Effectiveness of a Wheelchair Skills Training Program for Power Mobility Users: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Inclusion Criteria

• •new or experienced powered wheelchair users
• •use or are expected to use powered wheelchairs for at least 4 hrs/week
• •have access to a powered wheelchair with a suitable range of controller settings (i.e. able to climb a 5cm level change) for testing and training
• •equal or greater than 18 years of age
• •able to follow directions in either French or English (whichever is in use at the participating site)
• •have the potential to operate their powered wheelchairs independently
• •have room for improvement (in the opinion of the potential participant's clinician)
• •requires no more than minimal assistance for communication and auditory comprehension (in the opinion of the potential participant's clinician)
• •able to follow 2-step commands
• •demonstrate the ability to attend training sessions during the intake session
• •competent to provide their own informed consent
• •able to be comfortably seated in the powered wheelchairs that will be used for the study (if not their own).