Manual Wheelchairs

Manual wheelchairs here are grouped the way Ontario's Assistive Devices Program classifies them, from Type 1 through Type 5. If you are working towards ADP funding, that structure will already be familiar from the paperwork. If you are not, it is still a useful way to narrow things down, because the types run roughly from occasional use towards full time use, and from fixed frames towards frames configured around one person.

The five types in brief

Type 1 is a standard folding chair, supplied in stock sizes. It suits occasional use, short trips and situations where someone is mostly being pushed.

Type 2 is a lightweight folding chair, generally in the 25 to 38 lb range, with removable arms and swing away footrests. It suits an active user who is in the chair regularly.

Type 3 covers lightweight chairs with the adjustment an active full time user needs, including an adjustable centre of gravity, quick release axles and anti-tippers.

Type 4 is the ultra lightweight class, generally under 25 lbs, usually rigid rather than folding, for people who propel independently all day and where every pound matters.

Type 5 covers manual tilt chairs, for someone who cannot shift their own weight and needs the seat frame to tilt for pressure relief and posture.

Which type applies to you

The category on an ADP application is determined by the authorizer assessing you, usually an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, based on your mobility needs rather than on preference. The descriptions above are an orientation, not eligibility criteria. ADP funds up to 75 percent of the approved price for eligible Ontario residents, and the current rules are published by the Ministry of Health.

If you are not sure where to start, contact us. We can talk through the options before an assessment, and we handle the ADP paperwork for clients who qualify.