University of Pittsburgh
09/25/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/25/2025 08:00
Pitt keeps the community mobile with its annual wheelchair wash and tune-up clinic
For Alisa Grishman, a wheelchair is more than a mode to get around town; it's a ticket to independence. That's why the Pittsburgh resident joined 150 other community members receiving services at the 13th annual wheelchair wash and tune-up at UPMC Mercy Pavilion on Sept. 19.
Wheelchairs provide the necessary mobility, support and balance for many people to participate in daily activities, and preventive maintenance is essential to maintaining a comfortable, functional wheelchair.
"My wheelchair is my freedom. It is my tool to get out of my house. It is how I participate in life in the community," said Grishman.
Sponsored by Pitt's School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in the School of Medicine and UPMC Rehabilitation Institute, the event is a one-stop shop for wheelchair users to access minor repairs and cleaning services as well as local disability serving organizations and vendors.
The event also serves as a learning opportunity for Pitt faculty, staff and students, said Mariana Pacheco Busquets, a postdoctoral associate in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
"My priority at the Center for Assistive Technology is mainly research, but as an occupational therapist, I'm very interested in seating and mobility," she said. "I've been very lucky to have the shadowing and hands-on experience at the wheelchair wash and tune-up clinic."
University of Pittsburgh published this content on September 25, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 25, 2025 at 14:01 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]