July is Wheelchair Beautification Month

July is ‘Wheelchair Beautification Month’, so celebrate! Decorate wheelchairs and walkers, add useful accents, and enhance safety for those with mobility issues.

 

Good deeds have a way of coming back two-fold, so do something positive for someone else. Improve and enhance the life of a person in a wheelchair during “Wheelchair Beautification Month” this July. New technology emerges daily and mobility devices reflect this, though lack in a little celebratory flair. Make the month special; plan on bringing a little pizzazz, adding utilitarian accents, or increasing safety for someone who relies on this type of equipment.

July is Wheelchair Beautification Month

It is believed that the founder of National Wheelchair Beautification Month was author and illustrator Horace Knowles. His empathetic aim was to brighten the day of not only the wheelchair-user, but everyone they encounter. It began with simply affixing fresh and artificial flowers to the wheelchairs of loved ones and community members, and has grown to include elaborate displays, clever decorations, and festive parades.

Celebrate in style

Use whimsy and creativity to come up with some light-hearted ideas for decorating your wheelchair or walker. It is best to use temporary materials that won’t damage the finish or compromise the function of the device, so skip the paint or other permanent applications. Instead, make a trip to a craft store or online retailer to find inexpensive baubles, trinkets, and decorations that could be implemented into Wheelchair Beautification Month activities.

It is okay to be a little silly; after all, you are celebrating Wheelchair Beautification Month!

• Use fun, printed duct tape to wrap around hardware; a less permanent option is to use vinyl clings cut in strips to wrap and bring a bit of color to the device.
• Coil pipe cleaners around the wheel-spokes for some flash, that is also easy to remove. Pipe cleaners won’t interfere with the wheel’s function.
• Share some fresh flowers; save floral tubes to affix to the arm or backrest of a wheelchair. Use single stems or small bouquets for a celebratory look.
• Plan a parade to celebrate the day after decorating chairs and walkers. Plan ahead on a theme for the event, and offer prizes for distinctive decorating ideas, which may inspire people to participate.

Create lasting accents.

Another approach for this special day is to give someone who uses a mobility device a little something that will make their life easier, such as a caddy or bag that secures to their chair. These are easy to make if you sew at all, and you can use this online caddy sewing tutorial; and make a walker bag, too. These can be used to tote small items from place-to-place, making it safer for those who rely on mobility devices and who need to keep their hands free. Depending on the style that you elect to make, these are perfect for carrying handbags, books, groceries, tools, or crafting items.

Aim to enhance safety.

In honor of Wheelchair Beautification Month, take advantage of wheelchair safety features such as lights and caddies to prevent the risk of fall. Use flags, flashers, or reflectors to increase visibility of the chair as well as bring a festive touch. Make this a time to assess the condition of the chair’s casters; these periodically need replacement. Using the chair in rainy or wet weather conditions hastens the need to replace casters. Some signs of deterioration include a loss of traction and a side-to-side wobble when moving at a good rate of speed. It is recommended that you have wheelchairs assessed and serviced at least once a year.

Mobility installations that won’t detract.

If you really want to make a difference during this month, invest in installations and mobility aids that will improve the quality of life in a significant way. These are custom-fitted to add to the home environment and to ensure safe utility for the individual with physical limitations. stairlifts, electric door openers, and shower aids are just a few of the products that can increase access and that are available for the home. Pacific Mobility offers creative solutions that are streamlined, and that will meld with the home surroundings. These are sleek and discreet devices intended to empower the user.

Consider how home installations and mobility aids can change the life of someone you care about, or perhaps, may improve your own access and convenience. Celebrate Wheelchair Beautification Day in style with these ideas, or come up with your own ways to decorate and embellish for the occasion. Get together with neighbors, friends, and loved ones to do something fresh and fun to pay tribute to those that rely on a wheelchair every day. Network with area facilities, residential settings, and healthcare providers to plan community events related to this commemorative month.