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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

David B. Gray, PhD, Holly H. Hollingsworth, PhD, Kerri A. Morgan, MSOT OTR/L, Jessica Dashner, OTD, Carla Walker, MSOT OTR/L, Sue Tucker, MSOT OTR/L, Melissa Lyles, MSOT OTR/L, Kim Walker, OTDS, and Keri DeGroot, OTDS. Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University, Campus Box 8505, 4444 Forest Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108, 314-286-1658, grayda@wustl.edu

A mobility skills course has been developed as an objective measure of mobility device skills and also serves as a basis for training participants to become more proficient at skills that enable them to participate more in the environment. The mobility skills course evaluation is based off of the widely used Wheelchair Skills Test (WST) protocol developed by Dr. Lee Kirby for manual wheelchair users. The tasks evaluated have been modified to assess four mobility device groups (power wheelchair, manual wheelchair users, scooters, and cane(s)/crutch(es)/walker) and are based on the specific mobility device characteristics. Examples of tasks include: charge the wheelchair battery, propel wheelchair on level surface, turn in place, maneuver in tight spaces, retrieve an item from the floor, reach an object overhead, open & close a door, cross a gravel pit and ascend and descend 1.5 inch curb cut. Manual wheelchair users are also asked to perform a wheelie in different situations and cane/crutch/walker users are asked to ascend and descend a flight of stairs. The mobility skills course tasks are scored on completion and safety. Completion and safety are scored on a 4 point scale. Certain tasks are also timed for how long it takes the participant to complete the task. This poster will include an overview of protocols, descriptions of the course and results of over 100 participants who have completed the course.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the value of assessing mobility device skills.
• Understand the mobility device skills protocols designed for use by people with mobility impairments.

Keywords: Disability, Technology

Related Web page: enablemob.wustl.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered