Do you know how much a manual wheelchair costs? Not the kind you buy from the Sears catalogue when you break your leg and need someone to push you around for six weeks. I'm talking about the kind that a paraplegic might need, that offers the correct ergonomic support and fits the lifestyle of the person who will rely on it for years.
My friend Heather uses a manual wheelchair. When she purchased it three years ago, it cost $6,000. The same chair today has a price tag of almost $9,000. You can buy a brand new car for a comparable price! Heather would love to purchase a push-assist chair, which would make travelling up grades and over carpet easier. But with a price tag of $10,000-14,000, these chairs are out of her reach. Out of reach for a lot of people, I suspect.
Or, how about this: Do you know how much hearing aids cost? The type of hearing aids I need run at about $3,000. Each. I'm fortunate to have a good job with a solid benefit plan. But that plan will reimburse a maximum of $500 -- once every three years -- on hearing aid purchases. That's a drop in the bucket on a $6,000 expense. Even with a good job, I can't afford $5500 for hearing aids -- and, so, I bumble along without them.
Having a disability in Canada can be expensive. While big-ticket items can make you stop in your tracks (or put the brakes on your wheelchair), smaller expenses can really add up over the long term.
To read more on this story, click here: These Are The Hidden Costs Of Living With A Disability
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