Does anyone have a good resource they can share (or information) on making a decision for whether it is safe for a student to operate a power wheelchair? Shannon

How are you defining "safe?" Scott Crawford has a lot of materials for teaching strategies but I'm not aware of anything that would make a determination on the type of chair to select. I also had a copy of a wheelchair skills assessment and if I can put my hands on it, I will reply back with it attached later today. I am currently working with three students who have low vision and use power wheelchairs and I'm working with one student who is totally blind who uses a manual wheelchair. Feel free to give me a call-636-578-0124 Kevin Kevin J. Hollinger COMS, M.A., M.Ed, NBCT FHSD Vision Program 636-851-6143 > On Dec 20, 2016, at 1:29 PM, Shannon Pruitt <sdpruitt99@gmail.com> wrote: > > Does anyone have a good resource they can share (or information) on making a decision for whether it is safe for a student to operate a power wheelchair? > > Shannon > You are subscribed to AERNet, The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Listserv. > > To post a message to all the list members, send an email to aernet@lists.aerbvi.org. > > Address list requests to: aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org > > To unsubscribe from this list, go to http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org and follow instructions to unsubscribe. Go to the same address to access the list archives. > _______________________________________________ > AERNet mailing list > AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org > http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org

Shannon, this is not an assessment that gives a "yes" "no" answer to your question, but Assessing Students' Needs for Assistive Technology (ASNAT) by the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative (WATI) is something I go back to again and again. Chapter Two has a lengthy discussion regarding powered mobility, including these words of wisdom: "Readiness/Safety Therapists' beliefs about readiness for powered mobility varied widely. Readiness factors may include physical, cognitive, and sensory skills as well as a minimum age. Some students have been excluded because of these issues. However, more and more students are being considered for powered mobility despite significant issues in these areas. Mobility is not driving and students can, in a controlled situation, learn to move safely through their environment before they are allowed to roam free. Just as a parent stops their child from harming themselves if they crawl towards an open stairway, the powered mobility beginner can be assisted to be safe in learning to use a powered mobility device. The use of a safety switch or kill switch accessible to the caregiver will allow them to immediately cut off power to the wheelchair in the event of a safety concern." The WATI is not specific to just visual impairment, but includes good information related to that topic as well. If the attachment does not go through you can find the document at http://www.wati.org/content/supports/free/pdf/ASNAT5thEditionJun09.pdf This is a 2009 edition. WATI was defunded after that, and there is not a more recent version. The processes for decision-making, however, are sound. It is a free download. Michelle Clyne, M. S. Ed. Coordinator, Project Reach: Illinois Deaf-Blind Services c/o Philip J. Rock Center and School 818 DuPage Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 630-790-2474 voice 630-790-4893 fax CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The contents of this email are confidential. It is intended for the named recipient(s) only. If you have received this email in error please destroy it, notify the sender immediately and do not disclose the contents to anyone or make copies. -----Original Message----- From: AERNet [mailto:aernet-bounces@lists.aerbvi.org] On Behalf Of Shannon Pruitt Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 1:28 PM To: AER List; oandm@lists.aerbvi.org Subject: [AERNet] Power wheelchair Does anyone have a good resource they can share (or information) on making a decision for whether it is safe for a student to operate a power wheelchair? Shannon You are subscribed to AERNet, The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Listserv. To post a message to all the list members, send an email to aernet@lists.aerbvi.org. Address list requests to: aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org To unsubscribe from this list, go to http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org and follow instructions to unsubscribe. Go to the same address to access the list archives. _______________________________________________ AERNet mailing list AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org