After Experiencing Functional Disability, President of Medallion Furniture Felt Compelled to Design a Line of ADA Compatible Furniture
They say it takes one to know one. And after experiencing the discomfort and humiliation of a functional disability, Bob Gass, President of Medallion Furniture felt compelled to design a line of ADA compatible furniture to help improve the lives of disabled Americans.
1. 8.1 million Americans age 16 and over have some difficulty in outside mobility, 60% of those are 65 and over. An estimated 1.6 million Americans residing outside of institutions use wheelchairs, according to the UCSF Disability Statistics Center. Wheelchair users are among the most visible members of the disability community, experiencing among the highest levels of activity limitation, functional limitation, difficulty in basic life activities and perceived disability.
2. The 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has resulted in much greater awareness of disability and the barriers that prevent many people with disabilities from participating fully in American society. While there are indications that many barriers in the built environment have been removed, improving accessibility of public buildings and some transportation systems, many problem areas remain. And low levels of participation in social, cultural, and commercial activities do not seem to have increased measurably since the ADA became law.
As a furniture maker, Mr. Gass admits that it did not occur to him that people have trouble getting in and out of chairs until he had trouble himself. After experiencing the difficulty and discomfort of trying to use regular furniture with a broken hip, Mr. Gass was inspired to create a line of furniture that is safe and comfortable for handicapped users as well as for the elderly, overweight and anyone else with mobility issues.
The Adagio Line of outdoor furniture, which he is understandably proud of, is the result of his efforts . Adagio chairs are easy to get into and out of and feature high arm rests that people can push themselves up with. The chaise lounges have an easy to use adjusting mechanism. The tables are built so that wheelchairs can fit underneath and also so that everyone sits at the same level. It’s quite an uncomfortable experience when a handicapped person is being looked down upon.
According to Mr. Gass, there are 54 million handicapped people in America today and the Adagio Line of Outdoor Furniture allows them to be safe and comfortable in the following settings:
- Hotels/Motels/Resorts
- Cruise Ships
- Restaurants/cafes
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Apartment Complexes
- Condos
- Consumer Patios
To learn more about the Adagio Line of Handicapped Furniture or to make a purchase, click the following link www.adacompliantfurniture.com.
References:
- Kay, Stephen. “Wheelchair Use in the United States”. UCSF Disability Statistics Center, Abstract 23. May, 2002.
- Kay, Stephen. “Is the Status of People with Disabilities Improving?” UCSF Disability Statistics Center, Abstract 21. May, 1998.
