By Maurice
If you're looking for free wheelchairs, free mobility scooters, and other free mobility aids in Connecticut, we've got you covered!
This page is a complete resource for free assistive devices (wheelchairs, scooters, and more) and independent living resources in the state of Connecticut.
Check out the resources below, and if you have a resource to add, please contact us!
Free Wheelchairs & Assistive Devices in Connecticut
1. Avon Lions
The Lending Locker of Avon Lions Club maintains a medical equipment loan service to facilitate the temporary provision of durable medical equipment. Supplies are limited to what is on hand at the time of the request but generally consist of walkers, canes, bath/shower benches, and transport wheelchairs.
Equipment on-hand in the Lending Locker can be checked out, free of charge. A client contact form must be completed and signed for all borrowed equipment. Once done with the equipment, it must be returned sanitized and in good working condition.
2. AZ Pawn Gift of Mobility
AZ Pawn Gift of Mobility has been collecting unwanted motorized wheelchairs and scooters, refurbishing them, and giving them away at the holiday season at no cost to the disabled who cannot afford them. To date, they have given well over 680 motorized chairs and scooters with at least another hundred to give away this holiday season.
You will need information such as your name, your address, your phone number, if you are right-handed, if you are left-handed, height, your weight, your disability, If the chair would be used inside or outside, If your chair should be portable or not, and If it should be a motorized wheelchair or a motorized scooter.
3. City of West Heaven
The City of West Haven’s Elderly Services Department has a Medical Equipment Loan Closet program. The Medical Equipment Loan Closet program is sponsored by the West Haven Senior Center. The Medical Equipment Loan Closet program provides various medical equipment, free of charge, to any city of West Haven resident in need. Some of the equipment available includes, but not limited to: canes, commodes, walkers, wheelchairs, etc.
4. Connecticut Tech Act Project
CTTAP is dedicated to getting assistive technology to the disabled and elderly Connecticut residents who need it for full participation in school, work and community life. They teach you how to use the equipment and even lend it out temporarily, and they can help you secure financial aid for the assistive technologies you could benefit from.
5. Darien Loan Closet
The Human Services Department of Darien provides a wide variety of services, including supportive counselling, assessment for benefits and program eligibility, as well as case management for any Darien resident. In addition, the staff provides crisis intervention, assistance with mental health, substance abuse and domestic violence issues.
The Loan Closet provides free, short term loans of durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes and crutches. A refundable deposit of $50 (check payable to "Town of Darien") is required for wheelchairs, transport chairs and walkers with a seat.
6. Directory by Network of care
This a directory of organizations that lend medical, sale at low cost, or provide them for free.
7. Estuary council of seniors
The Estuary Council of Seniors, Inc. promotes independent healthy aging through supportive programs, services, and advocacy for older adults. They have a transportation program where Transportation is available to those 60 and over, living within the 9 town estuary region, to medical appointments within the 9 town area and beyond. A limited number of mobility aids are also available at the Estuary Council of seniors.
8. First United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ is the oldest and largest Protestant denomination in Connecticut, with at least one church in nearly every town. They founded and continue to support the largest nonprofit affordable housing corporation in Connecticut, New Samaritan Corporation.
The Emma Davis Medical Equipment Ministry is a medical equipment clearinghouse that has offered compassionate service in the region for several decades. Members of First Church have been gathering used medical equipment - wheelchairs, walkers, etc. - repairing the equipment and making it available free of charge all over the state.
The Medical Equipment Ministry is now run by over a dozen volunteers who share in maintenance, record-keeping and client service responsibilities.
9. Granby Loan Closet
Granby have a volunteer-run program Durable Medical Loaner Closet. Equipment such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, raised toilet seats, shower chairs and the like are available. Items not available would include crutches, braces, anything with fabric/cushion material and the like.
To get a piece of equipment call the Senior Center and speak with a member of staff. Your message is passed to the medical loaner closet coordinator. You will get a return phone call usually within 24-48 hours from one of the volunteers. Arrangements for picking up the equipment are made directly with that volunteer. The closet is located at Holcomb Farm.
10. Greater Waterbury Transit District
GWTD oversees transit for elderly and disabled riders in the Greater Waterbury area. Eligible riders in all GWTD towns may use North East Transportation’s ADA and Non-ADA Paratransit services. These services are available seven days a week and cost $3.50 per rider and eligible riders in Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Waterbury, Watertown, and Wolcott may also use the free Dial-A-Ride service, also operated by North East Transportation. Fill this application.
11. HarTransit
SweetHART provides transportation services for Seniors and Persons with a Disability. There are several SweetHART options such as Dial-A-Ride and Half Fare. Persons with mobility-related disabilities or impairments regardless of age may qualify for SweetHART dial-a-ride services. HARTransit requires the name and contact information of a professional such as a doctor or caseworker familiar with your disability for verification.
12. Hospital for Special Care
Special Care Equipment Exchange accepts donations of used canes, walkers, shower chairs, manual wheelchairs, commodes, and other assistive medical items. This expensive equipment, not always covered by insurance, is made available, free-of-charge, to community members in need.
If you are in need of any equipment, please leave a message with your name, phone, and the item you are requesting. A volunteer will return your call on the next business day. When the item is available, you may pick it up from the porch during daylight hours. If it is not in stock, they can add your name to our waiting list for a maximum of four weeks.
13. Mae's Closet
Operating under the auspices of Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers, Mae's Closet is a durable medical equipment lending bank serving the Greater New Haven area. They lend and accept donations of gently used medical equipment. All of the inventory is sanitized and inspected for safety.
To borrow equipment from Mae's Closet, please call between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon, Monday through Friday or email. A volunteer will return your call the same day, make sure the item you need is available, and arrange an appropriate pickup time. Alternatively, you may request equipment by filling out the form below.
14. Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation
GCC&H has a lending loan closet with durable medical equipment which is available to residents. Items in the Medical Closet include Standard walkers, Rolling walkers with seats, Commodes, Shower Chairs, Shower Benches, 8-foot portable aluminium ramp, 10-foot portable aluminium ramp, Crutches, Canes, Wheelchairs (different varieties), Transport wheelchairs, Knee walker, Large 24-foot wheelchair ramp, and other miscellaneous equipment.
15. Plan of CT Charitable
The PLAN of CT Charitable Trust is a fund that can assist selected Connecticut residents with disabilities and does not have a private trust to assist them. Some individuals may be profoundly affected by their disability; others may be nearly independent but in need of some critical assistance.
Charitable Trust grants may be used to purchase any service or resource that serves to enhance the person’s quality of life. The distributions that are covered by the trust are wide and varied such as ramps and other home retrofitting, Special reading materials for those with sight loss, and much more.
16. Rebuilding Together Hartford
Rebuilding Together Hartford, Inc., is a nonprofit, nonsectarian, volunteer organization dedicated to helping low-income homeowners, through home renovation and repair. They can help you with home modification such as building wheelchair ramps.
17. Services for the Elderly of Farmington, Inc.
Services for Elderly of Farmington’s missions is to assist older citizens with maintaining their desired home lifestyle relative to their meals, transportation, socialization, home medical equipment and maintenance.
They have a lending closet and loans out donated used medical equipment for a small storage & handling fee. The loan closet contains an assortment of items such as walkers, wheelchairs, canes, commodes, elevated toilet seats, shower chairs, tub transfer benches, bed rails & much more.
18. Town of Simsbury
The Loan Locker in the town of Simsbury is a local source for durable medical equipment to meet a growing need for those in the community who are experiencing a temporary or permanent disability.
The Loan Locker, which was initiated by local residents, will make items such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, knee scooters, and bed rails available free of charge to those in need. Medical equipment is collected through donations and are inspected by a licensed physical therapist.
Those interested in making a donation or borrowing equipment may call or email.
19. The New England Assistive Technology Center
At The New England Assistive Technology (NEAT) Center one can go to try out Assistive Technology devices, participate in AT device demonstrations, or Lending Library, donate used equipment or buy AT devices.
20. Transportation Resource Guide for Northwestern CT
A directory created by the collaboration of The Western CT Area Agency on Aging, Inc. and the Connecticut Community Foundation. The Kennedy Center, Inc.’s Northwest Regional Mobility Manager maintains it. It profiles all the organizations that provide transportation services in Northwestern CT. The details of fare, assess ability, destination, Reservations, Trip Types, and contact details available.
21. Connect-Ability
Connect-Ability uses federal funds to improve access to employment for Connecticut’s disabled population. It works to break down the barriers that stand between the disabled and a rewarding job. This includes helping with transportation hurdles, and the group can help you get a mobility aid if you need it.
22. Connecticut Statewide Independent Living Council
This is Connecticut’s branch of a nationwide organization set up by law to promote the principles of equal access and independent living for Americans with disabilities. The 23-member Council is appointed by the Governor and consists of a majority of disabled Connecticut residents. This is a good resource when looking for sources of financial aid for a mobility aid.
23. Woodbridge
The Medical Loan Closet, located at the Human Services Department, 4 Meetinghouse Lane, Woodbridge, CT, lends portable medical equipment for short term use to Woodbridge residents who are elderly, temporarily in need or disabled. Currently, there is a large selection of walkers, commodes, shower chairs, tub grab bars, crutches and canes of all sizes, and a number of rolling walkers and wheelchairs.
