Assessment of need for special seating and/or electronic control systems for wheelchairs among people with severe physical disabilities

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish how many people with severe physical handicap in the Cambridge Health Authority had special seating, how many still needed a seating system and to investigate the demand for electronic controls for powered wheelchairs and the overall need for something other than standard controls. A quantitative and qualitative study was conducted between September 1991 and March 1992 in health, educational, residential and domestic establishments in the Cambridge District Health Authority. A total of 215 people with no sitting or trunk balance were assessed on the Chailey seating scale where the need for special seating and/or electronic controls was assessed. Of the 215 people found who had no sitting balance, 164 sat in a wheelchair for at least half the day. Eighty three had special seating systems and 43 had special cushions or wedges. Thirteen did not have but needed special seating and 16 needed special electronic controls. The numbers who needed but did not have special seating or electronic controls for powered wheelchairs in the Cambridge HA was lower than expected. However, referral is paramount and is reliant on the knowledge and expertise of professionals working with the patients in the community. The majority of those thought to need special controls were in fact able to use adapted, standard controls rather than requiring the development of new systems.