Providing a new way to get out into nature for people with mobility challenges, David’s Chair Outdoor Mobility Systems, American Legion Post 158 and Oregon Parks Forever are collaborating to bring the first of 10 additional locations where mobility challenged visitors can pick up and use an electric all-terrain wheelchair.
Starting July 1, a chair and trailer will be housed at American Legion Post 158 at 8635 Scoffins St., Tigard, OR and can be reserved through davidschair.org.
These chairs will provide a new freedom for a mobility challenged park visitor - to get off the pavement and out into nature.
With increased accessibility to trails, lakes, rivers and beaches, through demanding conditions like sand, snow and mud, mobility-impaired visitors will be able to participate in activities never-before possible.
From birdwatching and fishing, to riding along the beach, to simply enjoying the fresh air and solitude of nature, these all-terrain chairs will invite many new people to share the wonders of the great outdoors in our parks.
Anyone with mobility impairment, requiring the assistance of wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes or crutches, will be able to use these chairs.
See these chairs in action at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4KIrqu47WY
See a video testimonial here:
Over the next couple of years, the partners are working to locate hosts at American Legion, VFW and Tourism related entities along the Oregon Coast and the I-5 corridor where a chair and trailer can be stored and made available for free use by visitors with mobility challenges.
We are doing this to provide easier access to these chairs to a wider number of people. Under the current operating model for David’s Chair, anyone wishing to borrow one of their seven current chairs (for free) must bring a trailer hitch-enabled vehicle to Medford and pick up a chair and trailer to take where they would like to use it. This severely limits access to other parts of the state. One of the most popular uses for these chairs is to get out on the beach, hence our desire for host locations along the Oregon Coast. Also, there are many parks in areas such as Springfield, Eugene, Salem and Portland along the I-5 corridor that visitors would like to access.
Reservations for free use can be made at: www.davidschair.org. In order to maintain availability, chairs may only be reserved for no more than two days at a time.
A media event will be hosted by David’s Chair on Friday, July 1st at Champoeg State Heritage Area, south of Wilsonville from 10:30am to 1:00 PM at the Townsite Day Use Area. David’s Chair CEO Steve Furst and American Legion Commander-elect Allyson Kropf will be available there for interviews and demonstration of the chair that will be housed in Tigard. Please contact us in advance to schedule a time to give you special attention