Wheelchair Provision Primary to Participation - an Occupational Justice Issue

Appropriate wheelchair provision for people with mobility impairments is primary to participation as a basic human right, yet there is a dearth of international consensus in assuring individual needs are met. A wheelchair... [ view full abstract ]

Appropriate wheelchair provision for people with mobility impairments is primary to participation as a basic human right, yet there is a dearth of international consensus in assuring individual needs are met. A wheelchair goes beyond a piece of equipment which merely assists participation; it is embodied, addressing all domains of classified function. We have a responsibility to ensure that all practicing professionals understand the occupational justice issues when ensuring sustainable wheelchair provision, through advancing education within all occupational therapy curriculums.

Provision of wheelchairs is multifaceted, requiring occupational therapy and clinical reasoning processes to be challenged beyond traditional assessments and interventions. Furthermore, enablement of access goes beyond the individual and moves into advocacy at a policy level. There is need to move towards a collaborative educational approach understanding many perspectives in practice, research and industry, with wheelchair user involvement being central. In this workshop we will explore access and barriers to participation at environmental and societal levels, promoting influence of public policy to enable an inclusive society. We will also review content and effectiveness of current methods of educating students, including:
o Service user involvement
o Skills based workshops
o Equipment demos and trials
o Experiential – measurement and assessment skills; using a wheelchair; adjusting a wheelchair
Finally, we will argue for a shift in emphasis to one of occupational justice supporting participation and engagement. The consequences of not moving towards this view will be examined using existing literature, and discourse with the workshop participants will provide practical take home strategies.