Power Wheelchair Skills Training for Pediatric Power Wheelchair Users

Abstract

Skills on Wheels (SOW) is a wheelchair skills training program for children who use manual wheelchairs. Although it is recommended that all individuals who receive a manual or power wheelchair participate in wheelchair skills training, very limited training is available. Literature suggests that play-based wheelchair skills training in a safe environment that reflects the values of the child and family leads to improvements in skills capacity, performance, participation, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Unfortunately, clinicians often lack guidance on how or when to provide training and may focus only on basic skills. The effect of wheelchair skills training on participation can be explained using the Person-Environment-Occupation Performance (PEOP) model, which emphasizes how occupational performance is shaped by the interaction of personal abilities and values, with environmental supports and barriers. This model emphasizes strengths over deficits and illustrates how improved mobility skills can support participation in meaningful activities. The capstone student used the recommendations provided in the literature to implement play-based power wheelchair skills training into SOW’s existing program by planning games and activities that target wheelchair skills, recruiting participants, recruiting and training volunteers, and ensuring safe and effective skills training. The participant who attended the program demonstrated increased skill performance, confidence, and frequency of skill use. However, there was no increase in participation, possibly due to environmental barriers and limited time for generalization to everyday environments. This project may lead to future research on power wheelchair skills training programs and continued power wheelchair skills training at SOW.