Wheelchair Users Are Finally Winning the Right to Repair
16 days ago
- #right-to-repair
- #wheelchair-repair
- #disability-rights
- Casey Moore, a power wheelchair user, faced long repair delays—four months in 2023 and six months in 2024.
- 40% of wheelchair users reported waiting over seven weeks for repairs in a 2022 PIRG survey.
- Power wheelchair repairs in the U.S. are controlled by a duopoly: National Seating & Mobility and Numotion.
- Right-to-repair laws aim to allow third-party or DIY repairs, with six states passing such laws since 2022.
- Advocates argue manufacturers should provide parts, tools, and repair information on fair terms.
- Federal lawmakers express concern over wheelchair repair barriers tied to private equity-owned firms.
- Opponents claim repairs should be done by trained professionals, often linked to the duopoly.
- State-level legislative efforts face challenges, with some bills passing and others stalling.
- Disabled users often repair wheelchairs themselves, despite legal restrictions.
- Right-to-repair laws are seen as a stopgap, with users preferring insurance-covered repairs.