In this age of information, researching and locating just the right piece of equipment to meet one's needs should be easy. But even for the Web-savvy, finding useful information — where to buy a specific product, for example — can be a challenge.
“If you go on the Internet, it's all over the place. You don't know who is the dealer and who is the manufacturer. You try to put a lead in there to find someone from your area and you can't,” says Paiman Komeilizadeh, who has spinal muscle atrophy and experienced the frustration firsthand; it took him four months to research power wheelchairs. “You have to spend hours sitting in front of the computer just going from link to link to link, and sometimes you get lost.”
Komeilizadeh knew that if the information was available on one site, it could be a useful research tool, so he and former co-worker Arash Kouchesfahani put their computer skills to use and founded the Able Project. The nonprofit organization's Web site lists about 1,800 products in 25 categories — from wheelchairs and scooters to beds and commodes — allowing consumers to compare different products and features. Those without Internet access can call the organization, and a volunteer will provide them with information.
“The client wants to get the answer quickly and they want customer service,” Komeilizadeh says. “Now there is a place where there are a lot of products in there. It's like a catalog online.”
The site also offers opportunities for both providers and manufacturers to increase their business while helping patients. When visitors see a product they are interested in, they have the option of submitting their contact information through the Web site. The information is then forwarded to local providers who can let prospective customers know about the products and services they offer. The cost to providers is $8 per lead up to a maximum of $100 a year. “It's a win-win situation,” Komeilizadeh adds.
The organization is also more than a Web site. Able Project recently started a program to help donate equipment to those without financial resources or insurance coverage. Since the program's launch in December, the organization has helped distribute several items donated by manufacturers, dealers and individuals to patients in the Silicon Valley area.
“I am in a wheelchair, and I know how difficult it is sometimes to obtain these products. We are hoping we can make a little difference in our world,” says Komeilizadeh, who said he had to pay for his power chair and other equipment out-of-pocket because it was not covered by his insurance. “In the beginning, I was walking … If they know you are walking, they usually don't provide wheelchairs,” he continues. “No insurance and no government program is going to pay for it. It's going to become a miserable life.”
Recipients must prove that Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance will not pay for the equipment. The program is currently only available to patients in the Silicon Valley area, but Komeilizadeh is hoping to take it nationwide.
The co-founders of Able Project are so enthusiastic about the program that they spend countless hours working without pay. Arash Kouchesfahani — who met Komeilizadeh when they worked together at autoweb.com — has a full-time job as a computer programmer, but spends much of his free time with Able Project. “It's for a great cause,” he says. “Instead of spending time watching TV, I spend it on the site to improve it.”
Full-time volunteer Komeilizadeh is living off of his savings to help get the project off the ground. “I do believe in what we are doing for our community. That's where our heart and soul is.”
For more information, visit Able Project's Web site at www.ableproject.org, e-mail info@ableproject.org or call 408/263-8000.