After a spinal injury at 16-years-old, a local wheelchair assessor has focused his career on making sure there was nearby, local help for wheelchair users.
Kevin Smith started his own company in Dorset after having to travel to London every time he needed his wheelchair fixed and realised that it was important to have local establishments like this.
Now, working at Lifestyle and Mobility, his focus is making sure each wheelchair is tailored specifically for every person: “We try to make sure that it is governed to the individual’s needs. If we haven’t got the right product, we will make sure we source that product for them.”
His injury occurred after a car crash involving a transit van carrying nine people. The van took the bend too fast, resulting in it spinning into oncoming traffic which Smith ended up being hit by. The accident broke his back in three places, causing paralysis.
The accident changed his view of life for a while: “I was very angry with life for the first few years, but I had good friends and family around me, they pulled me through it.
“You just carry on and get over life. Now I’m happy and can do everything I need to do. Life moved forward.” He continued.
Smith feels as though his disability is something that helps his career, not hinders it: “I feel that I’ve got the knowledge and the background through my disability to help other people.
“We do it every day, it’s our life. We are as disabled as the customer.” He added.
Lifestyle and Mobility work hard to help their customers, providing 24/7 emergency aid and ensure they provide quality of life for customers.
Smith used what happened to him to create a career and a life for himself, using his personal experience to help local wheelchair users, just like he wanted when he was young.
To hear more about Kevin Smith and his story, be sure to tune in to our bulletin tomorrow to watch the extended package by Abby West.
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