Getting a communication device to stay put on a moving wheelchair is a real engineering problem, and the wrong mount either sags, blocks the eye tracker, or rattles loose over a curb. Here is how I steer families through the choice, which Rehadapt mounts I recommend for each situation, and the measurements you need before you order.
Key takeaways
- For most wheelchair users, Rehadapt is the mount system I recommend first because it is modular: one frame clamp works across dozens of device holders, so you rarely replace the whole assembly when the device changes.
- Match the mount to the total weight of the device plus the eye tracker, not the device alone. Under 2 lb uses the lighter L3D (16 mm) line; over 4 lb needs the M3D (22 mm) line; mid-weight setups use H3D hybrids.
- Eye gaze devices need the screen held 50 to 75 cm from the user’s eyes, held dead still. That rules out cheap flexible gooseneck mounts.
- Reach matters as much as weight. If the device sits more than 40 cm from the frame clamp, step up to a heavier-duty arm like the Monty 3D Plus HD or Monty 3D Curved XL.
- CS Mounting Systems is the Canadian distributor for Rehadapt, based in Vancouver, BC. You configure the assembly with the free Rehadapt VMS tool, then we build and ship it.
Which mounting brand is best for a wheelchair communication device?
For a child who uses a wheelchair and needs a communication device (AAC) held while on the move, I recommend Rehadapt as the primary choice. It is the system built specifically for this job, it is modular, and it handles both touch-based tablets and eye gaze devices. As a Canadian distributor for Rehadapt, I am biased, but the reason I stock this line and not the others is straightforward: the parts interchange.
Here is what that means in practice. A frame clamp that fits your son’s chair today stays on the chair. When he outgrows a small tablet and moves to a heavier eye gaze speech device, you swap the arm or the device holder, not the entire mount. That saves families real money over the years a child is growing.
There are other names you will see: Daessy (now part of the same group as Rehadapt), Mount’n Mover, and various generic RAM-style ball mounts. Generic ball mounts are fine for a phone in a car. They are not fine for a 3 lb speech device that has to survive a school hallway, a bus lift, and a sidewalk curb every day. They loosen, they drift out of position, and they do not hold an eye tracker still enough to calibrate.
How do I choose the right Rehadapt mount by device weight?
Start by weighing the device and the eye tracker together on a kitchen scale. That combined number decides the tube diameter and the mount line.
| Combined device weight | Rehadapt line | Tube diameter | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 lb (under ~0.9 kg) | L3D | 16 mm | Small tablet, touch AAC app, no tracker |
| 2 to 4 lb (~0.9 to 1.8 kg) | H3D hybrid | mixed | Tablet plus light tracker, mid-size devices |
| Over 4 lb (over ~1.8 kg) | M3D | 22 mm | Dedicated speech device with eye gaze, heavy tablets |
Most eye gaze setups I build land in the M3D range once you add the tracker and a protective case. A Tobii Dynavox I-Series or a tablet with a bolt-on eye tracker almost always crosses the 4 lb line. When in doubt, size up. An oversized mount holds a light device perfectly; an undersized mount sags under a heavy one and you will be re-tightening it three times a day.
What mount works for an eye gaze communication device?
Eye gaze needs a mount that holds the screen absolutely still at the right distance, and that means a rigid multi-joint arm, not a flexible gooseneck. Most eye trackers need the screen positioned 50 to 75 cm (roughly 20 to 30 inches) from the user’s eyes to track reliably. If the mount drifts even a centimetre after calibration, the pointer wanders and your son loses control of his own voice.
For eye gaze on a wheelchair I use the Monty 3D family:
- Monty 3D for standard reach and weight.
- Monty 3D Plus HD when the device is heavy or the reach is long (over 40 cm from the clamp).
- Monty 3D Curved XL when the device needs to swing far out and around, for example clearing a tray or a lap belt.
The Monty arm locks at each joint, so once you set the position it stays there through transfers and travel. A key feature for a moving chair: the whole arm swings away to the side with one lever so caregivers can transfer your son in and out without unbolting anything, then swings back to the exact same calibrated position.
How do I attach the mount to the wheelchair frame?
You pick the frame clamp that matches your son’s wheelchair tubing, and this is the step most people get wrong when ordering online. Measure the diameter of the frame tube where you want the mount to attach, and note whether that spot is a fully round tube or an odd shape.
Rehadapt offers three main clamp styles:
- Round closed clamp for a clean round tube you can slide the clamp onto.
- Round semi-open clamp for tubes you cannot slide onto because of fittings in the way. It opens and closes around the tube.
- Socket-style clamp for chairs with an existing accessory receiver or for quick-release needs.
Power chairs, manual chairs, and tilt-in-space chairs all clamp differently, and some frames have no clear straight run of tube at all. This is exactly the point where a photo saves an order. Send me photos of the frame from a few angles and the tube measurement, and I will confirm the clamp before anything ships. [ADD: link or instructions for how families send photos, e.g. email/text]
What does a full wheelchair AAC mount cost in Canada?
A complete Rehadapt assembly has three cost pieces: the frame clamp, the arm, and the device-specific holder or plate. Prices depend on which line you need and whether funding covers it.
- Frame clamp:
[ADD: your frame clamp price range CAD] - Arm (L3D / H3D / M3D or Monty):
[ADD: your arm price range CAD] - Device holder / cradle:
[ADD: your device holder price range CAD]
Many families in Canada access funding for AAC mounts through provincial programs, private insurance, or charitable grants. [ADD: which funding programs you support and any paperwork you provide] If you are working with a speech-language pathologist or an occupational therapist, loop them in early. They usually specify the device and can specify the mount on the same funding request.
My honest advice on budget: do not save money on the mount to afford a nicer case. The mount is what keeps the device usable and safe on the move. A dropped speech device is a far bigger cost than the difference between mount tiers.
How to order the right mount without guessing
Here is the exact process I use with families so the mount arrives ready to bolt on:
- Weigh the device and tracker together. This picks the mount line (L3D, H3D, or M3D).
- Measure the reach. Distance from the intended clamp point on the frame to where the screen needs to sit. Over 40 cm means a heavy-duty arm.
- Confirm the eye tracker distance. Make sure the arm can place the screen 50 to 75 cm from your son’s eyes.
- Measure the frame tube and photograph it. This picks the clamp style.
- Configure it in the Rehadapt VMS tool at rehadapt.com, which builds the exact part list, then send that configuration to CS Mounting Systems in Vancouver and we finalize and ship the order.
If steps one through four feel like a lot, that is fine. Send me the measurements and photos and I will run the VMS configuration with you. I would rather spend fifteen minutes confirming fit than have you receive a clamp that does not match the chair.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best wheelchair mount for a child’s AAC communication device?
For a child on a wheelchair, I recommend the Rehadapt system because it is modular and grows with the child. Use the L3D (16 mm) line for a light tablet under 2 lb, and the M3D (22 mm) line with a Monty arm for a heavier eye gaze speech device over 4 lb. The frame clamp stays on the chair while you swap arms and holders as the device changes.
Can a wheelchair mount hold an eye gaze device steady enough to track?
Yes, but only a rigid locking arm can. Eye gaze needs the screen held still at 50 to 75 cm from the eyes, so flexible gooseneck mounts do not work. The Rehadapt Monty 3D family locks at each joint and swings away and back to the same calibrated position, which is what keeps eye tracking accurate after transfers.
How do I know which frame clamp fits my son’s wheelchair?
Measure the diameter of the frame tube where you want to attach the mount and note whether it is a clean round tube. A round closed clamp slides onto open tube, a semi-open clamp wraps around tubes with fittings in the way, and a socket clamp fits accessory receivers. Send CS Mounting Systems photos of the frame and the tube measurement and we confirm the clamp before shipping.
Where can I buy Rehadapt wheelchair mounts in Canada?
CS Mounting Systems is a Canadian distributor for Rehadapt, based in Vancouver, BC, and we ship across Canada. Configure your assembly using the free Rehadapt VMS tool at rehadapt.com, then contact us to place the order. [ADD: phone number] / [ADD: email address]