This video is the first in a four-part series on choosing a wheelchair. In this episode, we focus on accessories—the add-ons that can make a wheelchair safer, more comfortable, or, in some cases, more challenging to use depending on your choices.

For many people, deciding which accessories to include is one of the toughest parts of getting a wheelchair. It’s not always easy to tell which features are essential, which ones just add extra weight, or which upgrades are worth the additional cost. Items like brakes, anti-tippers, side guards, pouches, gloves, and smart drives all sound helpful—but every wheelchair user has a unique experience with them.

In this video, you’ll hear directly from wheelchair users about the accessories they depend on and the ones they’ve learned to skip. Their insights touch on common questions that come up when customizing a chair:

• Will this accessory make me safer and more independent, or just add bulk?
• Which add-ons actually make daily life easier?
• How much extra weight is too much for long-term mobility?
• Are accessories about function, appearance, or both?
• When does customization start creating more problems than it solves?

This isn’t a “how-to” guide or a list of recommendations. Instead, it’s a collection of real-world experiences meant to help you understand the trade-offs, weigh your options, and make confident choices that fit your lifestyle.