Applicability of the Wheelchair Skills Program to the Indian Context
By Kirby, R. Lee; Cooper, Rory A.; Disability and Rehabilitation, Vol. 29, No. 11, pp. 969-972Publication Date: 2007
Study exploring whether the Wheelchair Skills Program (WSP), a formal instructional program developed in Canada, would be applicable in India. During a two-week visit, the authors met with clinicians and executives, held workshops and training sessions, and made observations at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in New Delhi, Jaipur Foot, a major manufacturer of arm-crank-propelled tricycles, and the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India, a large-scale manufacturer of tricycles and wheelchairs in Kanpur. Community obstacles found to the application of WSP were, e.g., sidewalks difficult to navigate; heavy wheeled-mobility equipment, most prevalently arm-cranked tricycles; and a large portion of the population needing wheeled mobility and not having access to it. Other impediments mentioned are the high illiteracy rate and poor access to media, which limits distribution of the WSP instructional material. However, the preliminary evaluation suggests the potential of WSP training to help the mobility and participation of wheelchair users in India.
Published by: Taylor & Francis, Limited (Website:http://taylorandfrancis.org)
International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (Web Site: http://www.isprm.org )
Link to text: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638280701240730
