Segway popular with disabled

[Rich Wong]

Originally Posted by dez250

OK i have done research on this topic and it actually is very interesting.
I hope this answers some questions and if theres still some others, take a look at the DRAFT (DISABILITY RIGHTS ADVOCATES FOR TECHNOLOGY) website.

~Michael

Excellent work Mike.
The category of disabilities has a wide spectrum and has many levels of severity. The Segway HT does help a special category of the disabled that can stand (or seat) but have difficulty moving about. (BTW- A coincidence? The 2004 FLL teams are reviewing and researching websites like DRAFT right now because of the “No Limits” theme.)

DRAFT (Disability Right Advocates For Technology) describes this very well on their website. It is natural for them to gravitate to the Segway HT as a good option for some people requiring assistance of a wheelchair, walker or cane. There must have been an creative engineer in the group whose eyes lighted up when he or she saw a Segway go by.
Now they are adding modifications to the HT to include seat and probably other options for assisting the disabled. But Segway will never market the HT to the disabled because of the issue liabilities. I believe this one of the reasons the iBOT must be marketed by J&J.
A Segway HT cost under $4,000. That maybe a lot but an iBOT is priced above $25,000.

So what can be done? Maybe join DRAFT, write your representatives in Washington, or even write Segway? (suggestion please)