Knowing All -- WheelchairJunkie.com

It impresses upon me when consumers note out of frustration that they knew more about their wheelchairs during the ordering process than the providers seemed to know, as if their providers weren't doing their job.

While you should require in-depth knowledge and expertise from your provider, the fact is, you should know more about the wheelchair you're ordering than he or she does. For even the most dedicated providers, selling wheelchairs is still namely a career, where, being totally frank, the biggest loss that they can experience relating to wheelchairs is a job change – not a big deal in the grand scheme of life.

However, your stakes in a wheelchair purchase are astronomically high, where your health and life can literally hinge upon the decisions made. A poorly-performing wheelchair can hamper your independence at best, while a poorly-fitted wheelchair can effect your health at worst. And, as a consumer, it's your job to know as much as possible of the product you're purchasing. Again, while providers are expected to be knowledgeable in their position, you should be the truest expert, where no one knows your needs or the products you wish better than you – namely if it's your second or greater wheelchair, where the process isn't new to you.

And, in today's age, it's not difficult to learn everything there is to know about a particular model of wheelchair – that is, to become an expert. Specifications, order forms, and technical articles are all online, and forums like that of WheelchairJunkie.com can answer virtually any question within two hours. Of course, there are areas of specialty – advanced seating and positioning, specialty controls, etc., that are very specialized practices by providers – but, when it comes to the basics, there's no reason for consumers not to take full accountability to educate themselves as much as possible about a particular mobility product and the process, where they're making informed, responsible decisions beyond anyone else.

Therefore, the next time that you arrive at your provider with a host of literature and memorized tech specs, where you seemingly know more than he or she does, don't dismiss your provider, but know that you're simply doing your job as a wise consumer.