Spinal Cord Injury

Clinical Practice (assessment, diagnosis, treatment, knowledge translation/EBP, implementation science, program development)

Cross-Cutting

Instructional Course

(600533) IC 2: Manual Wheelchair Skills Assessment and Training: A Practical Workshop for Therapists

Presenter(s)

• 

  R. Lee Kirby, MD, FRCPC

  Professor
  Dalhousie University
  Halifax, Nova Scotia
• 

  Lynn Worobey, PhD, DPT, ATP

  Assistant Professor
  University of Pittsburgh
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• 

  Carrie Callahan, PT, ATP

  President and Co-Founder
  Empower Spinal Cord Injury
  Somerville, Massachusetts

Research evidence has been accumulating that demonstrates the safety and superior effectiveness of a formal approach to the assessment and training of the wheelchair skills of wheelchair users and their caregivers. The low-tech, high-impact Wheelchair Skills Program includes useful tools to help practitioners translate this research evidence into clinical practice. This 8-hour workshop, will begin with a brief didactic introduction. The practical portion of the workshop will provide participants with an opportunity to practice adjustments in wheelchair set-up and experience a range of wheelchair skills including spotting techniques, assessment methods and training tips<./p>

Learning Objectives:

• Make adjustments in wheelchair set-up to optimize wheelchair use.
• Perform basic, intermediate and some advanced wheelchair skills.
• Safely assess and train people performing such skills.
• Describe how to implement the Wheelchair Skills Program in their own settings.
• Describe the research evidence underlying the assessment and training protocols of the Wheelchair Skills Program.