Inventor from Hagley designs wheelchair rack

Mike made a prototype with help from the charity Remap

A mobility scooter user from Hagley in Worcestershire has invented a rack to attach to his scooter to carry his wheelchair.

Mike Spencer is a married father of four grown-up children, and has lived with MS for 15 years.

He found his scooter was too large to use inside shops and that using his wheelchair would be more practical.

So he designed a way of being able to take his wheelchair, as well as the scooter, when he goes out and about.

The lightweight frame is specifically designed to fit onto the back of medium range scooters, and it can hold a wheelchair or walking-aid.

Comfort grips

Mike has also invented a comfort-grip for wheelchair users who find it hard to use a standard wheelchair's metal hand-rim.

He says the metal rim can cause friction to the palms of the hands, leading to blisters, and as it's thin, fingers can often get knocked by the spindles which connect the hand-rim to the wheel.

He has created the Wheel-Easier, which has a silicone rubber surface that allows a soft grip, and is also wide enough to provide good leverage to the wheel, making it easier to turn.

The design aims to make pushing easier and more comfortable

Real experts

Mike's invention ideas are based on years of personal experience and are guided by the simple premise that people with disabilities are the real experts on the subject.

Despite his condition, he has a very positive outlook: "Some people see the wheelchair and they feel sorry for me.

"To me the wheelchair is marvellous; its benefits outweigh the downsides.

"Now I see the world in a different way."