Wheelchair
Users: IKAN? Yes You Can! 
Other frequently asked questions...
1. Why is it called the IKAN Bowler®?
IKAN is taken from "ikanos" the
Greek word meaning enable; the IKAN Bowler®
enables wheelchair users to bowl. The term Bowler
was chosen to accompany IKAN instead of “ramp”
to distinguish it as the first device that would
attach to - and move with - the user's wheelchair.
The IKAN Bowler® allows wheelchair users
to physically roll up to the foul line and release
the ball upon stopping -- which is bowling in
the true spirit of the sport. The IKAN
Bowler® has also proven to be incredibly
consistent & accurate when used as a stationary
ramp.
2. Who invented the
IKAN Bowler®?
Bill Miller and Claude Giguere. Miller
survived a freak accident that rendered him
a high-level (C-1, 2) quadriplegic on a ventilator
while in college. Giguere is a retired
General Motors engineer who met Miller while
volunteering. Together, they co-invented
the first wooden prototype IKAN Bowler®
to fulfill a dream to empower those with severe
physical challenges via some activity that they
can physically do.
3. Is the IKAN Bowler®
just for high-level quadriplegics?
Absolutely not. Any person who can drive
& control their wheelchair in a safe manner,
and have their caddy (caregiver, friend, family
member, etc) properly attach the IKAN Bowler®
to the chair, can bowl! Wheelchair users with
enough arm ability and hand grip could conceivably
caddy for themselves (i.e. place the ball atop
the IKAN Bowler®) but they probably will
need assistance attaching the IKAN Bowler®
and getting it ready to bowl (checking the levels
and height off the floor).
4. Can someone using
the IKAN Bowler® join a league?
Yes! The IKAN Bowler® is approved for
use in league play -- any league, anywhere in
the U.S. -- by the United States Bowling Congress
(USBC). IKAN Users can compete with and/or against
able-bodied bowlers or fellow IKAN Users.
5. Will the IKAN Bowler®
fit on my brand of wheelchair?
This is barrier-free wheelchair bowling
for all, thus, the IKAN Bowler® is designed
with a Universal Mount that can accommodate
any wheelchair with two side legrests (straight
or sports style, not power elevating; although
a set of standard legrests can be purchased
for use when bowling if someone typically uses
power elevating legrests). We also have a custom
mount to accommodate people with the new center
post style legrest system, like Permobil.
6. Is
a particular method for the user controlling
his/her wheelchair required to use the IKAN
Bowler®?
No! We're aware of IKAN Users that control their
chairs via joystick,
sip-and-puff, chin control,
and head control; please see
our message board for the current top scores
in each category. Any method should work, as
long as the person can drive forward and brake,
which creates the momentum for releasing the
ball (stopping releases it). Having the ability
to turn the chair slightly left and right while
driving forward gives the user better ability
to aim and adjust. The better the user drives,
the better he or she will be able to bowl; although
ball knowledge (see question 17) and how &
where the user sets up for the particular shot,
those are important factors also.
7. Does it matter
if the wheelchair is front, rear, or mid-wheel
drive?
Not really. IKAN Users have posted scores
above 180 using wheelchairs with all three types,
and at this time we don't feel the difference
is significant enough to track record scores
by wheel-drive type, although we do track records
by user control method (see question 6).
8. Is the IKAN Bowler®
safe for the operator to use?
Safety is our top priority. The IKAN
Bowler® is completely safe if installed
and used properly, responsibly, and as intended.
9. Will the IKAN Bowler®
damage my wheelchair?
The IKAN Bowler® is designed to be as
safe to the user and as harmless to their chair
as possible. The patent-pending design
allows you to feel the ball release with minimal
force to your chair (please see user guides
in our online store).
10. Can my local bowling
center accommodate the IKAN Bowler®?
Because of the Americans with Disabilities
Act, every bowling center in the U.S. should
be wheelchair accessible.
11. How difficult
is it to attach the IKAN Bowler® to my wheelchair?
Once it's properly adjusted to fit a particular
chair, it can take as little as one minute to
attach it and set it up for bowling. Please
see our video
on attaching the bowling chair.
12. Is there an age
requirement to use the IKAN Bowler®?
The IKAN Bowler® has been attached to
wheelchairs used by children as small as eight
years of age and adults as mature as 80.
A person has to be able to control their chair
in a safe manner.
13. Are there any
disabilities which will not allow a person to
use the IKAN Bowler®?
Not really. Our goal is to empower
people with disabilities. If they have
a wheelchair they can drive, and they have the
mental capacity to be safe -- they should be
able to bowl.
14. How do you control the
ball release?
The IKAN Bowler® employs a patent-pending
inertial release mechanism that can be finely
tuned to adjust the amount of deceleration needed
to release the ball (in non-engineering speak,
how fast they must drive in order for the ball
to come down when they stop). The bowler can
choose their preferred setting and the speed
required can be extremely low. We recommend
driving slowly for better accuracy AND SAFETY.
15. Can any bowling ball
be used with the IKAN Bowler®?
Yes! But we recommend a 16-pound plastic
ball, such as Columbia’s White Dot.
16. Can you bowl a straight
ball or curve ball with the IKAN Bowler®?
YES! Where the holes are positioned
determines how the ball will travel down the
lane (and it can vary with each ball, especially
"house" balls). The IKAN Bowler® has
been engineered to allow for excellent precision
and accuracy, but
still requires the skill and ball placement
finesse of the user to achieve high scores.
17. What physical requirements
are needed to use an IKAN Bowler®?
Once installed and setup properly, all a
user needs is the ability to drive their chair.
For those with limited arm movement or strength,
they will need a "caddy" to place the ball atop
the IKAN Bowler® and to visually guide the
user as they backup into position. The
IKAN Bowler® has been engineered to allow
for excellent precision and accuracy, but still
requires the driving skill, as well as the setup
and ball placement knowledge of the user to
execute particular shots and, ultimately, to
achieve high scores.
18. Can a person using
an IKAN Bowler® compete in tournament play?
YES! Please see our Join
a Tournament to see how the singles
divisions are segmented.
19. What has the reaction
been like at the bowling alleys where the IKAN
Bowler® has been used?
The reaction and reception to those using
the IKAN Bowler® is incredible. Many people
think it's unbelievable and inspiring to see
those with severe physical challenges - even
people on ventilators - bowl and physically
compete in a great American sport and pastime
like bowling.
If you have any other questions,
or seek clarification, feel free to Contact
Us or checkout our message board. IKAN Bowler®
co-inventor and MGT co-founder Bill Miller has
already expounded on a few things on the message
board and you can ask him questions on there.
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