Wheelchair accessories to make life easier

Active Hands have been working with people with reduced hand function for nearly twenty years. All of our products focus on improving grip, supporting reduced hand strength or overcoming tremors. We work with people with a wide range of disabilities. Over the last year, we have begun to expand our range of wheelchair accessories. Still very much with a focus on hand function, we have ensured all of our wheelchair products can be used by those with reduced finger strength or poor grip. 

For those who use a wheelchair, either part-time or full-time, having everything you need around you is vital. From storage for your essentials, to solutions for carrying items securely on laps. At work or play, accessories are essential! 

Wheelchair accessories for on the go

Whether you’re heading out for a day at work, or a day out with friends and family, making sure you have everything you need is especially important for those with disabilities. First up, a safe place for life’s essentials. From wallets to medical equipment such as catheters and medication, to push gloves and more. Our Handipouches Velcro to a wheelchair frame. They are ideal for those little things you need to keep handy – credit cards, car keys, phones etc. If storage needs are a little larger, our Wheelchair Under-seat Bag or Pocket sit discreetly under a wheelchair seat. They feature looped zips and magnets to make accessing your belongings fuss-free, even with reduced finger dexterity.  

Our Flexi Phone Holder is a newly developed clamp for phones, tablets and more that has quickly become very popular. Its clamp attaches very easily with minimal hand function. The vacuum seal is located using magnets, so no need to grapple with fiddly clamps to attach or remove your phone. Users can take calls, navigate, pay contactless, play games and so much more with their phone positioned just where it’s needed. It works perfectly with any phone or tablet. You can even purchase an adapter for a DSLR camera, if you’re passionate about photography. 

One of the products we see discussed on social media a lot is a solution to support wheelchair users to take their dogs for a walk with confidence. We have stocked collars and leads for a long time but are pleased to have recently added a Wheelchair Dog Lead. Getting out independently and regularly is really important for both physical and mental well-being and we are really pleased to find more and more solutions to support our customers in doing so. 

Wheelchair accessories for daily tasks

Another product that is new to us and already proving very popular is the Lapstacker Flex. This retractable strap sits discreetly out of the way until needed. It is designed to keep a secure hold on items needed to be carried on a lap. Those with reduced finger function can pull the strap closed using the looped fabric at each end. A magnetic fixing secures it and keeps a firm hold of pretty much anything.

Our CEO Rob trialled it when we first came across it. He has used it pretty much daily since for everything from his daughter’s school bag and lunchbox to boxes of stock in the office, shopping when out and about and so many other things.  

Wheelchair accessories for work and play

We stock a range of Trabasack Bags, which are superb bags and lap desks in one. They all feature straps which can be used in a variety of ways, as well as storage inside, accessed by looped zips and a concealed beanbag to ensure they are comfortable and secure on laps. There are two styles of bag. The Mini is a rectangular-shaped bag. Alternatively, the Curve features a curved edge, which provides a snug fit around the waist. This makes the Curve bags ideal for children to use as a play surface in wheelchairs, buggies or car seats.

Both the Mini and the Curve can come with either a hard, wipe-clean surface or the ‘connect’ style surface, which has a Velcro-receptive covering. This means toys, snack bowls, remote controls etc can have a velcro patch added to them and they will ‘stick’ to the Velcro covering and no longer be dropped from laps.

Wheelchair accessories to support independence

We are so excited to be sole distributors for Soloc wheelchair lap belts and have been working hard to ensure these products are the best possible solution. The Soloc range are lap belts with a unique point of difference. Users with reduced hand function, limb difference or the use of just one hand can open and secure them independently, thanks to their innovative design.

National Star College is a provider of specialist further education, training, personal development and residential services for people with physical and learning disabilities and acquired brain injuries. They estimate that their students need assistance with up to 18 transfers a day. They believe that with wheelchairs fitted with a SOLOC lap belt, many of their students would now be able to complete these transfers independently. This would save them time and money on care personnel. More importantly, it would vastly improve the independence, confidence and freedom of users.  

Our Soloc range consists of three different belts. Each uses an innovative buckle that connects magnetically, causing a mechanical fixing that remains secure, even under pressure. To open the belt, either push the release button or pull the tab with a finger.

The Connect is a standard, adjustable lap belt, with optional padding to aid postural positioning. The belt is fitted with the Soloc buckle, making it perfect for those with reduced hand strength or dexterity.

The Uno is designed for those with the use of one arm. A flexifix arm holds one side of the buckle in place, ready for connection. This belt is ideal for users with hemiplegia. 

And finally, the Freedom has been designed for those with no hand function, or even those with no hands, to use independently. The belt utilises two FlexiFix arms. These remain in an open position when the user transfers. This means no more sitting on your belt or having to fish around for it! Users simply push both sides down to connect. 

Our full range of products

We are thrilled to see how well our wheelchair range has been received and understand how vital it is that wheelchair users have not just the right accessories, but ones that can be used easily with reduced hand function. We hope you have found some products in our range that have inspired you. Perhaps you have someone in mind that would benefit from them. As ever, we are always adding to our range, so take a browse of our full range here. We are always happy to hear from professionals who work with our products, or who have clients who may benefit from it. If you ever have any questions, feel free to get in touch via email on info@activehands.com. 

Jo Smith