Man invents a forklift accessible by disable people inspired by a disabled veteran

The device, called Wheelchair Accessible Forklift, consists of a forklift with a flat platform that allows a person using a wheelchair to operate it and incorporates additional control mechanisms for disabled drivers.

Harlan met a disabled veteran who was a keynote speaker at a SkillsUSA event. His Humvee had hit an IED and blown his legs off. “You’re young, you’re the future, and we need you to think outside the box so that people like me can work side by side with you”, the vet said.

After his speech, the teacher was driven to develop a forklift that he could use.

With the help of some students (a student who understood the electronics, a student from the graphic-design program a student from the robotics program to build the remote control, and a graduate from the welding program), Harlan went to a forklift junkyard and bought the forklifts he wanted and built everything from scratch. This team also had the help of an auto shop who painted the device for free.

After several attempts, the inventor was able to get his innovation patented. He later tested the device with the help of a local vet.

Adapted from: http://bit.do/eQXsn