Evaluation of two power assist systems for manual wheelchairs for usability, performance and mobility: a pilot study.

Background: Power-assist devices for manual wheelchairs offer benefits, including increased community participation. Several power-assist devices are commercially available, but research on benefits and limitations of devices is limited.

Objective: To compare the usability, performance, and mobility of two power-assist device systems for manual wheelchairs in indoor and outdoor environments.

Outdoor recreation among wheeled mobility users: perceived barriers and facilitators.

Purpose: Participation in outdoor recreation is associated with improvements in mental, emotional, and physical health. Individuals with impairments affecting mobility, such as wheelchair users, face environmental, physical, and social barriers to participation in outdoor recreation. There is limited research on outdoor recreation participation among wheelchair users, especially concerning informal recreational opportunities.

Development of an integrated staircase lift for home access.

Purpose: Stairways into buildings present a significant environmental barrier for those with mobility impairments, including older adults. A number of home access solutions that allow users to safely enter and exit the home exist, however these all have some limitations. The purpose of this work was to develop a novel, inclusive home access solution that integrates a staircase and a lift into one device.

Development and pilot testing of a kneeling ultralight wheelchair design.

"Dynamic wheeled mobility" offers "on the fly" seating adjustments for wheelchair users such that various activities performed throughout the day can be matched by an appropriate seat position. While this has benefits for user participation and health, the added weight in existing dynamic wheelchairs may impact the user's ability to transport the frame, e.g.

User perceptions of existing home access solutions and a novel home access device.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate end user perspectives of four existing home access solutions (HAS) and a newly designed experimental device (the ARISE).

Method: A cross-sectional design was used to evaluate the ARISE prototype against other HAS. Specifically, participants trialed stairs, a ramp, a platform lift (PL), a stair glide and the ARISE, after which they completed questionnaires aimed at soliciting their perspectives of these solutions.