Manual Wheelchairs - World Health Organization

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Module 12. Services for clinicians – II
Recommended content: prescription of cushions; evaluation of cushion performance; local referral
network; intermediate assessment, prescription, fitting, user training and follow-up for clinicians;
support and supervision of clinical personnel; how to complete clinical service evaluations.
Module 13. Wheelchair technology
Recommended content: wheelchair design; cushion modifications; construction of basic and
pressure relief cushions; wheelchair preparation and modification; fabrication of postural support;
intermediate assessment, prescription, fitting, user training and follow-up for technicians; support,
supervision and training of technical personnel; workshop management; how to complete technical
service evaluations.
Summary
• Effective wheelchair provision requires personnel with knowledge and skills in the provision of
wheelchairs.
• When developing training opportunities and initiatives:
• spend time identifying suitable candidates for training;
• give preference to people with disabilities, especially wheelchair users where possible;
• explore possibilities of linking with existing rehabilitation training programmes;
• develop modules and training packages for integrated or exclusive training;
• explore ways to ensure training is recognized, and
• build the capacity of local trainers.
• Referral network personnel and those who fulfil managerial, clinical, technical and training roles
in a wheelchairs service require different types of training.
References
1. gyundi ye, cornick c. training: formal training; tatcot/motivation. In: sheldon s, Jacobs na, eds. Report of a Consensus
Conference on Wheelchairs for Developing Countries, Bangalore, India, 6–11 November 2006. copenhagen, International society
for prosthetics and orthotics, 2007 (http://homepage.mac.com/eaglesmoon/wheelchaircc/wheelchairreport_Jan08.pdf,
accessed 8 march 2008).
2. The Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. Rule 19. Personnel training. new york,
united nations, 1993 (http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/dissre05.htm#rule%2019, accessed 11 march 2008).
3. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Article 4 – General obligations. new york, united nations (http://www.
un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=264, accessed 11 march 2008).
4. best Kl et al. wheelchair skills training for community-based manual wheelchair users: a randomized controlled trial. Archives
of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2005, 86:2316–2323.
5. Certificate Course in Wheelchair Technology. moshi, tanzania training centre for orthopaedic technologists, 2007 (http://www.
tatcot.org/certificate%20wch.htm, accessed 11 march 2008).
6. sheldon s, Jacobs na, eds. Report of a Consensus Conference on Wheelchairs for Developing Countries, Bangalore, India,
6–11 November 2006. copenhagen, International society for prosthetics and orthotics, 2007 (http://homepage.mac.com/
eaglesmoon/wheelchaircc/wheelchairreport_Jan08.pdf, accessed 8 march 2008).
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