Abstract: A wheelchair footrest retractor (10) is disclosed for use with a footrest (16, 18) in a wheelchair (14) to allow the wheelchair user or caregiver to readily manipulate the footplates (20) between an upper retracted position and a lower use position by simply manipulating a handle(56) located to the side of the knee of the wheelchair user. The wheelchair footrest retractor (10) can be mounted to the wheelchair with little or no modification of the wheelchair. The rod (58) in the wheelchair footrest retractor (10) can be adjusted in length to fit a particular wheelchair and also adjusted when the length of the footrest(16, 18) is adjusted.