Stair Assist

What You Do

To Assist a Driver on stairs, it is important the assistant keeps a few things in mind:

• Make sure you have been trained on Stair Assist by Independence Technology
• Maintain both hands on the assist handle. Letting go will cause the device to fall either forwards or backwards when on the stairs.
• Keep your feet in a stable position when you are rotating the clusters. A side straddle position with one foot one step higher than the other is recommended.
• Technique vs. strength- Control the cluster by slow and controlled input on the assist handle. Do not try to use strength to pull or push the device up/down the stairs.

Going Up Stairs

Before you begin, check the stairs. Remove items from carrying hooks. Handrails are not required for Assisted Stair Climbing.

Using 4-Wheel Function, drive setting one, have the Driver maneuver the product towards the bottom step, leaving both rear wheels one inch from the riser.

The driver then selects and confirms Stair Function.

To activate Stair Function, the assistant must press and release the assist button on the backrest within ten seconds after the Driver selects and OKs Stair Function. If the button is nor pressed within this timeframe, the device will return to 4-Wheel Function.Ask the Driver to tilt the seat all the way back. Once the seat is tilted all the way back the wheels are free to roll.

While maintaining a two handed grasp on the assist handle, use the assist handle to pull the rear wheels against the rise of the step. Once snug, use the assist handle to tilt the seat back and slowly shift the product’s center of gravity.

The clusters will rotate in response to your tilting the seat back. As the clusters rotate to the point where one wheel is nearly on top of the other, shift the product’s center of gravity forward by tilting the seat slightly forward. Tilting the seat forward will slow the clusters while they complete the rotation, with the wheels landing softly on the next step.

On the last step, when the rear wheels are on the landing, use the assist handle to slowly pull straight back, not down, to roll the front wheels onto the landing. Continue to pull straight back and roll the product 6 inches away from the edge of the landing and the 4-Wheel Function icon is displayed.

The driver then presses the OK button and backs away from the stairs.

Going Down Stairs

Before you begin,check stairs. Remove items from carrying hooks. Handrails are not required for Assisted Stair Climbing.

Using 4-Wheel Function, drive setting one, maneuver the product towards the stairs, stopping when both front drive wheels are at least 6 – 8 inches from the edge of the top landing.

The Driver selects and confirms Stair Function.

To activate Stair Function, the Assistant must press and release the assist button on the backrest within 10 seconds after the Driver selects and OKs Stair Function. If the button is nor pressed within this timeframe, the device will return to 4-Wheel Function.

Ask the driver to tilt the seat all the way back. Once the seat is tilted all the way back the wheels are free to roll.

While maintaining a two handed grasp on the assist handle, assist the driver down the first step by pushing the product slowly forward. Allow the front wheels to roll off the landing so that they are on the step while the rear wheels remain on the landing.

To assist down the next steps, shift the Driver’s center of gravity forward by using the assist handle to tilt the seat forward. The clusters will rotate in response to your forward tilt. As the clusters rotate to the point where one wheel is nearly on top of the other, shift the Driver’s center of gravity back by using the assist handle to tilt the seat back. Tilting the seat back will slow the clusters while they complete the rotation, with the wheels landing softly on the next step.

Coming off the last step to the ground is a bit different than going down other steps. The cluster does not have as long a rotation before the front wheel lands on the ground. To prevent a bounce when landing on the ground, slow the cluster rotation.

When you have finished descending the stairs, all four wheels will be on the ground. Continue to hold the assist handle.

Ask the Driver to select and OK 4-Wheel Function.