Special Topics

The Great Wheelchair Adventure

Wheelchair Experience Reflection

This was one of the most interesting and challenging experiments I have ever done. I always thought that wheeling around in a wheelchair would be fun. However, while it had its fun parts, like being able to turn around quickly in a small area, everything else was quite challenging. My perspective on being in a wheelchair all day, every day, has shifted considerably.

The wheelchair I used for the “campus adventure” was red, OTA #3, and was a fold-up frame. For the community/home adventure, I used the same red, OTA #3, fold-up frame. The wheelchair measurements were:

·      seat width, 21 in

·      seat depth, 15 in

·      seat to mid-back, 18 in

·      seat to axilla, 16 in

·      seat to top of shoulder, 23 in

·      distal thigh to heel, 17 in

·      elbow to cushion, 8.5 in

I practiced breaking down and folding up the red, OTA#3, fold-up frame both on the campus adventure as well as the community/home adventure when I returned the wheelchair to the classroom and when I had to put it in and take it out of my car.

My first experience was on campus, which brought a few challenges. The first challenge was opening the classroom door on my own. While the door frame was more than wide enough, it was heavy and difficult to do while trying to wheel myself out. I ended up holding the door open with my right hand and grabbing the door frame on the left to get some grip to create momentum to get myself into the hallway, which was a potential hazard for closing my fingers in the door or tipping back. To make this more accessible, a lighter door could be installed. I found wheeling myself down the hallway and to the elevator was easy as it was more than wide enough, but I had to get used to how to move the hand rims of the wheelchair to maneuver around corners.

The next challenge was using the elevator. While having one of us go inside was fine, when two of us had to enter in wheelchairs, the elevator doors were constantly trying to close on us, which was a safety hazard. Wheeling out of the elevator was quite easy as well as pressing the buttons to activate the automatic door opener for wheelchair users. However, getting through the door before it started closing was challenging at times, depending on which side of the doors you were on. From the inside of the building, this was an easy task but, on the outside, the challenge was that from where you pressed the button, there was concrete that angled up which made it difficult to get to the door on time before it began closing, which was another potential safety hazard. Increasing the setting for the wait time before the doors close would help avert this hazard.

There were definitely some architectural challenges that I encountered on campus. The ramp going up to the Student Health and Counseling Center was far too steep which made it impossible to wheel myself up there. I had to hold onto the handrail on my left and use my right hand on the wall to pull myself up the ramp. I’m not sure how anyone in a wheelchair gets themselves up there as it would require an immense amount of arm and upper body strength to keep enough momentum so as not to roll backward. To make it more accessible, the ramp could be lowered, or a conveyor belt installed for automatic motion up the ramp. Another architectural challenge was wheeling around on the concrete slabs outside. Many of the slabs were not level, which made it difficult to keep momentum with the wheelchair rolling back due to a slant in some of the concrete slabs. To make the outdoor areas more accessible, the concrete slabs could all be made level to ensure smooth movement for wheelchairs.

         I found many architectural challenges within my home. The first one was very apparent – the back and front entrances to our home both have stairs leading up to the doors. We would need to build a ramp at the back and front entrances. The kitchen has no under-counter space to fit a person sitting in a wheelchair – there are cupboards under the sink and all around the kitchen from countertop to floor. The above-counter cupboards for the crockery were too high for me to reach, except for the first shelf. The sink is too high, and the dishwasher has a front opening door which prevents the wheelchair from getting close enough to load it easily. To make the kitchen more accessible, a drawer-type dishwasher should be installed, and the sink and cupboards should be lowered. When I did my cooking, I had to open the oven door onto my lap, which I was afraid was going to burn my arms while reaching inside – it would be more accessible by having a side-opening door at eye level. Our en-suite bathroom door opening was too narrow to get the wheelchair in and getting into the laundry was impossible due to the narrow space between the front-loader washer and dryer and the wall. The bathroom door frame would need to be wider, and the laundry width would need to be increased for accessibility. The only area in my home that was easy to move in with a wheelchair was our lounge, hallway, and inside entrance. Therefore, it is evident that my home is not wheelchair friendly.

         After using a wheelchair on campus and in my home, I realized just how much I take for granted. For instance, reaching into high cupboards to retrieve what I need is easy, I can bend and stretch without thinking and can use the stairs independently – being restricted was very difficult. My perspective on being in a wheelchair, whether permanently or temporarily, has shifted greatly and I will never look upon a wheelchair user in the same light again.