The New York Times is running an article about how people with disabilities are finding the Segway very useful:
This story was also mentioned on Slashdot:
MrToast
Disabled… Mentally?
Joking! Joking…
It just seems to me that old people wouldn’t want to stand for a long time, espescially not on a platform that’s moving, a platform that could seriously injur them. Isn’t a powerchair cheaper, safer, and more comfortable?
Well then… just hop onto the Centaur (yes I know it is a concept) http://www.segway.com/centaur/
http://www.segway.com/images/v/main_centaur_lrg.jpg
While the segway isn’t all that cool, the centaur is very neat. I can’t picture the elderly on it though… 
The centaur looks pretty cool, plus it could do much better with the disabled than a normal Segway depending on what disability one has.
never thought of using a centaur for that sort of purpose, that would be a great idea for Segway!
Wouldn’t an elderly or disabled person have trouble getting on that because of the stand over clearance?
Also I doubt it would be comfortable for said elderly or disabled person to sit in for long with no seat back.
I however think it would be a interesting quad but it would probably cost almost as much or more.
My mom is either in a wheelchair or walks with a cane, depending on how good her legs are feeling on that particular day, and she is dying to own a Segway! She’s so cute! She’s one of those people that would reeeeeeeally benefit from a significant price reduction… 
What they really need to do is convince insurers and Medicare that Segways are useful and help the eldery/disabled so those in need can hopefully get some reimbursement to help offset the cost of the Segway.
OK i have done research on this topic and it actually is very interesting.
While the physical aspect of riding a Segway (standing up and swaying while turning) for a prolonged period of time can get tiring and thus many disabled and some non-disabled user have made a seat or small stool for the platform base. Also most disabled users have a small handicap sticker or placard on the lower control shaft or on a handlebar bag (12.0 bag). While some also carry a doctors note and/or legal papers of that states laws on the use of a Segway/empad device. But now some people are probably thinking why don’t some users just get a power wheelchair, some go faster and all are welcomed in all public places. This situation though mainly is a mental preference that first came about with the ibot. These devices alike can place the user at a normal standing height of an adult. This difference compared to the sitting height of a normal wheelchair places the user face to face with others where in a wheelchair they are always looking up to talk to others. Also with a Segway, the user does not have to specifically look disabled as where in a wheelchair the user normally is and does appear disabled.
[edit] OK also i forgot one thought. A major reason as to why the Segway isn’t promoted as an assisted health device like the ibot, is because if legislation was passed for this device to be like a wheelchair, and the FDA accepted it, the Segway HT would not be available to everyone but only to those with a doctors release for use. [/edit]
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)
I would also like to recommend to all of you to take sometime, and read up on how individuals are using the Segway to their advantage with their disabilities at DRAFT . I believe you have to become a “member” i.e. just create a user name/password to log into DRAFT to read the forums. ALSO, Segway Chat has a special sub-forum just for Disabled Use of the Segway. Lastly, a general information site and non-forums location can be found at Road Access - Disability Alliance .
Not everyone is capable of using the Segway, nor does everyone want to switch to the use of a Segway. As for me, as a young adult wanting to partake in life to the fullest, I have been trying to acquire a Segway for approximately a year now. Insurance companies have yet been willing to help cover any of the costs of a Segway, and many individuals are determined to not give into the last bit of strength to navigate through daily activities.
Write letters, as usual - WE just need to be heard. Write to local representatives, write to insurance companies asking why they don’t consider such a marvel beneficial? Just help us make noise for the use of the Segway.
~Ashley
Here’s a pic I found that instantly reminded me of this thread…
Joseph nice photos, on this photo from the far left to right are:
Fred Kaplan (C.P.A.); DRAFT Treasurer, Leonard Timm, Jerry Kerr; DRAFT Co-Founders and Jim Reynolds; 2003 & 2004 Segway Fest Organizer.
It just happens that this years Segway fest raffle for a P series was won by the DRAFT Organization.