Automatic Door Opener
There are a lot of great new innovations making life easier for disabled people today. However, the best innovations recently have been the smaller items which for a long time went overlooked. Right now, my favorite new tool is an electric lock for an automatic door opener.
Having an automatic door opener means that you can easily go through any door without having to wheel yourself around like you are performing a handicap ballet. I opted for the remote control option for operating the door because it cuts down on having to go from push plate to the door's entranceway. The design of my home would have made this very complicated.
While the automatic door opener cut down on some hassles, there were still a few convenience issues with my front door. For some reason, my contractor decided to give me a front door which opens outwards to allow for more access room inside of my house. However, this created a major annoyance.
Every time I left the house, I would have to wheel myself a few meters ahead and let the automatic door opener shut. This brought me pretty close to the slope of my ramp. Once the door was shut, I would have to turn around in the limited space so I could lock the door. This whole issue could have been avoided with some better planning while installing the automatic door opener and handicap ramp. However, getting the electric door lock solved the problem in about two minutes flat.
An electric door opener works in the same way that your automatic door opener does. Every time I used the remote control, the electric lock would automatically unlock the door. Then, after I had gone through the door and it had shut, the door would automatically lock. This saved me from having to wheel around to lock it myself. I'm sure a lot of people could benefit from this great independent living device.
At around $250, the electric door openers aren't exactly cheap. However, you buy them once and they last forever. It also reduces your whole "Did I lock the door when I left?" fear. If you happen to forget your remote or transmitter, then you can open door with a regular key.
There are some other really cool accessories for automatic door openers too. There is also a keyless entry companion to an automatic door opener. It basically looks like a security pad and works the same way. You just type in your code number and the door opens. What is nice is that only people who know the code can enter. Plus, the keyless entry system can be wireless or wired. At about $100, it is a pretty good deal, especially considering that regular security pads cost about the same.
I know that these aren't exactly the most amazing innovations in independent living products but it is really nice that someone is focusing on the small things as well as the large issues too.
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