Katharina’s Case Study

Built for real life

Beyond speed and range, what stood out most to Katharina was the robustness and build quality.

She lives in an area of Berlin filled with cobblestones and uneven kerbs. Her previous chair has suffered repeated wheel failures on these surfaces. The Series 5’s ability to tackle these with ease isn’t a lifestyle upgrade, but is actually essential for reliably reaching the supermarket and navigating daily life.

Another feature that changed her routine was the integrated charger. Instead of planning around heavy external batteries, she travelled with a single cable. That practical detail gave her the freedom to be spontaneous. She could stay overnight with friends without advance preparation or extend a day out without calculating whether she had enough charge to get home. The mental load reduced significantly.

Design matters too. Katharina rejects the idea that disabled people should settle for purely clinical, functional equipment. The Series 5, in her words, “feels like home.” Friends commented that the chair stood out in a way that reflected her personality instead of limiting it. She felt safe, secure and comfortable, and even friends who briefly tried the chair remarked on the same sense of stability.

Fighting for the Right Chair

Two days after returning to Berlin, Katharina began her application with German health insurance, fully aware that approval for a specific model can take up to 18 months.

Like many systems around the world, funding decisions focus strictly on clinical necessity rather than quality of life. Extended range, higher speeds or spontaneous travel aren’t considered valid arguments. Instead, her case centres on durability over cobblestones, repeated mechanical failures with previous chairs and the need for a stable, robust device to navigate her environment safely.