Whether you use a manual wheelchair, power wheelchair, or any one of the many scooters available, managing corners, turning around, and general maneuvering of the chair/scooter can be a real challenge. If you’ve been thinking you are the problem, this study might help set the record straight.
Guidelines were set in the 1970s to make buildings accessible to wheelchair users. But in the 40 years since then, mobility equipment sizes and designs have changed. However, building codes have not changed to accommodate the wide assortment of power wheelchairs, manual (push-type) wheelchairs, and now the newer scooters many of the older adults are using.
Some of this equipment is pretty heavy and bulky while others are light-weight. The wheel base varies as does the length of the chair and placement of the wheel axes. Some chairs have a front wheel set up while others have a mid-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. Each one of these designs has its own space requirements for turns.
Not everyone can sit up straight. Individuals in wheelchairs who have to be reclined have an even harder time managing U-turns, L-turns, or other pathways. Maneuverability becomes even more difficult when the legs have to be elevated.
People using the newer scooters are usually able to sit up straight. They have good trunk control and can operate the hand controls. But even the compact scooters are fairly large when it comes to navigating narrow hallways in older homes and small living spaces (not to mention public bathrooms).
In order to find out just what kind of space is needed, these researchers set up a lab with cardboard walls to mimic turns and tasks often faced by people in mobility equipment. Over 200 people in mobility equipment participated. The reason for their chair/scooter use ranged from spinal cord injuries to cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, brain injury, diabetes, and other diseases and injuries.
Their task was to maneuver the set up course without touching the walls. They could go at their own pace. Anyone who could not pass through the standard size doorway or hallway was considered unsuccessful. Anyone who touched the walls was also considered unsuccessful (failed trial). Measurements were taken to find out just how wide the area had to be for successful wheelchair/scooter navigation.
It might seem obvious that spaces too small for mobility equipment are a problem. But it’s a bigger problem than you might think. It limits accessibility, of course. But banging into walls can cause bodily harm to the person in the chair/scooter. The equipment can get damaged and so can the structure.
The results showed that the minimum Wheelchair Turning Space recommended by the Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG) wouldn’t be enough for anyone in the study to make some of the turns. Ninety-degree turns were easier than smooth U-turns.
Only the ultralight wheelchairs with the compact design and rear-wheel drive could handle small spaces. These types of chairs are mainly used by individuals who can sit up, who are not overweight, and who have full use of their arms.
The authors came to three conclusions with this study. First, anyone needing a specialized wheelchair should be evaluated carefully by a therapist specifically trained in mobility equipment. A wheelchair prescription of this type will make sure the person gets the right kind of chair for his or her needs and use.
Second, the home should be modified to allow for easy use of the mobility equipment (chair or scooter). Expecting the person who needs the chair/scooter to manage tight spots without hitting walls may not be realistic.
And finally, current guidelines and standards for buildings (e.g., door and hallway widths, bathrooms) should be updated. The goal is to make sure today’s current wheelchair and scooter users can get in and out of public areas easily. With almost two million Americans in wheelchairs or scooters, this recommendation has the potential to affect the daily lives of many people.