The exhibit hall at the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (RESNA) conference in New Orleans last month was bustling with manufacturers of powered wheelchairs and scooters. The value of these assistive technologies in allowing people with disabilities to manage various aspects of their daily lives has had an enormous impact on improving their overall quality of life and independence. Whereas 10 years ago you would occasionally see someone using a scooter or power wheelchair, today it is not uncommon to observe someone using one of these devices almost daily.

To read this column, go to http://www.ncpad.org/746/3978/Rise~in~Scooters~and~Power~Wheelchairs~Could~Increase~
Risk~of~Obesity.