Abstract
Wheelchairs, for many disabled persons, are essential medical devices for work, mobility, and recreation. The characteristics, prices, and durability of these chairs are critical both to the quality of life of their users and to the costs incurred by the users, insurers, and government agencies. This case study focuses on how Federal Government policies affect innovations in wheelchair characteristics. In this chapter, these findings are summarized. In subsequent chapters, wheelchairs and their market (ch. 2), the role of the Federal Government (ch. 3), and relevant economic theories of innovation (ch. 4) are described. Findings of a telephone survey of wheelchair manufacturers (ch. 5) are reported, and case studies of innovation based on a field visit (ch. 6) are presented.