Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see your pediatric wheelchairs and pediatric strollers to try them out?
Many of our authorized dealers have one or more sample wheelchairs at their locations or they can help you find one. Please Click Here if you want us to mail you a color brochure on the wheelchairs you are interested in. Or click on View/Print a Brochure to download a PDF version of the brochure needed.
You are always welcome to come visit us for a guided tour of our manufacturing facility at our headquarters in Torrance, CA.
Where can I purchase your lightweight wheelchair?
You can purchase one of our wheelchairs from any one of our authorized dealers in the United States and Canada. The dealers have technicians to assist you in selecting and ordering the proper size and model of chair to meet your specific needs. They may also be able to advise you on funding sources in your area. Outside the US, Convaid uses authorized distributors in several foreign countries. You can always call your Customer Service Representative at 1-844 US MOBILITY (844-876-6245) for assistance. They will recommend the best way for you to begin your purchase.
How long will it take for my new Convaid lightweight wheelchair to arrive?
Every Convaid product is custom-built to order for each specific individual. Due to the fact that we offer such a wide variety of colors, options and accessories to customize your chair, it normally takes 3-7 business days to outfit the chair with the selected accessories and package it for shipment via UPS Ground. Any custom modification or requested change from our Order Form will usually require extra time of up to six weeks. You will be given an estimated delivery time upon ordering.
Can I rent a folding portable wheelchair?
Convaid dealers may have demo chairs or sample chairs for rent to customers. Contact your local dealer to find out if there is a rental program in your area.
Where can I purchase or rent a used or discounted lightweight wheelchair?
Please contact us direct to see if we have any in stock. Convaid dealers also have demo wheelchairs or sample chairs that they rent or sell at a discount. Contact your local dealer to find out if there are any rentals or discounts available on the chair you want.
Can you send me a catalog of Convaid’s variety of mobility aids?
Please call 1-844 US MOBILITY (844-876-6245) or click here. Each brochure contains the complete specifications, including weight and dimensions, for each size chair of that model. To view a brochure immediately, click on View/Print a Brochure to download a PDF version of the required brochure.
Which manual wheelchair should I obtain? Should I purchase an adult or pediatric wheelchair?
Please contact us and our Customer Service Representatives, who are familiar with all the Convaid products, might be able to help you. Our customer Service Representatives are not therapists or physicians and can only recommend our products based on their basic knowledge and the information you provide.
Describe the type of person who is most likely to order a particular chair, including age, height, weight and limitations.
Please look at our Help Me Choose page for more information.
What is the warranty on Convaid wheelchairs?
The warranty in the U.S. and Canada covers any part of a Convaid product that is found to be defective within the warranty period. Convaid will repair or replace these parts free of charge. Warranty service may be performed by an authorized service center or at the Convaid factory at Convaid’s option. The warranty goes to the original retail purchaser of the Convaid product.
Warranty Period in the U.S. and Canada:
- Frame and Cross-Braces: Lifetime of original retail buyer (except Cruiser, Lite Rider and Vivo)
- Frame and Cross-Braces for Cruiser, Lite Rider and Vivo: 5 years
- Other Components: One year
- Fabric and webbing: One year
- Sensiform Cushions: 2 years
- Planar Seat and Back: 5 years hardware, 18 months for other components
- Occ-Flex Cushioned Headrest: 5 years hardware, 1 year for other components
The warranty on Convaid products may vary in other countries.
Do you have a basket that fits on the wheelchair?
Yes, most models offer a mesh under seat storage basket or utility bag . Call Customer Service to order now.
When should I choose solid tires and when would pneumatic tires be better?
Solid tires come standard on all Convaid wheelchairs. They are low maintenance and durable which makes them great for regular use. Pneumatic tires offer a smoother ride and are preferable for traveling over rough roads or uneven pavement. To keep pneumatic tires properly inflated, it may be necessary to pump them up with a tire pump or bicycle pump approximately once a week.
Does Convaid offer adult wheelchairs?
Yes, many of Convaid’s products come in sizes that go up to 16 or 18 inches wide. Learn More
Our family travels extensively, are your mobility aids easy to travel with?
Yes, absolutely! Our wheelchairs are designed with the family’s convenience in mind. Our folding portable wheelchairs are easy to stow aboard airplanes, trains and busses; and maneuver easily aboard cruise ships. They are lightweight, convenient and compact-folding.
For additional travel tips, check out Travel Tips Section on our Resource Page .
How do I become a dealer of Convaid mobility aids?
Please contact out Customer Service Department at1-844 US MOBILITY (844-876-6245) for more information about the requirements.
Is it safe to use my Convaid folding portable wheelchair on a school bus or van?
Yes, as long as it is a WC19 compliant transit wheelchair. Convaid Transit wheelchairs come equipped with 4 bright red anchors on the wheelchair legs to use with tie downs on a van or bus. Most Transit wheelchairs also have a headrest extension and padded shoulder harness as standard equipment.
What is a “WC19 Compliant” transit wheelchair?
WC19 is a standard developed by the wheelchair industry and transportation safety experts, which sets out certain minimum performance criteria for wheelchairs used as seating aboard a motor vehicle. This criteria includes design and performance guidelines to protect the safety of wheelchair occupants in the event of a crash.
My current Convaid wheelchair is not a transit wheelchair; can I convert it to a transit wheelchair?
Yes, Convaid will retrofit any Convaid standard model wheelchair (except models which the transit option is not available), with the necessary transit equipment for up to one year after purchase at the current retrofit price. The wheelchair and original purchase documentation must be sent to Convaid for an authorized retrofit.
Please call Customer Service at 844 US MOBILITY (844-876-6245) to learn more.
What is WC19?
WC19 is a standard developed by the wheelchair industry and transportation safety experts, which sets out certain minimum performance criteria for wheelchairs used as seating aboard a motor vehicle. This criteria includes design, test procedures, and performance guidelines to protect the safety of wheelchair occupants in the event of a crash.
In compliance with WC19 crash-test requirements, Convaid’s transit wheelchairs are dynamically tested at 30 mph/20 g deceleration. What if the bus or van travels faster than 30 mph?
The designation “30 mph/20 g deceleration” refers to the change in vehicle speed during an accident, not to the speed of the vehicle prior to the accident. A crash test at 30 mph/20 g deceleration represents a crash severity in the 95th-percentile, that is, 95% of real-world accidents involving passenger cars, minivans, and sport utility vehicles. For buses, a 30 mph/20 g deceleration change in speed is even less likely, but WC19 requires that products be tested for this worst-case scenario with the understanding that relatively few real-world accidents will be as severe. The analogy of the 30mph crash test is “like hitting a cement wall in an automobile head-on at 30mph without braking and the wall doesn’t break or move”.
Can my child be transported in a tilt-in-space chair with the chair in a tilted position?
It is safest for the wheelchair to be transported in an upright position. However, if for medical reasons your child must ride in a tilted position, he or she may do so provided that the seat back is within 30° of vertical. The seat back is designed to remain in a locked position during a motor vehicle accident. Convaid’s tilt-in-space transit wheelchairs, the Safari and the Rodeo, have been successfully crash tested in a tilted position.
Can I retrofit my non-transit wheelchair for WC19 compliance?
Convaid will retrofit any Convaid standard model wheelchair (excepting those models for which the transit option is not available), with the necessary transit equipment for up to one year after purchase at the current retrofit price. The wheelchair and original purchase documentation must be sent to Convaid for an authorized retrofit.
Why do I need to use a three-point occupant restraint on the vehicle if my child’s wheelchair has its own positioning belts?
The seatbelts and other positioning devices that may be used on your wheelchair during non-transit use are not the same as the occupant restraints used to keep your child secure in the event of a motor vehicle accident. The bus or van driver must employ the 3-point occupant restraint system, which secures the occupant in the wheelchair, in order for your child to be safe. Wheelchair positioning belts and devices will not protect your child in the event of a motor vehicle accident.
I was told that strollers are not suitable for transport aboard a motor vehicle. Is my Convaid chair considered a stroller?
Although Convaid transit wheelchairs benefit from some of the design features of strollers, they are not strollers, but lightweight, compact-folding wheelchairs. Convaid transit wheelchairs have been dynamically crash tested and certified to meet or exceed the most stringent WC/19 standards. If you have any questions about Convaid transit wheelchairs or would like copies of crash-test results, please contact our toll-free Bus Info Line at 1-844 US MOBILITY (844-876-6245), ext. 287.
Will the design features that go into making a transit wheelchair conflict with the other features and functions of my wheelchair?
Convaid’s transit wheelchairs do not sacrifice any of the functions of standard models. The features that give the wheelchair improved dynamic strength are essentially invisible to the user, except for the four red anchor points located on the wheelchair’s legs and used to tie down the wheelchair. Ordering a Convaid transit wheelchair means that you will not need to purchase an additional car seat for the bus or van.
Are wheelchair user weight limits on the transit wheelchairs the same as on the standard models?
No. In some cases, transit wheelchair models were dynamically tested with weights somewhat less than the standard model limit. To request a brochure detailing this information, please contact our Literature Request Line at 1-844 US MOBILITY (844-876-6245) , ext. 203, or our toll-free Bus Info Line at ext. 287
Can I use a seat or back cushion on my child’s transit wheelchair? How about a seating system?
Convaid-manufactured seat and back cushions have been dynamically crash tested and may be used on your Convaid transit wheelchair. Only seating systems that have been dynamically tested and therefore are WC19 compliant should be used. Please contact Customer Service at 1-844 US MOBILITY (844-876-6245) for further information.
My Convaid wheelchair does not have red anchors. Is it safe to use as seating aboard a motor vehicle?
All Convaid transit wheelchairs have red anchors located on the frame of the wheelchair. Do not use your wheelchair as seating in a motor vehicle unless it is equipped with these anchors. (Please see question #5.)
I have been advised that anchor points on a transit wheelchair should be welded onto the frame. Are Convaid’s bolted anchors safe to use?
Convaid’s transit wheelchair anchor points are secured to the frame with “hardened bolts.” Hardened bolts tightened with the proper torque are actually stronger than welded parts. Convaid’s transit wheelchair anchor points have been attached properly and meet or exceed WC19 minimums in dynamic testing. It is vital that the hardened bolts attaching the anchor points not be adjusted. Tightening or loosening the bolts may make them less secure. If you have any questions about Convaid transit wheelchairs or would like copies of crash-test results, please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-844 US MOBILITY (844-876-6245).
Will my Convaid transit wheelchair need to be replaced in the event of an accident or sudden stop?
Not necessarily. However, our technicians at Convaid will need to determine which parts, if any, need to be repaired or replaced after a transit wheelchair has been in a motor vehicle accident. Convaid’s repair warranty will apply in case of accident provided that the wheelchair is shipped to Convaid by the original user accompanied by a copy of the police accident report documenting that the wheelchair was in a motor vehicle accident.
Is it okay to make modifications to a transit wheelchair?
Any significant modifications to your transit wheelchair should be made by Convaid. Any modification to a transit wheelchair’s frame, parts, or accessories renders Convaid’s warranty null and void. If other than Convaid or Convaid-approved accessories are used or if the wheelchair is used in manner other than that for which it was intended, the warranty will be rendered null and void. Furthermore, any modification to a transit wheelchair’s frame, parts, or accessories may place your child at risk of injury in the event of a motor vehicle accident.
Can I transport my transit wheelchair with the optional tray in place?
No. Remove any wheelchair-mounted accessories, such as trays and respiratory equipment, and secure them elsewhere in the vehicle. Be sure that they are secured sufficiently that they will not break free and injure the wheelchair user or other motor vehicle occupants in the event of an accident.
If I already have a wheelchair, will I be able to get a secondary stroller funded?
It depends. When submitting for funding, it is important to keep several elements in mind. Convaid wheelchairs are classified by the Federal Government as “wheelchairs”. In your request for funding and medical justification, it is very important to use the correct classification “wheelchair” and NOT the word “stroller”. It must be described as a Medical Device wheelchair, which provides clinical, therapeutic, benefits.
All state and private funding insurance programs require justification for a wheelchair, whether the patient already has a wheelchair or not. When justifying the need for a mobility device, it is important NOT to use the terms “primary” and “secondary”. Each device serves different clinical and safety needs.
Examples of justification for getting a second wheelchair might include:
- The patient’s wheelchair is a power chair and he needs a manual backup chair for when the power chair is inoperable or cannot be used in the environment.
- The patient cannot be safely transported in a motor vehicle while seated in his wheelchair, and he cannot safely transfer or sit in the vehicle seat for transportation to medical appointments, work, school, or other activities in the community.
- The patient’s wheelchair cannot fit in the trunk of the car and the family does not have an accessible vehicle.
- The patient lives in an upper level house or apartment and his wheelchair is too heavy or bulky to safely be carried up the stairs. He will need a lighter weight wheelchair to be able to carry it upstairs to access his home environment.
What funding sources are available to purchase my wheelchair?
In the U.S. there are various funding sources for purchasing your manual wheelchair.
- Medicaid, SCHIP, Medicare and other government insurance plans or programs
- MedWaiver
- Private Insurance (HMO, PPO, etc.)
- Early intervention programs
If no coverage is available, there are alternative funding options, which vary widely by state and community, such as:
- Community Groups (such as Rotary clubs, Lions, etc.)
- Non-Profit Organizations (such as MDA, MS Society, etc.)
Many families also use options like:
- Fund-A-Chair
- Bake Sales, Auctions, local fundraisers, etc
- Financing (Coming Soon from Convaid)
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a health program for eligible low-income parents, children, seniors, and people with disabilities. It is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states, with each state having its own set of guidelines for eligibility. Medicaid programs vary from state to state, but all states are required to offer a comprehensive set of services to meet Federal requirements for coverage of children’s health care (from birth to age 21) under their program called Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT). Please refer to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidGenInfo/ for more detailed information.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is the federally funded medical plan for Americans age 65 and over that covers medical expenses such as doctor’s visits, hospital stays, drugs and other treatment. It is also an important source for funding wheelchairs and other durable medical equipment. (DME)
Medicare Part B is the part of Medicare that pays for wheelchairs. When it comes to your wheelchair, consumers and rehabilitation technology suppliers must deal with the Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier that serves your state.
What is SCHIP?
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is a program which provides health insurance to uninsured children in families that have an income to high to qualify for Medicaid. This program is funded by the federal government who provides matching funds to each state.
What is Medicaid Waiver Program?
A Medicaid Waiver Program covers services not usually covered by Medicaid, which may include medical equipment. These programs are available in many states and typically are targeted to specific disability or age populations.
States may offer a variety of services to consumers under an HCBS waiver program (Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers and the number of services that can be provided is not limited. (HCBS Waivers allow states that participate in Medicaid, to develop creative alternatives for individuals who would otherwise require care in a nursing facility or hospital.) These programs may provide a combination of both traditional medical services (i.e. dental services, skilled nursing services) as well as non-medical services (i.e. respite, case management, environmental modifications).
States have the discretion to choose the number of consumers to serve in a HCBS waiver program. Once approved by Centers for Medicare/Medicaid (CMS), a state is held to the number of persons estimated in its application but has the flexibility to serve greater or fewer numbers of consumers by submitting an amendment to CMS for approval.
The Federal government cannot determine eligibility for Medicaid, including waiver and demonstration projects. Each state has its own process and criteria for participation. If you are looking for information about how to apply for Medicaid, including waiver and demonstration programs in your state. Please refer to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp for more detailed information.
What are Early Intervention Programs?
Early Intervention Programs are for children who are discovered to have or be at risk of developing a disability or other special need that may affect their development. This program is for children from birth to school age, and provides services to lessen the effects of the disability.
Is my Convaid manual wheelchair covered by my private insurance plan?
All insurance policies are different. Many wheelchairs are reimbursed by private insurance. Check with your insurance carrier for information on what your policy covers, or contact your local DME (Durable Medical Equipment) provider and speak with their reimbursement specialist.
What is the medical billing code for Convaid manual wheelchairs?
Our wheelchairs are classified as Durable Medical Equipment and have been assigned HCPCS Codes. Please refer to our HCPCS Code List to view our suggested codes.
What is a HCPCS Code?
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System numbers, are numbers assigned to every task, service and product a medical practitioner may provide to a patient. Products are classified based on similarities in function and if the products exhibit significant therapeutic differences from other products. Since everyone uses the same codes, it ensures uniformity throughout the medical community. For a detailed overview, please refer to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedHCPCSGenInfo/.
Click here to download the HCPCS chart.
What is a Letter of Medical Necessity or Justification Letter?
A Letter of Medical Necessity or Justification Letter tells what type of medical equipment is needed due to a verifiable medical condition or impairment. This letter must be written by a physician or therapist and is submitted to your payer. This letter explains the clinical need for the recommended equipment to the payer.
Click Here for more information.