Abstract: In one embodiment, a wheelchair device includes a frame adapted to be removably mounted to a wheelchair, a slide member supported by the frame that is configured to be pushed in a forward direction away from a user of the device with the user's arm, a transmission mechanism including a rotatable reel and a spring associated with the reel that resists rotation of the reel in a first direction and assists rotation of the reel in a second direction, and a cable having first and second ends, the first end of the cable being attached to the slide member and the second end being attached to the rotatable reel. With such a configuration, movement of the slide member in the forward direction causes the rotatable reel to rotate in the first direction and movement of the slide member in a backward direction opposite to the forward direction causes the rotatable reel to rotate in the second direction.