More Adventures, More Freedom: Kailla Fleck’s APEX A Testimonial

At 29, Kailla knows how to make the most of every adventure. Kailla enjoys spending time with friends playing Pokémon Go, getting creative with arts and crafts, and running her own small decal business on the side.

Kailla is also an ambulatory wheelchair user. While she can walk and stand for short periods, longer outings can be challenging due to balance issues and the risk of falling. Her APEX A Aluminum Rigid Wheelchair has become an important part of how she gets out into the world, allowing her to participate in the activities she loves with greater confidence, comfort, and independence.

Living with dysautonomia and a diagnosis of hypermobility spectrum disorder, Kailla has learned to navigate life by listening to her body and finding the tools that help her keep doing what matters most to her.

From exploring theme parks to community meetups, creative projects, and everything in between, Kailla’s story is ultimately about staying curious, embracing what brings her joy, and finding new ways to keep moving forward.

Interview:

Motion Composites: When did you start using a wheelchair?

Kailla Fleck: I received my APEX A custom wheelchair in early September 2025, but I had been using a standard hospital-style wheelchair for about a year and a half before that. I didn’t use the hospital chair very often because it was so heavy that I needed someone else to push me. I’m very much the kind of person who wants to do things independently, so I didn’t love having to rely on someone else or having them control where I could go.

Because of that, I mostly used the chair around my house, where I could move myself by pushing with my feet when I needed to, for example, while cooking.

MC: What was your first reaction when you received your APEX A?

KF: I was very excited. They unloaded it from the vehicle when they arrived, and my brain immediately went, “Let me sit in that thing. I want to try it. I’ve been waiting for this!” It takes quite a while to get a chair, and I got mine through insurance, which made the process take even longer.

But I was so excited to finally see it, and it looked even better in person than I had expected. I loved it. It was like love at first sight. I loved that chair, and I still love it. If it were a person, it would be my best friend. It goes everywhere with me.

I also named it. Its name is Beetle. I put spoke covers on it with a Beetlejuice color theme, and since my chair is black and acid green, I thought it fit perfectly. So, it’s Beetle, for Beetlejuice.

MC: What stood out to you about the APEX A right away?

KF: How lightweight it is. I haven’t had a lot of experience with a custom wheelchair, it’s my first real one, but I love that I can lift my APEX A and put it in the car on my own, even with the wheels on, which adds weight. I couldn’t pick up the hospital chair on my own at all, so I definitely couldn’t put it in the car.

MC: What features of the APEX A do you appreciate the most?

KF: I really like how lightweight it is, but I also really like how adjustable it is. I got new wheels for mine, and because they’re bigger, my chair needed to be adjusted. We were able to change the positioning to accommodate the larger wheels. I know that with some less customizable chairs, changing something like that could throw everything off, so I really appreciate having that flexibility.

I also really like the seat sling. I like that it has Velcro that you can use to adjust the tension and tighten it. One of the big things I’ve heard people complain about with wheelchairs is that, after sitting in them for a while, the sling can start to sag. With mine, I feel like I won’t have to worry about that because if it starts to loosen, I can just tighten it back up. I think that’s a really cool feature because I don’t really see other companies doing that.

I also have the adjustable back with the Velcro that lets me change the positioning. When I first got my chair, it was pressing into my spine. The representative who helped fit me for my chair came back later to adjust it, and I haven’t had that problem since. That’s another thing I really appreciate about the chair: the adjustability means we can make changes when something isn’t quite right, or if something in our condition changes.

MC: How does the APEX A support you on more challenging days?

KF: I feel like it supports me a lot on those more challenging days. I’m currently having a health flare-up, and yesterday there’s no way I would have been able to go to the park with everyone if it hadn’t been for my chair. I’ve been dealing with a lot of exhaustion, and standing for long periods really wears me out. I also have balance issues and can fall.

Having the chair allowed me to go and, for the most part, keep up with everyone. I was a little slower than usual, but I was still able to participate. It’s allowed me to do a lot of things that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to do.

I love going to theme parks, but once my health conditions really started affecting me, I stopped going because my other mobility aids weren’t helping enough. I have a rollator, and that worked for a while, but eventually it just wasn’t enough. One day at a park, I almost collapsed while using it. Someone had to catch me because my body very quickly said, “I’m done.” I basically had to be helped out of the park.

At that point, my chair was still being ordered, and I remember thinking, “I really wish I had this chair right now.” I wanted to feel more normal. To some people, using a wheelchair might not look like normal, but to me, it makes me feel more normal again.

It doesn’t hinder me in the way a lot of people think a wheelchair does. It’s freedom. It’s not that I’m trapped in a chair; it’s a tool that gives me the freedom to do things I otherwise couldn’t.

MC: How does the APEX A help you preserve energy?

KF: Because I use my chair when I’m out and about doing more outdoorsy things, I’m able to move around and stand more at home because I’m not expending all of my energy just going to the grocery store to get milk and eggs.

I can actually stand to cook a little more often, which can be difficult to do from a seated position. So the chair has allowed me to move around my house more because I’m able to preserve my energy for other things instead of using it all just to do regular things.

MC: For other wheelchair users who are also theme park lovers, what would you say about using the APEX A in busy, fast-paced environments?

KF: I really like how small my chair is. I know that’s partly because it’s built to my size, but I feel like I’m able to squeeze through crowds more easily because of how sleek it is.

Some other wheelchairs don’t fit through crowds very well, and the APEX moves really well. I also really like the carbon fiber camber tube because it absorbs a lot of the vibration from sidewalks, rocks, and all the other uneven surfaces you find at theme parks. You don’t feel all those bumps and ridges the way I did in my previous chair.

MC: Are there things you do now that were more difficult before?

KF: As I said, the main things I do are go out, window shop, and go to theme parks.  And my wheelchair allows me to do those things much more often than I was before I got it.

I also don’t have to worry as much about going out anymore. Before, I had to pace myself a lot. There were times when I had to say no because I was too tired, and I had to pick and choose what I could do and how long I could do it.

Now, with my chair, I don’t have to do half days. I can spend a full day with my family without worrying that I’m going to spend the next day feeling horribly sick and exhausted. It’s given me a lot of my life back, and I truly love my chair.

MC: Would you recommend the APEX A to someone who is unsure which wheelchair to choose?

KF: I 100% would. I have friends who use other chairs, and I try to convince them to get mine when it’s time for their next chair!

When I hear them talking about different things they don’t like about their chairs, I find myself bragging about all the things mine can do. I really like Motion Composites, and I think they would like it too. I’m always telling them they should try it.

MC: Is there anything else you would like to share with someone hesitant to use a wheelchair?

KF: I think a lot of people worry that it’s going to make them feel confined or stuck in the house. I know, I used to worry about that.

But everything has changed. I would say if you’re on the fence about using one and think it could help, you should really try it. I think it can make a big difference. A wheelchair doesn’t confine you. It gives you more freedom back!

We want to thank Kailla for taking the time to meet with us and share more about her experience with the APEX A. We can’t wait to see more of her adventures at theme parks. Don’t forget to give her a follow to keep up with her latest adventures in her APEX A! 

If you want to learn more about the APEX A, click here! Also, learn more about the adjustability of the APEX wheelchair models here.