4 minute read
iBOT: Mobility to Veterans
The iBOT® PMD: Bringing Freedom of Mobility to Veterans
When Josh Keller was invited to his best friend’s wedding, he accepted the invitation knowing his friends would have to push him up a hill in his manual wheelchair to join them at the top.
Plans changed when Josh received his iBOT®. Josh was able to utilize Four-Wheel Mode to drive up the hill, unassisted. Wedding guests got to watch the iBOT®’s technology push the boundaries of what’s possible. “Getting to the top on my own and watching my friend get married was such a great feeling and it is something I am forever thankful for.”
Stories like these are not uncommon with the iBOT®. This power wheelchair is known for its ability to help bring freedom and independence to its users. Utilizing what manufacturer Mobius Mobility calls its “iBalance” technology, the iBOT® has multiple modes – 4-Wheel Mode for outdoor use, uneven terrain and curb climbing, Balance Mode for reaching up high and looking someone in the eye, Stair Mode for conquering stairs, and Standard Mode for everyday use. Josh, 28, is a US Army Veteran who has C4 quadriplegia. Josh’s favorite activities include exploring wooded trails with his wife, woodburning and creating artwork. The iBOT® gives him the independence he needs to enjoy his hobbies. “All I have to do is put the iBOT in four-wheeldrive and go. We love exploring and now it’s easier than ever!”
The iBOT® also fulfills something Josh didn’t even know he needed. “It’s a confidence builder. In my other wheelchairs, I was always a little self-conscious about how I looked. It’s interesting being in the iBOT® and feeling so confident while using it. Now I’ve realized that people should be staring!
This chair is awesome!”
The VA purchased Josh’s iBOT® in summer 2022 and partnered with Mobius Mobility to provide training at the Manchester, NH headquarters. Training for the iBOT® occurs over two days and covers all of the operating modes and features. For many veterans, training happens at their local VA hospital. When asked about his experience training at Mobius Mobility, Josh explained, “The staff made the experience easy, and they gave us all the information our family needed to succeed.”
For Jim Dehlin, the iBOT® allows him to take advantage of some of life’s most important moments. When his grandson was younger, it was difficult for Jim to spend time out in nature with him. The iBOT® now allows them to go out into the woods together to feed the deer. “I love the iBOT® and everything about it,” he said. “There are numerous features that provide freedom of mobility, and ability to go places without fear of breakdowns. I can’t say enough of what a fine machine it is.”
Jim, 72, is a service-injured Vietnam Veteran and amputee. He used a manual wheelchair for 35 years, until arthritis made it difficult for him to maneuver his chair. Jim was the first Veteran in the upper Midwest to receive the original iBOT 4000 through the Veterans Administration in 2006. Jim’s new iBOT® PMD was purchased by the VA in early 2020.
Jim encourages all Veterans to look into the iBOT®. “I believe every veteran out there that is in an electric chair, ought to be in an iBOT®. I don’t think there should be any restrictions – it’s a gamechanger!”
At a convention in Las Vegas, Trevor Baucom was able to maneuver the huge, jam-packed conference halls with ease in his iBOT®. In a manual chair, no one would be able to see him. But in the iBOT®, he was able to avoid being bumped into, and most importantly, look people in the eye.
Trevor, 42, was injured while serving in Afghanistan. He has used a manual chair, but his mobility was still limited. The iBOT’s ability to go up and down curbs proved valuable. “There’s nothing comparable to it.” Trevor was even able to build a fence, and he practices shooting, all while in his iBOT®. Trevor can get outdoors and hike on trails. “It greatly maximizes my time.” The iBOT® delivers a new degree of independence and mobility to power wheelchair users. For all three Veterans, the iBOT has proven invaluable to their lives, freedom, and dignity.
For any Veterans interested in the iBOT®, visit our website at www.mobiusmobility.com or email us at info@mobiusmobility.com and contact your VA clinical team to see if the iBOT® would be appropriate for you. Veterans who qualify through clinical assessment can receive the iBOT® at no cost through VA FSS #36F79721D0202.
