Choosing a Powered Wheelchair: The Choice of a Client dependent on a Ventilator

Abstract

It is only in the last 4 years that clients resident in the United Kingdom who had had a spinal cord injury and were dependent on a ventilator have had a choice of powered wheelchairs that would suit their needs. By using the experiences of one client and the philosophy of client choice, this article describes the features, advantages and limitations of four such powered wheelchairs. Through the process of facilitating client choice, the client was able to select the wheelchair that best suited his needs. Furthermore, despite several problems with the wheelchair after purchase, the client remained satisfied with his selection.