2021 was tough The following 3 areas have helped me get through one of the most difficult years of my life. If you’re having a hard time, these three areas of focus may help. 1. Breathing Arguably the most important thing we do and yet most don’t do it well. I recommend starting your breathing …
What’s the voice in your head telling you? Try and observe these voices, then disconnect yourself from that voice as if you’re observing them from a distance. Realise that this voice, isn’t YOU. This voice is an operating system designed to keep you “safe” and defend the identity you’ve created for yourself. These voices reinforce …
Several weeks ago a friend delivered a huge pile of leftover timber (untreated) from a building renovation. It needed to be cut up for firewood, but lifting and carrying the timber to the drop saw would have been really difficult for me (not impossible, but too strenuous after my bladder surgery). Knowing this, my wife, …
I wasn’t prepared I wasn’t prepared for how traumatic a bladder augmentation surgery could be, but as a bonus I discovered a powerful way to reduce pain and anxiety. The three hour surgery involves cutting you open from the belly button, taking a 25cm piece of your intestine out and stitching it into your bladder …
“It’s a wild place son. No place for you in that boat!” The boat in question is a well used 3.5m (11.5′) inflatable dingy, with a small outboard motor. And the place my Dad was referring to was D’Urville Island, with its savage currents, whirlpools and winds that can whip into a frenzy with very little …
“I SHOULD do this” “I NEED to do this” “I HAVE to do this” How many times do you say these words to yourself? Lots right? I SHOULD stop drinking, I NEED to go to the gym, I HAVE to go to work. Take a moment to think about how these words feel to you. …
What is priming? If you wake up feeling sluggish and with the chatter of negative events, meanings, and fears running through your head, then priming may be just what you need. Daily priming helps you flood yourself with positive emotions and thoughts and set your day on a course of gratitude and positive energy. Priming …
There, I said it. Some people claim that becoming a wheelchair user after their accident was the best thing to happen to them. While I admire that sentiment and can see the positives, I’d turn back the clock in an instant if I could. After breaking my back I felt like giving up on camping. …
Andrew Slorance is the CEO and founder of Phoenix Instinct. In 2020 they won a million dollars in the Toyota Mobility Foundation Mobility Unlimited Challenge to revolutionize the manual wheelchair. Andrew grew up in the North East of Scotland and became a T4/5 paraplegic wheelchair user as a 14 year old after falling from a tree. Over the …
Ever felt like you were a burden? Ever wished you just blended in? Wished things we just easier? Yesterday was one of the hottest days on record here in Christchurch, New Zealand. My friends were heading to a secluded beach after work and invited me to go along. I’d never been before because it was …
I first met paraplegic pilot Alex Krol while he was flying a plane around New Zealand. The more I got chatting, the more I was in awe of the balance he has in his life. A paraplegic of over 20 years, Alex is an accomplished wheelchair tennis player, sit skier, peer mentor and family man. In …
Jackie is a registered dietitian with a Masters of Health Science (MHSc) who takes a weight-inclusive approach to nutrition and focuses on health behaviour change rather than weight. Born with a rare disorder that affects her mobility, Jackie Silver rocks a wheelchair and is on a mission to empower people with disabilities and/or chronic diseases …
Shaun Gash is a paraplegic amputee who loves adventure and physical activity. Whether it is scaling mountains, scuba diving, boxing, or obstacle racing through mud, Shaun does it with a smile on his face and a determination to improve the lives of others in the process. In this episode we really connect and go deep …
Maria Rabaino is a founding member of the phenomenally successful Rollettes Wheelchair Dance Team. She is also a certified personal trainer who creates workout videos for wheelchair users, to increase their mental and physical wellbeing. Listen now Key Subjects The accident that left Maria with an L1 incomplete spinal cord injury What helped her during her …
Maria Rabaino: Wheelchair Dancer & Personal Trainer Read More »
Hannah Gavios was backpacking in Asia solo when an attempted sexual assault forced her to run for her life. Things went from bad to worse when she fell down a cliff and was paralyzed, only to be confronted by her attacker as she lay there in the dark unable to move. Her physical and mental …
Andrea Dalzell was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis at the age of 5, but growing up using a wheelchair didn’t stop her from pursuing a career in healthcare! After graduated from nursing school in 2018, she applied for 76 nursing jobs. She got 76 rejections. Today, she is the first registered nurse who uses a wheelchair …
Ivan Pizzaro was shot by a gunman when he was 19 while attending a Halloween party. A fit an active sportsman he was left paralyzed from the waist down. In this episode we talk about his recovery and how he manages to stay fit and healthy in both mind and body. Listen now Key Subjects …
In this episode, Cambry Nelson, a champion equestrian vaulter, describes what happened the day she broke her back. “I decided to do my aerial dismount off the horse, but didn’t communicate it to my teammate still on the horse. I flipped, hit him with my leg, changed my rotation in the air and landed on …
Gem Hubbard is arguably one of the top Disability Lifestyle Creators in the UK with an international following for her “Wheels No Heels” channels. A medical mishap while a young girl left Gem fighting for her life in ICU. Waking from the induced coma, she was told that she was now paralyzed from the waist down. The …
Sophie Elwes is an international para athlete, peer mentor, adventurer and host of A Life Less Ordinary Podcast Given a 40% chance of surviving after a huge fall from a balcony, Sophie has built a life filled with excitement, adventure, service and love. In this episode we dive deep into self identity and what it took …
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Megan Blunk is a gold medal winning paraplegic wheelchair basketball star that speaks openly about her struggle with severe depression. This was one of those podcasts that went DEEP straight away. Megan is courageous, talented and determined to make a better life for herself and others who struggle with their mental health. If you or someone …
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Ben Clark, dove into the sea “Baywatch style” and discovered it was shallower than he expected. The impact broke his neck, resulting in paralysis from the chest down. Drawing on 10 years of experience as a professional swimmer, he was determined to get through his recovery with physical and mental strength. Through his social media …
South African paraplegic Alwyn Uys is a professional triathlete, entrepreneur and motivational speaker who knows how to train hard, focus his mind and achieve his goals. In this episode we unpack the accident that left him a wheelchair user, his daily routine, fitness hacks, and goals for the future. If you are interested in training …
Brandon Winfield is the founder of iaccesslife, a mobile app that allows people with disabilities to rate and review the accessibility of venues such as restaurants, lounges, clubs, and bars. Paralysed at 14 years old he’s had a rough ride. He meditates daily, and has worked on his mindset to shape the confident and successful man …
Robyn Lambird caught our attention with her wildly interesting fashion images on instagram. Born in the UK with Cerebral Palsy, she emigrated with her parents to Australia where she immersed herself into sport. Never afraid of being herself, she is disabled, queer and proud! Oh, and she’s a talented international athlete, social media influencer and style …
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At 20 years-old, Peruvian born Marcela Marañon survived a fatal car accident that killed her boyfriend that left her paralyzed and with a lower leg amputated. Living in the USA at the time and barely able to speak English she faced an ordeal of epic proportions. In this podcast we talk about how she managed …
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Alvaro Silverstein is the founder of Wheel The World, an adventure travel company helping to redefine adventure tourism for people with disabilities. We talk about: Growing up in Santiago Chile. The accident that left him with a broken neck. What helped him during his recovery and some of his life hacks. How he came to start …
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There aren’t many people with a goal to live to 109 years old, but Benveet Gill (Bean for short) has her sights firmly set on this and other lofty goals. Struck down by Transverse Myelitis and paralyzed from the waist down while on vacation with her friends when she was 30, Bean turned the worst …
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Listen now Katherine Beattie What do you get when you combine skate, BMX and motocross culture with a fiery redhead who was born with Cerebral Palsy? You get Katherine Beattie, the first women to do a backflip in a wheelchair and also an award winning Hollywood writer. These talents combined with an infectious personality have …
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If Reveca Torres could give just one piece of advice to her 13 year old self, she would tell her “don’t care what anyone else thinks of you, do what you want.” At age 30, that’s exactly what she’s doing, but it took her a while to come to this conclusion and it certainly wasn’t …
Listen now Reveca Torres Paralyzed in a car accident at age 13, Reveca thought her dreams of a career in art and fashion were over, but rolling in the footsteps of Mexican legend Frida Kahlo, Reveca has forged a career in the arts and is a pivotal figure in the disability rights movement in Chicago. …
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Growing up, Martyn Sibley was the only person with a disability at his primary school. Bullying was never really a problem because he made friends easily and some of them were big so no one messed with him. But there were times when the banter he enjoyed with his mates crossed the line. It was …
Listen now Sebastian Westin Paraplegic Sebastian Westin is a Swedish prankster, para bobsledder, wheelchair instructor, musician, YouTuber, and meditation advocate. Giving himself a year to overcome the depression which almost killed him, he moved to India where the unthinkable happened. This is his story. Subscribe here If you’d rather read than listen… Read Reveca’s story …
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Sebastian was just 23 years old when he quit his job, terminated his apartment lease and headed to India with a friend. The two of them spent their time backpacking, with nothing but a couple of pairs of underwear and a hammock on their backs. From monasteries, to guest houses, to pitching up the hammock …
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Alana Nichols was a born athlete. From the age of five she played as many sports as she could and by the time she reached her senior year at high school, Alana was well on track to receive a college scholarship to play softball. From hitting the softball pitch to hitting the slopes as a …
Bruno clung on tight as his friends piggy-backed his half paralyzed body down to the beach. They helped him onto a surfboard and cheered him on. Little did they know he wasn’t planning on returning. When he was far enough away from the shore, he disconnected the leash attached to board and rolled into the …
© 2022 Adaptdefy. All rights reserved. Adaptdefy, LapStacker, Adaptdefier, zip. clip. go, live the greater than life, are trade marks of Adaptdefy Limited.
If you choose to mount the Retractors from the lower horizontal frame tube you’ll receive two 90 Brackets (as seen below) – one for the left and one for the right side of your chair.
The Retractors slot onto these Brackets, which are then attached vertically to the Lower Horizontal Frame Tube using Clamps.
The Brackets have a tilt feature which allows you to adjust the angle of the Retractor so that it is parallel to the Keeper, for the smoothest operation.
The clamps are 16mm or ⅝” wide
The maximum distance from the centre of the Clamp to the centre of the Retractor webbing when mounted on the 90 Bracket is 70mm (3″).
Finally, it is worth noting that other attachments, such as brakes and side guard clamps can often be moved to accommodate the LapStacker® without compromising their function.
If this is the only option you’ve been given, it doesn’t look like it will work, or you’ve still got questions, then please contact us or your preferred reseller, and we’ll do our best to help.
If you choose to mount the Retractors from the front vertical frame tube you’ll receive two Flat Brackets (as seen below) – one for the left and one for the right side of your chair.
The Brackets have a single long slot and rotate feature, which provides plenty of adjustability so that you can align the Retractor webbing with the centre of the Keeper.
The clamps are 16mm or ⅝” wide.
The maximum distance from the centre of the Clamp to the centre of the Retractor webbing when mounted on the Flat Bracket is 105mm (4 1/8″).
If the front vertical frame tube is too far forward to allow the Retractor webbing to align with your optimal Keeper position, or you don’t think you’ll have clearance from your legs, you may need to consider other Retractor locations available for your make and model.
The Retractors themselves are 75mm wide by 50mm high or 3×2″
Finally, it is worth noting that other attachments, such as brakes and side guard clamps can often be moved to accommodate the LapStacker® without compromising their function.
If this is the only option you’ve been given and it doesn’t look like it will work, or you’ve still got questions, then please contact us, or your preferred reseller, and we’ll do our best to help.
If you choose to mount the Retractors from the cross frame rigidizer bar, you’ll receive two Cross Tube Brackets (as seen below) – one for the left and one for the right side of your chair. These are automatically selected with the Retractor location chosen.
The Retractors slot onto these Brackets, which are then attached to the cross frame rigidizer bar using clamps. The Retractors can be mounted above or below the Brackets depending on clearance.
In most cases the Retractor can attach to a Batec-style docking bar in the same way it mounts to the cross frame rigidizer bar.
In any case it is best you contact us, or your reseller, so we can help you determine if this is suitable and to confirm the correct clamp is ordered.
The Brackets have slots in them to allow plenty of adjustability so that you can align the Retractor webbing with the centre of the Keeper.
The maximum distance from the centre of the Clamp to the centre of the Retractor webbing when mounted on the Cross Tube Bracket is 90mm ( 3.5″).
Please note, there must be clearance from the back of your legs, so we suggest mounting the Bracket and Retractor back a little bit from the edge of your cushion.
The Brackets are best tilted slightly downward, so the Retractors don’t touch the seat when the chair is in use.
Finally, it is worth noting that other attachments, such as brakes and side guard clamps can often be moved to accommodate the LapStacker® without compromising their function.
If this is the only option you’ve been given, it doesn’t look like it will work, or you’ve still got questions, then please contact us, or your preferred reseller, and we’ll do our best to help.
If you choose to mount the Retractors from the frame top tube, you’ll receive two 90 Brackets (as seen below). One for the left and one for the right side of your chair.
The Retractors slot onto these Brackets, which are then attached to the top tube using clamps.
Depending on what clearance you have available, the Brackets can be mounted forward of the clamp (above) or behind the clamp (below) to ensure that the Retractor webbing can align with the optimal keeper position.
The Brackets have a tilt feature which allows you to adjust the angle of the Retractor so that it is parallel to the Keeper, for the smoothest operation.
The clamps are 16mm or ⅝” wide.
The maximum distance from the centre of the clamp to the centre of the Retractor webbing when mounted on the 90 Bracket is 70mm or 3″.
The Retractors themselves are 75mm wide by 50mm high or 3×2″
The Brackets are best mounted horizontally and tilted slightly downward, so the Retractors are tucked away and don’t touch the seat when the chair is in use.
It is very important to note that there must be clearance from the back of your legs, so we suggest mounting the Bracket and Retractor back a little bit from the edge of your cushion.
If this is the only option you’ve been given and it doesn’t look like it will work, or you’ve still got questions, then please contact us and we’ll do our best to assist.
The Side Guard Keeper is only recommended after the Long and Short Keepers have been exhausted as options.
The Side Guard Keeper is often used for wheelchairs with short frames or where the side guards are oversized or extend forward beyond the wheels.
The Side Guard Keeper mounts inside, or cushion side, of your side guards (otherwise known as the wheel guards or clothing guards). It is fixed in place using an adhesive patch.
It is not recommended for fabric side guards, although it can work there with some custom modification.
You MUST have a gap between the side guard and Frame Top Tube so that
the webbing from the Retractor can pass through to the Keeper.
The Side Guard Keeper could be an option when there is not enough space for a Long or Short Keeper and the side guard extends sufficiently forward of your body so that it comes close to the optimal Keeper position.
Some wheelchair makes such as the Hands on Concept range of chairs have oversized side guards and these are good examples of where a side guard can work.
You must have:
We recommend the Side Guard Keeper is located so it doesn’t sit higher than your cushion.
Remember, the Keeper must align with the Retractor webbing so please keep this in mind as you review the Retractor Location Guides.
If this is the only option you’ve been given and it doesn’t look like it will work, or you’ve still got questions, then please contact us, or your preferred reseller, and we’ll do our best to assist.
The Short Keeper attaches directly to the Frame Top Tube and is most commonly used for folding wheelchairs.
It may also be suitable for rigid wheelchairs that don’t have adequate space to Velcro a Long Keeper onto the seat base or webbing.
If you have a rigid chair, a Short Keeper can usually only be placed forward of the seat base which generally places the LapStacker® forward of the ideal position. Please bear this in mind.
The Short Keeper can be mounted to your wheelchair frame’s top tube in three ways.
If your wheelchair has a 1” or 25mm frame top tube, the Short Keeper will be supplied with a snap fitting that is simply pressed in place onto the tubing.
The Short Keeper is then fastened to the snap fitting and can be fine-tuned by sliding it forward and back, before tightening the bolt with the supplied allen key.
You’ll require 1” or 25mm of relatively flat clear space on the tubing for the snap fit mount and 55mm or 2 3/16” for the Short Keeper itself.
If your wheelchair has a frame top tube diameter that is any size other than 1” or 25mm then a universal mount will be supplied.
The universal mount attaches via two supplied cable ties and requires 1 ⅜” or 35mm of relatively flat space on the frame top tubing to be mounted effectively.
Again, the position of the Short Keeper can then be fine tuned by sliding it forward and back on the universal mount.
The Short Keeper can also be mounted directly to the tubing without the snap fit or universal mount using the supplied cable ties and rubber pad.
There are three common scenarios where the Short Keeper is used.
The first scenario is for folding wheelchairs (as below) that have a separate seat frame that moves up and down as it folds.
In this scenario the Short Keeper fixes to the frame top tube, not the seat frame, so that when the seat frame moves up and down the Short Keeper does not move.
If you have a folding wheelchair that doesn’t have a separate seat frame that moves up and down independently of the main frame, then the Long Keeper may be the better option for you.
When there is not enough space to Velcro a Long Keeper to the solid or upholstery seat base, a Short Keeper can be mounted forward of your seat base provided there is enough flat area of tubing to mount it.
Please refer to the three mounting options above to determine if you have enough space to mount the Short Keeper in this position.
It is important to note, that in all cases where the Short Keeper is mounted forward of the seat base, the Retractors should NOT be located horizontally off the frame top tube or cross frame rigidizer bar as they will be in the way of your legs.
In this case, the Retractors will need to be mounted from the lower horizontal frame tube or the front vertical frame tube if these options are available for your chair.
More about these locations is provided in the Retractor Location Guides.
If you use your frame top tube as a hand hold for transfers then you may want to consider how much space you will have available after mounting the Short Keeper, remembering that it is 55mm (2 3/16”) wide.
If there is insufficient space on top, you may consider mounting the Short Keeper directly under the top tube (as shown above) to give you more clearance.
The Short Keeper may be suitable for rigid wheelchairs that use a strap/belt system for their seat base, particularly when there are doubts about aligning the Long Keeper up with these straps, or the surface area available to fix the adhesive velcro.
Remember, the Keeper must align with the Retractor webbing so you may have to come back to the Keeper guides to double check your choice after you’ve reviewed the Retractor Location Guides.
Unless asked, you do not have to know the frame top tube diameter of your wheelchair as this is automatically selected for you based on your make and model.
If this is the only option you’ve been given, it doesn’t look like it will work, or you’ve still got questions, then please contact us or your preferred reseller, and we’ll do our best to help.
The Long Keeper is almost exclusively used for rigid wheelchairs and gives the greatest amount of adjustment. It is robust, and simple to install
Do you have this room available? Will the location of the Keeper be close to your optimal position? If so, then the Long Keeper could work for you.
The Long Keeper attaches to the rigid or upholstery seat base, using adhesive Velcro which is provided.
It is worth noting that an upholstery seat base or strap system often has velcro sewn into it already and this can be used in addition to the Velcro provided.
If you have a strap system for your seat base, then you will need to determine if there is a strap close enough to your optimal Keeper position to velcro or tape the Long Keeper to.
You may be able to move the straps so that they are inline with your preferred Keeper position and if a strap already has Velcro on it, you may be able to use this in addition to the velcro supplied.
If the strap can’t be moved or you’re not sure you can stick the Long Keeper to it, then selecting the Short Keeper (shown below), which attaches directly to the top frame tube of your wheelchair, may be a better option. You can learn more in the Short Keeper Guide.
If you have a folding wheelchair with a rising seat frame the Long Keeper won’t be suitable and a Short Keeper will be a better option.
The other factor that is important is making sure the webbing from the Retractor lines up with the optimal Keeper position.
If this is the only option you’ve been given, it doesn’t look like it will work, or you’ve still got questions, then please contact us or your preferred reseller, and we’ll do our best to help.
While in your wheelchair look down at your side and imagine using the LapStacker® to secure an item. Find the midpoint for this object and take a note of where this position is on your wheelchair frame’s top tube.
Ideally, the Keepers are positioned central to where you will carry items, but the LapStacker® will still work if forward or back of this point.
It is important to note that the Keeper needs to be in a position where the webbing from the Retractor can pass freely up into the Keeper and they also need to be aligned.
Each Keeper style has its own Guide which will help you determine its suitability. Please review these guides in the next step of the selection process.
If, for some reason, none of the Keeper options look like they will work for you, or you’re unsure of something, then please feel free to contact us, or your preferred reseller, and we’ll do our best to help.
Every LapStacker® Set has two Retractors (seen below) – one for each side of your wheelchair. These contain the tensioned strap and locking mechanism.
Depending on your wheelchair make and model, you’ll be given a number of options for where the Retractors can be mounted.
These locations include the frame top tube, the cross frame rigidizer bar, the front vertical frame tube, and lastly, the lower horizontal frame tube which is common on folding chairs and dual tube rigid wheelchairs.
The Retractors mount to the wheelchair frame using a specific Clamp and Bracket (there are many types, including the 90 Bracket and 1″ Clamp seen below).
These are both automatically selected once your preferred Retractor mounting location is chosen.
They are made from high quality and lightweight aluminium, with a stylish anodized finish.
The Buckles attach to the Retractor straps. They use high strength magnets to guide the two sides together, then lock mechanically as the straps tighten.
They are precision machined from aircraft grade aluminium for strength and anodized for a stylish finish.
The Buckles are held in place by your side using Keepers.
We’ve designed three styles of Keeper and you’ll be asked to choose one from the available options for your chair.
The Long Keeper velcros to the wheelchair seat upholstery, or rigid seat base.
The Short Keeper connects directly to the frame top tube.
The Side Guard Keeper mounts on the cushion side of a wheelchair’s side guards
Adaptdefy Ltd. is a VAT registered company; therefore purchases from customers within the EU are subject to UK Value Added Tax (VAT) at 20%.
You will be eligible for exemption from VAT, however, if you meet one of the following criteria:
You will not normally be eligible for exemption from VAT if:
By entering your name and/or disability in the checkout you are making a written declaration that you are eligible for VAT exemption. Adaptdefy Ltd. will hold your details alongside your declaration in case of a query by the UK Tax Office (HMRC). You do not need to prove your eligibility at point of purchase, but may be required to do so by HMRC at a future date.
If you are not eligible for VAT exemption please leave the VAT exemption fields blank. VAT at 20% will automatically be added to orders within the UK or European Union.
