Bowling Slide for Individuals Seated in Wheelchairs
By Chung, Cheng-Shiu (Joshua); Wang, Xin; AlQahtani, Saleh; RESNA 2011 Student Design Competition,Publication Date: April 28, 2011
Paper outlines the development of a wheelchair accessible slide for a children’s playground. The design allows children in wheelchairs to remain in their chairs while riding in the slide to experience vestibular motion and adventure. The structure consists of a two section sloped slide with side gutters to contain the wheelchair wheels. A tunnel placed on both sloped sections protects children from falling and makes the slide experience more mysterious. Audio and visual stimulation buttons on the tunnel walls produce scary sounds and colorful lights. At the end of the slide, large bowling pins made of soft energy absorbing material are magnetically attached to the floor surface and can be knocked over by the wheelchair or child on their way down. The pins rotate back in place using a torsion spring mechanism. Concrete slabs will have to be installed at the playground to anchor the slide. The design concept was evaluated for safety by a certified playground inspector from the National Recreation and Park Association, and for usability by staff, therapists, and children at the Children’s Institute in Pittsburgh. The bowling slide was an entry submitted by engineering students at the University of Pittsburgh in the RESNA 2011 Student Design Competition.
Published by: Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) (Website:http://www.resna.org)
Link to text: http://aac-rerc.psu.edu/wordpressmu/RESNA-SDC/2011/04/28/bowling-slide-for-individuals-seated-in-wheelchairs-university-of-pittsburgh/
