LAKEPORT >> For those who use a powered wheelchair in Lake County a mechanical breakdown can be costly and time consuming since there are no retail shops in county which sell the devices and that means obtaining the services of a
shop in Mendocino or Napa County.
Mark and Susan Rothrock have been operating Lake County Mobility Service in Lake County for the prior 10 years. The business focuses on replacing wheels and batteries yet can do additional repairs. In a phone conversation Susan Rothrock discussed the precarious ledge many wheelchair users totter upon to obtain affordable repairs completed and in
an expedited manner. Susan noted that Mark does not advertise his services it is mostly promoted by word-of-mouth or
disseminated though distributing business cards.
“He’s a veteran and some clients are veterans but he’ll repair anybody’s wheel chair,” she said. “Sometimes it’s just a matter of replacing the wiring.” However, Susan pointed out that for many residents, they must rely upon a retail seller of powered wheelchair shops located in Mendocino or Napa County to complete maintenance since there are no retailers located here. “If you need a repair, you’ll have to pay $200 for a mechanic to drive out to Lake County and in addition could pay several hundred dollars more for parts and labor.” That can be an extravagance for residents of a rural county.
Yet a proposal by State Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) would grant wheelchair users the right to have their own equipment repaired, eliminating manufacturer delays that could leave them immobilized while reducing costs to one of California’s most vulnerable populations was put forward last spring. “My bill enhances quality of life for people with mobility issues,” Sen. Dodd explained in a Senate District 3 newsletter. “It allows power wheelchair users to get them fixed in an efficient and timely manner when things go wrong. And it prevents manufacturers from imposing onerous repair restrictions, ensuring those who rely on wheelchairs are back up and running as soon as possible.”
Colorado led the country as the first state in the nation to confront the issue, adopting a right-to-repair law that granted wheelchair owners and independent shops access to parts, manufacturer software, specialized tools and other items needed to ensure affordable wheelchair repair in 2022. Manufacturers could be cited for failing to comply.
Sen. Dodd’s bill w provide the same right to repair for California wheelchair users. SB 271, which is supported by advocates including Sacramento disability rights activist and wheelchair user Russell Rawlings, was approved by the Senate in May.
“If you have a power chair and are using it daily, it needs regular maintenance,” Rawlings was reported to have said by Dodd’s newsletter. “But the industry as it stands has very little interest in making repairs. There can be months if not longer of wait time. And power chairs are increasingly controlled by software that is currently restricted to a small number of vendors. Owners having access to these tools would enable more freedom and ability to control their mobility experiences.”
Nonetheless, according to the state’s Legislative Information website, the bill was vetoed by the Governor on October 7, and went to the Senate for a, consideration of Governor’s veto pending. “Yet the Senate could override the veto, so there may be a shred of hope there,” Betsy Cawn, sole proprietor The Essential Public Information Center as well as a program host at KPFZ, 88.1 FM, Lake County. She went on to state that last month’s State Senate Floor Analysis explained consumer rights advocates lobbied to have consumers to repair products they own or enlist a repair professional to do it. But regarding wheelchairs, manufacturers of powered wheelchairs, are not now required to furnish data, replacement parts to consumers.
She also noted that a Sept. 14, 2023, State Senate Floor Analyses, included these clarifications:
The issue has been taken up with U.S. Fair Repair Act. In early 2022, President Joe Biden noted the problem, stating that
“If you own a product, from a smartphone to a tractor, you don’t have the freedom to choose how or where to repair that
item you purchased,” he said.
“As you can imagine, given the increasing needs for older adult services, (explained by Lake Co. Dept. of Social Services director, Crystal Markytan, in a June 15, 2023 budget hearing by the BOS) many unavailable services create extreme hardships for the disabled population here and in all poor rural counties,” Cawn said.
Then, responding to the Record-Bee’s inquiry, if SB 271 is ‘an empty gesture’ that will not significantly benefit them,’
Cawn answered, “I would have to say that the issue of local repair for life sustaining medical equipment is one of many the Governor appears to pay lip service to, as illustrated by the 2021 “Master Plan for Aging.”
Olga Steele, co-founder of Lake County Silver Foundation, noted with a growing number of seniors locally, anything that lessens hardship repairing mobility devises is a welcome improvement. “While insurance, private and Medicare, may cover some expenses, the repair of mobility assistance equipment should be permitted – especially when there are local, less expensive options,” she said. I applaud Senator Dodd’s efforts to improve the quality of living for seniors everywhere.”
