The Hailing District Disabled Persons' Federation in Taizhou has established 13 shared wheelchair points throughout the district as of Sept 4, offering free wheelchairs to individuals in need.
Four shared wheelchairs are placed at a shared point in the Hailing district. [Photo/Hailing District Integrated Media Center]
Fifty-two wheelchairs have been used in the district, with four available at each shared point. Users can scan the QR code with their WeChat and unlock the wheelchair after paying a deposit.
After use, the wheelchair should be returned to the point and folded. The returning process is completed by locking it into the slot as required.
According to the previous research, the federation considered factors such as location, target users, and convenience for the public. As a result, the first batch of shared wheelchair points has been set up at the district's Comprehensive Service Center for Disabled Persons, the Administrative Service Center, the former site of Subei Party School of the Communist Party of China, and the convenience service centers in 10 towns and sub-districts.
The next step will be to expand the types of shared assistive devices based on public demand, and more free shared points will be set up throughout the district, offering better services for individuals with disabilities, according to a relevant official from the federation.