Ann Yoshida can now bike to work, thanks to a wheelchair rack on the back of her handcycle. The rack was designed and built in the CPD's Assistive Technology Lab.
By Heather Young
A graduate student in Special Education at Utah State University studying Rehabilitation Counseling and currently fulfilling an internship at the Nevada State Office of Rehabilitation, Ann Yoshida is a very busy and active person.
“Being a student and working takes most of my time and leaves little time for exercise. This was evident by how my jeans fit,” Ann said. “I wanted to incorporate exercise into my daily routine without sacrificing too much work and school.”
Ann met with Assistive Technology Lab Coordinator Stan Clelland, and Stan began working to modify the handcycle to hold Ann’s wheelchair while she was commuting or recreating.
“Stan put a PVC rack on the back of my handcycle to carry my wheelchair,” Ann said. “This has opened up many possibilities to commute to work, school, the store and other places.”
Before the modifications were made, Ann could only ride back to where she started to retrieve her wheelchair. “I now have the ability to bike to work,” Ann said. “The commute will cut down on gas, increase my health and hopefully get me back into comfortable jeans.
“The possibilities are endless when it comes to recreation,” she said. “I can participate in a bike race or enjoy the outdoors. I can do that without porters for my wheelchair and still have the option of mobility in my wheelchair. … Stan provided such fast, personalized and well engineered service. I’m thankful for his efforts in making my life full of possibilities.”
The AT Lab is a project of the Utah Assistive Technology Program. UATP serves individuals with disabilities of all ages in Utah and the intermountain region. Its job is to provide AT devices and services, and train university students, parents, children with disabilities and professional service providers about AT. UATP coordinates its services with community organizations and others who provide independence-related support to individuals with disabilities.
