves the outdoors, and enjoys living in the scenic city of Surrey in southwest British Columbia, Canada. Jan is a self-avowed bookworm, and enjoys traveling to places near and far. A chiropractor by career, these days Jane loves helping others as a B.E.S.T. practitioner.

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