Finding new homes for adaptive devices

[LROBBINS]

Burgerman,

Same (or worse) from GB.

Will,

I've thought of that possibility, but can't do that now for other reasons,

[Burgerman]

Is it just america?
Because my carer sent a transfer box from his 4x4 to spain for repair or swap. Then back here. And it was about £55 each way. That was heavy. I ask him and he cant remember the name of that copany but it wasnt with the common well known names.

[ex-Gooserider]

I know that eBay used to have a service where you could in effect 'auction' your shipping jobs, often w/ private individuals that were driving and had extra room in their vehicle, but also people in the shipping business...

I used it once years ago to get a chair I'd purchased in the Carolina's to me in MA, and it worked out pretty well...

No idea if they still offer it, or if it would work getting something across the big puddle, but might be worth looking into...

I think there is also a service "U-Ship" or something like that which does the same sort of thing...

ex-Gooserider

[LROBBINS]

UPDATE

The wheelchair-adapted VW Caddy has found a new home. Sometime today a driver will come to put it on a trailer and haul it to a mobility-impaired member of this forum in Romania where accessible public transport is almost non-existent, where there's no state help for buying an adapted car, and where disability pensions are minimal.

I may also be on the track of someone who is interested in the PC with "VOCA for WordPerfect". I had a urology visit (yes, us old men often have prostate problems) the other day. The urologist is also a friend who's pretty familiar with our situation and we got to talking about donating Rachi's equipment. Turns out he has a friend who has lost speaking ability because of multiple sclerosis so may be interested in the PC with synthetic voice software. I will try to arrange for him to try it out, and if he likes it, it's his. Given that he lives only 90 km from here, I can also work on adapting it for his needs, such as changing the voices from female to male.

I still don't know what we'll do with the wheelchair. So far, slowmobile is the only person interested in it and I've not been able to find a reasonably-priced way to ship it from Italy to Memphis, TN. I have one more lead on that, but otherwise someone actually flying with it between Italy and Memphis (as Will suggested) may be the only possibility - it can actually be much, much cheaper than any legally-possible commercial shipping.

Ciao,
Lenny

[Burgerman]

Thats great!
I think I know who that is...

[martin007]

> https://www.uship.com/international-shipping/

[LROBBINS]

I'd already tried UShip. No go --

prohibited:
Lithium batteries
documents required:
>Commercial Invoice
>Dangerous Goods Forms etc.

[TriangleEnthusiast]

If a local high school or college has a robotics or medical engineering program they may find a use for it, either as parts or a whole. Maybe it could inspire young engineers to consider adaptive technology.

[slomobile]

Take a vacation to Memphis. Use the powerchair as if it is yours. The airline will ship it with you on your flight. Return without it.

That is a fantastic idea! Maybe I can get my family or at least my son to Italy and take it back that way. He's learning Latin, and already knows a little Spanish. Not sure how much that would help with Italian. Much better use of money than shipping. Maybe we can even find a "semester abroad" or "exchange student program". My grandparents were host family to a Finnish girl when I was young. They still keep in touch, it was a positive experience for all. I've been talking to some folks in Pennsylvania about potential new ways to get on a flight. I couldn't sit upright in a regular airline seat for that duration, but apparently they are trying to get lay down seating as a possibility. I'll report back on how that process works if I find out.

Sorry been off the board for a bit. I may end up needing something like Rachis gaze system eventually. Not now, maybe never. I've had 3 episodes of full body paralysis except eyes, eyelids, and diaphragm. Couldn't speak or move my head. Only lasted a minute or 2, maybe less. There are still a couple of things to rule out, but basilar artery syndrome has been ruled in. It is a known cause of locked in syndrome. And it fits the symptoms. The other episode of just legs failing for 45 minutes fits transient incomplete LIS.