overall: 75.3 cm x 74 cm x 90 cm; 29 21/32 in x 29 1/8 in x 35 7/16 in
crate: 41 in x 48 in x 37 1/2 in; 104.14 cm x 121.92 cm x 95.25 cm
Object Name:
Wheelchair
Date made:
1980s
Description:
The history of disability is represented in the museum's collections by a range of artifacts, such as prosthetics, rehabilitation equipment, splints, crutches, and canes, Braille writers, hearing aids, wheelchairs, assistive devices and disability rights-related artifacts.
This yellow sports wheelchair, donated by its creator, Marilyn Hamilton, was one of the first "ultralight" designs. Inspired by the aircraft industry, ultralights used lightweight aluminum (Hamilton was a hang-gliding enthusiast) and improved maneuverability in ways that revolutionized mobility for wheelchair users in the early 1980s. Hamilton used this chair as a tennis champion and went on to found Quickie wheelchair company.
