To ease this painful and challenging process, a bill has been passed in the Colorado State General Assembly, and the intent behind the bill is to include powered wheelchairs in the right-to-repair movement. The bill is sponsored by Representatives Brianna Titone and David Ortiz and Senators Rachel Zenzinger and John Cooke.
The bill, once approved by Gov. Jared Polis, will compel manufacturers “to provide parts, embedded software, firmware, tools, or documentation, such as diagnostic, maintenance, or repair manuals, diagrams, or similar information, to independent repair providers and owners of the manufacturer’s powered wheelchairs to allow an independent repair provider or owner to conduct diagnostic, maintenance, or repair services on the owner’s powered wheelchair.”
With this resolution, the lawmakers backing it hope to abate limitations that prevent or delay the process of getting powered wheelchairs repaired. One such limitation is Digital Rights Management (DRM), which are digital safeguards that discourage users from replacing parts themselves.
