Community-Led.
Purpose-Driven.
Built by Us.
Mobility is a human right.
Who We Are
The Challenge: A System That Leaves Us Stranded
For too long, wheelchair users have been at the mercy of a broken repair system. When a chair breaks down, users often face weeks or months-long wait times for simple repairs from corporate DME (Durable Medical Equipment) companies. This isn't just an inconvenience; it is a crisis of independence that leads to social isolation, health complications, and lost autonomy.
The Solution: A Community Repair Shop
To meet this unmet need, we are launching The Wheelchair Repair Shop, a community-powered repair shop designed to get us back in motion. We are replicating the community bike shop model to provide fast, affordable, and expert service for the wheelchair community.
From Workshops to a Revolution
The Wheelchair Repair Shop grew out of our successful Wheelchair Maintenance Workshop program. These monthly events were created to fill a massive gap in the healthcare system: the lack of service availability and education on how to maintain the equipment we rely on every day.
By offering a space where community members can gather to learn basic maintenance—like checking tire pressure, cleaning casters, and identifying wear and tear—we started a movement of self-reliance. These workshops remain a cornerstone of our work, offering a supportive environment where peers teach peers, ensuring that no one is forced to stay home because of a loose bolt or a flat tire.
Our model is built on Radical Sustainability:
Subsidized Care: We utilize a retail model where the sale of donated, high-quality parts and paid repair services directly funds our mission.
Mutual Support: When you pay for a repair at Oregon Wheelchair Repair, you aren't just fixing your chair—you are subsidizing repairs and free monthly workshops for wheelchair users who cannot afford them.
Mechanical Literacy: We don't just fix chairs; we provide the tools, training, and space for users to develop the skills to maintain their own equipment
"Repair is Resistance"
It's more than just a slogan—it’s a movement. Big corporations often design equipment that is difficult to service, hoping to keep users dependent on expensive, slow, and proprietary repair cycles. Repair is Resistance because taking maintenance into our own hands is an act of reclaiming our freedom and our right to move.
The Wheelchair Repair Shop is creating a system where the community takes care of its own. Together, we are building a world where no one is left stranded.
How You Can Help
Pay for repairs
When you pay the suggested donation price you aren't just paying for service. Your contribution helps cover the costs for another wheelchair user who cannot afford to get their chair back in motion.
Donate Parts & Equipment
Have an old chair or spare parts gathering dust? Donating high-quality components allows us to provide low-cost or free replacements to those in urgent need.
Volunteer
No experience necessary. Help out during our open shop hours. Learn how to perform basic maintenance and repair at the skill level you are comfortable with. We do everything from cleaning and disassembling chairs to extensive repairs.
Cost of Service
We operate on a community-subsidized model to ensure our services remain accessible to everyone:
- Labor - $40/hour (Suggested Donation)
- Parts - Based on availability and specific model requirements. We may be able to provide some small parts from our existing stock, but there will likely be costs associated with replacing major components. A technician will discuss all part requirements and options with you before moving forward.
Services Offered
At Oregon Wheelchair Repair, we look at wheelchair maintenance much like car or bicycle repair. Some fixes are straightforward—like patching a tube or tightening a bolt—while other issues require a deeper look under the hood.
Because every wheelchair is a precision piece of equipment tailored to the user, many parts are not universal. While we carry a variety of components, some repairs may require ordering specific parts. Our technician will always walk you through the diagnosis and discuss all available options and costs before we begin work.
Please reach out if you need a service you don't see listed here. We can probably help.
Tires & Tubes
Flat repairs, tire replacements, and tube changes to keep chairs moving smoothly and safely.
Caster Maintenance
Caster bearing changes and caster fork replacements to eliminate "flutter" and improve your roll.
Manual Brake Adjustments
Battery Services
General Tune-ups
Walkers & Rollators
Learn the basics. Stay independent. Keep moving.
Free monthly clinics were built to close a major gap in the healthcare system by giving people a place to learn practical maintenance skills, ask questions, and support one another.