Hillary Price – Empower Clients with Mobility Impairments: Using Technology to Improve Quality of Life

Outline

• Introduction to assistive technology
• Provide definitions and examples of assistive technology pertaining to wheelchair users (both simple add-on devices such as luggage carriers or cup holders, to complex such as a power-assist device or alternative power wheelchair controls)
• Provide guidelines for equipment ordering process, including guidelines for insurance coverage based on the device and the patient’s diagnosis
• Discuss alternative funding sources or community organizations that can help with access to assistive technology options
• Define wheelchair classifications, manual and power
• Discuss modifications necessary within a person’s home and transportation to accommodate manual versus power wheelchairs
• Provide overview of power assist options for manual wheelchair users – a hybrid between power and manual
• Provide outline of new power wheelchair features that utilize Bluetooth technology
• Present and discuss case study for practical application of specific devices for a power wheelchair user
• Questions & answers