Paul Addison is an expert when it comes to using powered wheelchairs.

The 59 year-old has cerebral palsy after suffering a blood clot at birth, and has had multiple powered chairs over the past 20 years to help him get around Auckland. “I like to be independent to do the travelling by myself,” he explains.

Cubro recently supplied Paul with an Alltrack HD3 mid-wheel drive bariatric extra heavy duty power wheelchair. It’s versatile for indoor and outdoor use, and is purpose-built for the unique needs of larger users offering comfort, performance and capability.

“It’s my fifth power wheelchair since 2003 so I've named it Johnny 5 Alive after the Short Circuit movie,” Paul says.

“I love travelling in my new chair. I actually went to Ellerslie from Sandringham just for fish and chips and only ran out of power after 8.5 hours of driving!”

Paul says Cubro’s Solutions Specialist, Henry Bertulfo, was extremely helpful in making sure he could access the best chair available for his needs. Paul is one of the first New Zealanders to receive this particular chair which offers users a number of benefits.

“Sitting on a chair too long gives me pressure sores. So it is handy that my new power wheelchair tilts to adjust my bottom to take that pressure off.” The Alltrack HD3 features 45˚of VHD tilt, 160˚ of VHD power recline, plus a centre mount elevating and articulating foot platform.

Dual-action suspension provides excellent comfort and stability, and Paul says it’s “marvellous” at accommodating his body weight.

The high performance motor allows Paul to navigate the streets of Auckland at up to 9km/hour and the chair is very maneuverable indoors, with a compact turning radius of 520mm.

With freedom at his fingertips, the only mobility problem left for Paul to now worry about is hazards on footpaths like parked cars, scooters, bikes and potholes. “I think my job is to take ‘Snap Send Solve’ photos to Auckland Transport and I get results!”

We also spoke with Henry, our Wheelchair and Seating Solutions Specialist, who collaborated closely with Paul and his therapist.

Henry shared, “I have had the pleasure of working with Paul in a previous role some years ago.” When Paul’s therapist reached out to discuss a potential power wheelchair solution, it was important to consider how he has changed and what seating solution would best suit his current needs.

Paul is highly knowledgeable about power wheelchairs. The key requirements for his chair were that it needed to be robust, heavy-duty, and provide a very stable platform. Paul is solidly built and tall at 6 foot. “I recommended the Alltrack HD3 to take advantage of the chair’s heavy-duty frame and actuators, including seat tilt and leg elevation, and most importantly, its wider wheelbase for enhanced stability.”

To find out more about our range of power wheelchairs, please get in touch with our team.

Cubro case studies are based on actual testimonials provided by real customers and users of our solutions.  In some testimonials to protect the identity of the users, we have changed a name and used a stock photo. Our case studies describe our past work with customers and users, and detail solutions that have improved their quality of life. As each individual user has a unique set of needs and requirements, the content in these case studies should not be used as a substitute for professional advice from a registered clinician.