Explore the History of the Wheelchair: From Ancient Times to Modern Innovations
For thousands of years, wheelchairs have allowed millions of people with mobility disabilities to be independent. While wheelchairs were once large and elaborate, sometimes even designed for royalty, today, wheelchairs can be customized to meet the unique needs of every wheelchair user. Additionally, they can be equipped with various wheelchair accessories to enhance independence and personalize a wheelchair to make it one's own.
When Did the First Wheelchair Appear?
The exact origins of the wheelchair are unknown, but one of the earliest known examples was created in 1595 for King Philip II of Spain. Living with gout, King Philip's wheelchair was fit for royalty, featuring plush upholstery, arm and leg rests, and four wheels. The wheelchair could not be self-propelled, requiring someone to assist with pushing it.
Stephan Farffler's Contribution to Wheelchair Design
In 1655, Stephan Farffler, a paraplegic clockmaker from Nuremberg, Germany, who sustained a spinal cord injury as a child, invented the first self-propelled wheelchair. Farffler's design was a three-wheeled wooden chair which was propelled using hand-operated pedals.
The Bath Wheelchair's Role in Mobility
In 1783, John Dawson of Bath, England, designed a wheelchair with large rear wheels and a small front wheel to transport people to the therapeutic waters in Bath. These waters were believed to have healing properties. Dawson's Bath Wheelchair became the most popular wheelchair sold in the early 19th century. Like most wheelchairs of the time, it required an attendant to push it.
Evolution of Wheelchair Design Over Time
The 20th century saw significant advancements in wheelchair design, including the development of folding, manual, powered, and sports wheelchairs.
In 1932, engineer Harry Jennings created a folding wheelchair with a tubular steel frame for his friend, Herbert Everest. This innovation led to the founding of Everest & Jennings, a company that manufactured folding wheelchairs, making them more accessible and easier to transport.
In 1952, Canadian inventor George Klein led a project to develop the first power wheelchair, funded by Canadian Veterans Affairs and veterans’ organizations. This initiative aimed to assist paralyzed WWII veterans who could not use manual wheelchairs, and the design was marketed by Everest & Jennings in 1956.
Permobil: Custom Power and Manual Wheelchairs
Permobil, established in 1967 by Dr. Per Uddén, has been instrumental in advancing wheelchair technology. Dr. Uddén, an advocate for people with disabilities, founded the company on the belief that everyone deserves access to mobility aids that meet their needs. His medical background fueled his drive to innovate and solve the challenges faced by people with disabilities. By blending creativity with technology, Dr. Uddén laid the foundation for Permobil, which today, manufactures custom manual and power wheelchairs. With advanced technology, every part of a Permobil wheelchair is specifically designed for its user, from the backrest and seat cushion to the frame color.
Quickie Custom Wheelchairs
In the late 20th century, athletes began customizing standard wheelchairs, leading to further advancements. After becoming paraplegic in 1978, Marilyn Hamilton won a silver medal in alpine skiing in the 1982 Paralympics and co-founded Quickie Wheelchairs. Quickie, like Permobil, is a manufacturer of custom manual and power wheelchairs. Like Permobil wheelchairs, Quickie wheelchairs are customized to meet the needs of each wheelchair user.
BraunAbility: Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
In the past, wheelchairs were not designed for travelling in vehicles. However, advancements in technology have led to the development of wheelchair accessible vehicles, allowing people with mobility disabilities to maintain independence beyond what a wheelchair alone can provide.
Founded by Ralph Braun, who lived with a disability himself, BraunAbility has been manufacturing wheelchair accessible vehicles for over 50 years, changing the lives of more than one million people with disabilities and their caregivers. What started as a way for Ralph to get to work, creating his own accessible vehicle out of a postal jeep in his garage in Winamac, Indiana, has evolved into a company that continues to change lives.
Today, BraunAbility vehicles are still manufactured in our founder's hometown, and our product range has expanded to include wheelchair accessible commercial vehicles for businesses, lifts for school buses, wheelchair securement systems, accessible seating, and traditional wheelchair accessible vehicles, including vans and SUVs.
BraunAbility product specialists can answer questions about BraunAbility vehicles, providing one-on-one support. You can also read customer testimonials in our customer story library. If you're interested in a wheelchair accessible vehicle for yourself, contact your local mobility dealer. Your local dealer can help you find a vehicle to meet your needs.
