TRANSPORT & MOBILITY
Express Yourself
Grant Pierpoint, Product Advisor for Wild and Wacky Mobility, explains why diversity
should be a key concern for manufacturers of mobility equipment.
Making sure those affected by disability retain their independence is one of the industry’s top priorities. It was for this very purpose that mobility aids were designed, to help individuals maintain a normal life and get about with minimal assistance from others. However, there isn’t a lot on the market to help people retain their independence of spirit and personal style. Most mobility scooters look fundamentally the same, despite the fact that the backgrounds, identities and interests of their users couldn’t be more different.
The more senior end of our demographic looks very different than it did twenty or so years ago, with punk rock pensioners and an aging middle class who don’t associate mobility equipment with luxury. All in all, the current market isn’t doing its audience justice.
Furthermore, with house prices pushing retirees and lower-income individuals further away from town centres, mobility scooters are now far more than a simple medical product; they are a necessary complement to somebody’s lifestyle and their design ought to reflect this as much as possible.
For example, the owner of a Black Viper which, with its chrome plated handlebars, blacked-out bodywork and a super comfortable seat, is more akin to a Harley-Davidson than a mobility scooter, might have coloured hair and a tattoo! Manufacturers shouldn’t be afraid to cater for those who wish to age somewhat disgracefully and keep the fun alive in every aspect of their lives.
Meanwhile, there are additional gaps in the market for those with more disposable income, who might want a more luxurious product. If someone was driving an E or C-class Mercedes-Benz prior to needing a mobility scooter, there’s no reason they should have to downgrade because of their disability. The Cabin Car mobility scooter features all of the comforts of a luxury vehicle, such as reverse camera parking
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sensors and remote control locking, and is ideal for those with arthritis or other conditions which make them sensitive to the cold, as it is the only mobility scooter to have a built-in heater.
As a society, we also tend to forget that mobility aids aren’t just used by the elderly. There are millions of disabled young people in the country, from injured servicemen and women to those living with muscle-wasting or degenerative conditions. When you’re trying to make your unique mark in
this world, you shouldn’t feel limited by your disability or your mobility equipment. Scooters like the Black Viper, which features robust bodywork perfect for adventures in the great outdoors, focus on freedom and what a mobility scooter adds to your life, not what it takes away.
All of Wild and Wacky’s mobility scooters are also customisable in our workshop and are available in a variety of colours, from green to ice blue, cherry red to high-gloss black or white. The more flamboyant individuals of the world may feel put off by the design of many mainstream scooters, and even feel a certain loss of dignity through having to use one. Our vision is to create products which reflect the diversity of this group, giving options to those colourful characters who happen to need a mobility aid to get around.
www.wildandwackymobility.co.uk www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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