Testimonial Kees-Jan van der Klooster – Vicair Active O2
“My wheelchair is my best friend”
In 2001 my life took a drastic turn. After a fall during snowboarding I became paraplegic, which in my case means that I am completely paralyzed from the waist down. My wheelchair has been my best friend ever since.
I somehow managed to quickly come to terms with the new situation and even started taking up sports again. Even with paraplegia, I was able to perform at the highest level. As a sit skier, I’ve participated twice in the Paralympic Games, representing the Netherlands. And in 2008 I won the gold medal at the Monoski X at the Winter X Games in Aspen.
“A wheelchair cushion should provide stability, just like the soles of a shoe”
Throughout the years that I’ve gone through life sitting in a wheelchair, my buttocks has spent time on quite a number of cushion brands and models. To me it’s very important to use a high quality wheelchair cushion that helps to protect my skin. Being paraplegic means that I’m at higher risk of developing pressure ulcers, so I have to be very careful to avoid these. Besides offering skin protection, I think a wheelchair cushion should provide stability, just like the soles of a shoe.
Kees-Jan (on the right) and Mustafa presenting “Sam & Sarah”, a wheelchair skills comic book for children.
“The Vicair Active O2 meets the two most important requirements that I have for a wheelchair cushion”
I’ve been using a Vicair Active O2 in my wheelchair for a few months now, and it meets these two most important requirements that I have for a wheelchair cushion. Next to the comfort it offers, I like the fact that it is also easier to clean and very lightweight. I am very happy with the Vicair Active O2 and can’t see myself switching to another cushion anytime soon.
– Kees-Jan van der Klooster
In his daily life, Kees-Jan is the man behind K-J Projects , which is committed to changing society’s perception of people with disabilities. He does this with various wheelchair skills projects – such as the Wheelchair Skills Team and the recently published comic book “Sam and Sarah – you can do more than you think” – and by providing information and workshops to society.
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