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POSITIONING
AND MOBILITY
To determine whether an individual will
benefit from assistive technology in the area of positioning
and mobility, AT professionals should ask themselves
the following consideration questions: “Can the
individual sit in a regular chair without adaptations?” “Can
the individual stand without adaptations?” If the
answer to either question is “no,” then teams
may want to assess this area further to determine if
AT is needed.
Providing stable positioning will promote the individual’s
ability to function in all environments such as the workplace,
home, and school. Poor positioning can have a significant
impact on an individual’s ability to learn, concentrate,
and use the upper extremities for fine motor tasks such
as typing at a computer, eating with utensils, or writing,
coloring, and drawing. In the school setting, assistive
technology to promote proper positioning is often considered
only for students with severe physical disabilities.
However, some students who have no physical disabilities
may still benefit from assistive technology to promote
proper positioning. For example, a student with no physical
impairments who sits at a desk that is too short may
have to hunch to reach the paper for writing which can
lead to discomfort and a decreased ability to concentrate.
In general, individuals who do not have limitations
in their joint range of motion should be able to sit
in a chair that allows the hips, knees, and ankles to
rest comfortably at 90 degree angles. The hips should
sit back against the seat back, and the individual’s
back and neck should be straight and in alignment. The
elbows should also rest on the desk top comfortably at
a 90 degree angle and the feet should be well supported
and flat on the floor or step. If caretakers have any
concerns about an individual’s positioning, whether
it be in a regular chair, adapted chair, or custom wheelchair,
consider contacting an occupational or physical therapist
trained in this area to conduct a positioning and mobility
assessment
Individuals who lack the ability to move independently
may also benefit from further assessment to determine
if mobility aids will be a benefit. There is a variety
of mobility aids available to allow individuals to participate
partially or with complete independence in mobility.
The aids may include devices such as canes, crutches,
walkers, gait trainers, manual wheelchairs, scooters,
power cars, and power wheelchairs. Power wheelchairs
can be operated by a variety of mechanisms using specialty
switches, making it possible for the very young child
(2 to 3 years old) as well as people with severe physical
disabilities who have very limited movement to control
these devices.
Below is a collection of articles, handouts/forms, and
useful links related to the area of positioning and mobility.
Reference:
Reed, P (Ed.). Assessing Student’s
Needs for Assistive Technology: A Resource Manual for
School District Teams
(4th ed.). Wisconsin Assistive Technology Initiative:
2004.
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