Page 297 - Handbook of Electronic Assistive Technology

286 HANDBOOK OF ELECTRONIC ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

the most compact, so it may be unwise to assume that a mid-drive chair will be the most
space efficient in all scenarios. Despite what marketing material might suggest, this point
illustrates again how a physical trial of a chair is so important in making a choice.
Further Considerations With the Home Environment

As has been discussed, it can be advisable to carry out assessments for powered chairs in
the home environment before making a decision as to which is the optimal model. The
following points should be considered:

1� If the chair is not going to be used in the home, where will it be stored and charged?
2� Does the chair have the option of a swing-aside controller/joystick? This is a very
useful feature for someone who will remain in their wheelchair most of the time in the
home as they can then access tables and desks by swinging the joystick aside to get
closer to the table for activities such as eating a meal.
3� Does the chair fit into the through-floor lift and is it under the weight limit (including
the occupant)?
Specific Points for Use in an Educational Setting

1� Risk assessment will be necessary for the safety of the individual using the chair but
also for the other pupils using the same environment. All schools will have a special
needs coordinator and an elected special needs governor who should have the
necessary procedures in place regarding access into/out of the school, storage and
charging.
2� Some older schools were not built with wheelchair users in mind and may require
a great deal of adaptions to make them accessible; in some cases it may not be
economically viable.
3� A tray that fits onto the wheelchair may be beneficial and practical when a pupil
moves to different classes in the day, which is more of an issue in secondary schools
where multiple classrooms are accessed. However, while trays are often requested for
function, they usually have a postural benefit in that the weight of the arms is taken
off the shoulder girdle, thereby reducing the load on the spine. In some very practical
lessons requiring a larger working surface, however, it may be more useful to use a
height-adjustable standalone table but this will not be possible in all environments
due to lack of space and speed of getting from room to room.
4� The provision of powered functions, especially a seat riser (social interaction) and
possibly a standing function (to avoid the time taken to transfer to a standing frame),
may be more necessary within the educational environment and particularly so in
mainstream school. Often education services or charitable sources will be open to
joint funding a chair or function of a chair, so that the child becomes as integrated
and as independent as possible.