Moving efficiently through a less-than-accessible world requires more than just an optimally fit wheelchair. Wheelchair riders also need the skills to use their mobility devices in a number of situations, from curbs to ramps, small spaces and thresholds.
The latest series added to the Wheelchair Skills Program is a free-to-learn collection of self-directed, web-based manual wheelchair courses “to help build practical wheelchair skills for everyday mobility,” said Lynn Worobey, Ph.D., DPT, ATP, co-director of the University of Pittsburgh Model Center on Spinal Cord Injury and an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh.
“The training includes step-by-step guidance, photos, videos and safety tips for skills such as maneuvering, navigating ramps and thresholds, transfers, wheelies, and more,” Worobey told Mobility Management. Three separate courses are geared to three propulsion styles: using both arms, using one arm and one leg, and using both legs.
“The content is presented in plain language and may be helpful for manual wheelchair users, care partners, and rehabilitation professionals,” Worobey added.
For each skill, the new curriculum includes step-by-step guidance, photos, videos and safety tips, which teach wheelchair riders how to open and close doors, pick objects up from the floor, and how to efficiently move when on soft or uneven terrain.
Check out this new resource on the Dalhousie University wheelchair skills program website or scan the QR code to access the program.
