Other clients may require extensive and long-term training, particularly if the client has a slow learning curve. Some clients will hop into a power wheelchair and take off, requiring no training at all. Documenting training can also limit liability. If written instructions are lost, these can be retrieved and provided again. The authors of this article recommend that any training be documented and any written instructions be copied and filed. Providing written instructions for future reference is very helpful as well.

Providing basic instructions decreases this anxiety. A power wheelchair may be quite intimidating to the client and/or caregivers. This includes care and maintenance of the wheelchair, as well as basic operating instructions.

Device Trainingīefore starting driving lessons, basic power wheelchair training is imperative. Providing power wheelchair training increases the likelihood of successful outcomes by optimizing mobility skills and efficiency. In contrast, many new power wheelchair users have no training at all.

The average teen must complete 50 hours of supervised driving before receiving a license. In contrast, new power wheelchair users may have never observed another person driving a wheelchair and may have motor, visual, and/or cognitive limitations. The average teen also has typical motor, visual, and cognitive skills. The average teen has spent years in a motor vehicle as a passenger, observing how a car is operated. Providing a power wheelchair without mobility training is like putting a teenager behind the wheel without driver’s training. However, even if a power wheelchair is recommended, the client will generally benefit from mobility training to optimize driving efficiency. These skills are assessed during the power mobility evaluation. In reality, independent driving requires specific motor, visual, and cognitive skills. Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS, and Eric Grieb, ATP, CRTS, OTR/Lĭriving a power wheelchair may appear to be a simple task. Programming the power wheelchair can be a key part of mobility training.īy Michelle L.

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