When assistive devices are shaped by lived experience: four solutions for greater mobility

Snow, sand, or uneven terrain can pose major challenges for many wheelchair users and people who rely on walking aids. Mobility often ends where the ground becomes more difficult. Patrick Mayer knows these situations from personal experience – and develops targeted solutions in response. From attachments for walking aids to off-road wheelchairs, his products show how practical, experience-driven assistive devices can open up new possibilities for movement.

In brief: assistive devices for greater mobility – developed from real-world experience

Four different assistive devices designed to support mobility in everyday life and in outdoor environments
Solutions developed from direct experiences with barriers
Designed for use where conventional assistive devices reach their limits – for example in snow or rough terrain
A range spanning from simple adaptations to more complex mobility systems

When the ground determines mobility

Unpaved paths, snow, or soft terrain are often more than just minor obstacles in everyday life. For many people with disabilities, they determine whether a place can be reached at all.

While conventional assistive devices work well on paved surfaces, they quickly reach their limits beyond them. Spontaneous outings or uneven terrain can therefore become a real challenge.

"I didn’t want to accept that" – why Patrick Mayer started developing his own solutions

Patrick Mayer is sitting in his wheelchair at a desk, with a large landscape picture in the background

Patrick Mayer has been living with a spinal cord injury for over 26 years and relies on a wheelchair and walking aids in his everyday life. He therefore knows the limitations of existing assistive devices from personal experience.

A defining moment for him was a situation in the snow, where he depended on help and was unable to move independently in his wheelchair. "I didn’t want to accept that an assistive device determines what I can and cannot do," he explains, describing what drives him.

What began as an attempt to solve specific problems has evolved over the years. Today, it is not only about functionality, but also about how an assistive device feels in everyday use – and the difference it actually makes.

Between theory and everyday life: where assistive devices reach their limits

What truly makes an assistive device suitable for everyday use becomes clear in real-life situations. It needs to work intuitively, be ready to use quickly, and remain reliable – regardless of terrain, weather, or other conditions.

This is exactly where Patrick Mayer sees a key gap: many solutions are primarily developed from a technical or medical perspective, but only take everyday use into account to a limited extent.

His approach is different: "Mobility should not depend on whether the path is perfect – it needs to work where life actually happens."

Four solutions for greater freedom of movement

What connects all of Patrick Mayer’s developments is a shared goal: enabling mobility beyond paved surfaces. The following examples show how different these solutions can be – ranging from simple adaptations to more complex systems.

Front wheel of a wheelchair with a Wheelblade ski attached, on a snow-covered surface

Wheelblades – getting around in the snow

When small front wheels sink into the snow, wheelchairs, rollators, or strollers quickly reach their limits.

This is exactly where Wheelblades come in: small clip-on skis that prevent wheels from sinking and make it easier to move on snowy surfaces.

Problem: Wheels sink into the snow and block movement
Solution: Clip-on mini skis distribute weight over a larger surface
Who it’s for: Wheelchair users, people using rollators, and families with rehab strollers or standard strollers
Special feature: Tool-free attachment in just a few seconds, easy and intuitive to use
Status: Commercially available product, used worldwide

Walking aid with non-slip SafetyFoot attachment stays stable on wet, uneven surfaces

SafetyFoot – more grip on any surface

Uneven paths, wet surfaces, or soft ground can quickly become a source of instability when using walking aids: they can slip, sink in, or provide too little support.

This is exactly where the SafetyFoot comes in. As a specially developed attachment, it provides better grip and adapts to different surfaces – from cobblestones to forest trails.

Problem: Walking aids often provide too little stability on uneven or slippery surfaces
Solution: Specially developed rubber tip with strong traction and the ability to compensate for uneven ground
Who it’s for: People who rely on walking aids and want to move safely beyond paved surfaces
Special feature: High load capacity at low weight, designed for a variety of surfaces
Status: Commercially available product, used worldwide

The ZOOM 2.0 electric off-road wheelchair is on an uneven forest path

ZOOM 2.0 – when terrain is no longer a barrier

While smaller adaptations expand existing assistive devices, the ZOOM 2.0 takes it a step further: this electric off-road wheelchair is designed as a standalone system for challenging terrain.

It makes places accessible that are often out of reach with conventional assistive devices – such as forest trails or uneven ground. The ZOOM 2.0 provides the technical foundation for this and can open up new possibilities for independent outdoor mobility.

Problem: Many people are limited to paved surfaces when using conventional assistive devices
Solution: Electric off-road wheelchair for independent mobility on rough terrain
Who it’s for: People with limited mobility who want to stay active and experience nature
Special feature: High-performance all-wheel drive for demanding terrain
Status: Close to market launch, pre-orders available

Patrick Mayer is moving along a paved path using the SHADOW manual mobility system

SHADOW – one system for different terrains

While the ZOOM 2.0 focuses on powered mobility for off-road use, the SHADOW project takes a different approach: a modular, muscle-powered system designed for various terrains.

At its core is a flexible interchangeable system that can be quickly adapted depending on the situation – for example, for asphalt, forest trails, snow, or ice.

Problem: Mobility often ends where surfaces change or specialized equipment would be required
Solution: Modular system that can be adapted to different terrains
Who it’s for: People with limited mobility who want to stay flexible and active across different environments
Special feature: One device for multiple use cases thanks to a tool-free interchangeable system
Status: Functional prototype, currently being further developed toward market readiness

When people with disabilities develop assistive devices themselves

The solutions developed by Patrick Mayer show how the perspective on assistive devices changes when they are shaped by lived experience.

Instead of focusing primarily on technical requirements, real-life situations take center stage. What matters most is whether a solution works in practice – and can be integrated into everyday life without much effort.

Freedom is not perfect – but closer than before

Things you had long since written off suddenly become possible again.

For him, this mainly means being able to get around outdoors independently – in nature, with his family, and in places that would otherwise be difficult to access.

This does not mean full accessibility is achieved. But in specific situations, it can come a step closer.

Nadine Lormis smiles in to the camera; Copyright: Victoria Emanuel

Author: Nadine Lormis | REHACARE eMag

Nadine Lormis has been writing about (digital) developments in the assistive technology sector, self-determined living and inclusion for over 15 years. As editorial director of the REHACARE eMag, she is closely networked with the community of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses – both professionally and personally.

Published on: April 27, 2026

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