Independent Wheelchair Assist

For some wheelchair users, transferring between mobility devices can be too much. Inspired by his Grandfather’s inability to access his local community, New Zealand maker Oscar Fernandez developed the IWA (Independent Wheelchair Assist), a motorized wheelchair accessory. Attaching the IWA to a standard wheelchair greatly enhances the users mobility while being easily disconnected when not in use. The IWA, along with many other fantastic devices, is entered to win the 2012 James Dyson Award, a student design award running in 18 countries to “encourage the next generation of design engineers to be creative, challenge and invent.” [Thanks, Katie!]