In this powerful episode of Wheel Chat, hosts Justin and Anthony sit down with Andrew Slorance, CEO of Phoenix Instinct and creator of the Phoenix i, a groundbreaking hybrid wheelchair designed to revolutionise mobility for users with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities.

Andrew shares his personal story of becoming a wheelchair user at 14, the limitations he faced with conventional wheelchairs, and how those challenges sparked a lifelong mission to create something better. From developing one of the world’s lightest carbon fibre wheelchair frames to winning Toyota’s $1 million Mobility Unlimited Challenge, Andrew discusses what it takes to truly innovate in an industry that hasn’t changed in decades.

What’s in this episode?

• How the Phoenix i’s front-powered castors redefine power assist and terrain accessibility
• Why wheelchair design has stagnated and what’s needed to push it forward
• The importance of user-led design in assistive technology
• The real-world impact of hybrid manual-electric wheelchairs on user independence

Whether you're a therapist, occupational therapist, wheelchair user, or simply passionate about innovation, this episode offers deep insights into the future of personal mobility.

Connect with Andrew Slorance:

📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/sloranceandrew/⁠ 

👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewslorance/

Learn more about Phoenix Instinct:

🌐 Website: ⁠https://www.phoenixinstinct.com⁠

📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_phoenixi/⁠

🎥 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@_phoenixinstinct

Email us :
We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected]

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.