She was the third American to receive stem cell surgery, which she believes helped her move from a power chair to a manual chair.

Enquiries into the wheelchair scheme have told me I will only be considered eligible for the most basic of manual chairs and cushions.

I use a manual chair, so I can mange easily.

I've done it in a manual chair, with a companion," she said, "but I won't attempt it alone in a motorized one.

A power-assisted wheelchair is a recent development that uses the frame & seating of a typical manual chair while replacing the standard rear wheels with wheels that have small battery-powered motors in the hubs.

Some agents suggest that those who use electric wheelchairs also take a manual chair, which is much lighter and easier to handle on ramps.

They don't have one of those vehicles equipped for an electric wheelchair but for those in manual chairs they can do airport pick-ups and day trips around the island in an air-conditioned 4WD (SUV).

Use of a power-wheelchair may be allocated to athletes who are unable to manoeuvre a manual chair due to their disability.

Powered wheels are typically somewhat larger than the trailing/castoring wheels, while castoring wheels are typically larger than the castors on a manual chair.

The use of powerchairs is not restricted solely to users unable to use manual chairs.