South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department

Telework

Choosing the correct mobility

Critical Factors Home layout Home layout Hobbies and community involvement Hobbies and community involvement Available transportation Available transportation Job site characteristics Job site characteristics

Job Site Considerations Building Access Building Access Common Areas Access Common Areas Access Environmental Issues Environmental Issues Work Area Issues Work Area Issues

Building Access Parking space location/dimensions/signage Parking space location/dimensions/signage Parking lot surface/grade Parking lot surface/grade Curb cuts Curb cuts Sidewalk surface/grade Sidewalk surface/grade Front entrance security Front entrance security Front entrance accessibility/knob type Front entrance accessibility/knob type Front entrance force requirements, <8.5 lb. Front entrance force requirements, <8.5 lb.

WHAT NOT TO DO:

Common Areas Access Hall widths, >42 in. Hall widths, >42 in. Copy room Copy room Breakroom Breakroom Lunchroom Lunchroom Bathroom, dimensions, grab bars, fixtures Bathroom, dimensions, grab bars, fixtures Drinking fountains, <36 in. high Drinking fountains, <36 in. high Emergency exits Emergency exits Nurse’s station Nurse’s station

Environmental Issues Floor surface characteristics Floor surface characteristics Air quality Air quality Heating/air conditioning Heating/air conditioning Light reflection Light reflection Noise Noise Vibration Vibration

Work Area Issues Essential tasks Essential tasks Material flow Material flow Equipment layout Equipment layout Switch accessibility Switch accessibility Who uses the immediate area? Who uses the immediate area? Available assistance Available assistance Production requirements/speed, accuracy Production requirements/speed, accuracy

Types of Mobility Equipment manual wheelchair manual wheelchair motorized scooter motorized scooter power wheelchair power wheelchair walker walker crutches crutches cane cane prosthesis prosthesis

Manual Wheelchair basic seating or specialty cushion, back, and other postural support options basic seating or specialty cushion, back, and other postural support options seated height typically close to standard office chair, therefore clearance under desk or work surface most times is not an issue seated height typically close to standard office chair, therefore clearance under desk or work surface most times is not an issue may be able to transfer to ergonomic office chair may be able to transfer to ergonomic office chair desk ergonomics, wireless keyboard/mouse, etc. desk ergonomics, wireless keyboard/mouse, etc. specialty wheelchairs, such as standing wheelchair specialty wheelchairs, such as standing wheelchair most fold or disassemble easily and can be transported in almost any vehicle, some situations require specialty vehicle lift most fold or disassemble easily and can be transported in almost any vehicle, some situations require specialty vehicle lift

Motorized Scooter 3 or 4 wheel models 3 or 4 wheel models most have basic van type seating most have basic van type seating some have power seat elevator option some have power seat elevator option seat can spin 90 degrees for getting on/off and for accessing work surface seat can spin 90 degrees for getting on/off and for accessing work surface may be able to walk short distances and/or transfer to ergonomic office chair may be able to walk short distances and/or transfer to ergonomic office chair some models easily disassemble into small parts, others will require accessible vehicle or specialty vehicle lift some models easily disassemble into small parts, others will require accessible vehicle or specialty vehicle lift

Power Wheelchair cushion, back, and other postural support options cushion, back, and other postural support options powered seating systems such as tilt-in-space, recline, elevating leg rests, and seat elevator powered seating systems such as tilt-in-space, recline, elevating leg rests, and seat elevator seated height typically higher than standard chair, clearance under desk or work surface may be an issue – desk risers or adjustable height table seated height typically higher than standard chair, clearance under desk or work surface may be an issue – desk risers or adjustable height table desk ergonomics, wireless keyboard/mouse, etc. desk ergonomics, wireless keyboard/mouse, etc. specialty wheelchairs, such as standing wheelchair or all terrain wheelchair specialty wheelchairs, such as standing wheelchair or all terrain wheelchair require accessible vehicle or specialty lift to transport require accessible vehicle or specialty lift to transport

Case Studies

Case Study #1 Client: 37 year old female Client: 37 year old female Diagnosis: T-9 complete spinal cord injury Diagnosis: T-9 complete spinal cord injury Goal: return to work as administrative assistant, now working from home office due to personal needs Goal: return to work as administrative assistant, now working from home office due to personal needs Issues: accessibility of home office and desk area, layout of work area, specialized computer equipment, ergonomics Issues: accessibility of home office and desk area, layout of work area, specialized computer equipment, ergonomics

Accommodations wheelchair seating wheelchair seating custom built work surfaces custom built work surfaces CPU riser CPU riser wireless keyboard and mouse wireless keyboard and mouse

Case Study #2 Client: 28 year old female Client: 28 year old female Diagnosis: Transverse Myelitis Diagnosis: Transverse Myelitis Goal: return to work as an optician Goal: return to work as an optician Issues: difficulty reaching optical equipment and the many eyeglass frames on display from her manual wheelchair Issues: difficulty reaching optical equipment and the many eyeglass frames on display from her manual wheelchair

Accommodations standing manual wheelchair standing manual wheelchair

Case Study #3 Client: 25 year old female Client: 25 year old female Diagnosis: incomplete quadriplegia Diagnosis: incomplete quadriplegia Goal: independent mobility to and from parking area and between classes where she attends technical college Goal: independent mobility to and from parking area and between classes where she attends technical college Issues: client has limited strength and right side weakness, and cannot propel her manual wheelchair for long distances Issues: client has limited strength and right side weakness, and cannot propel her manual wheelchair for long distances

Accommodations motorized scooter motorized scooter hitch mounted scooter lift hitch mounted scooter lift folding walker folding walker

Case Study #4 Client: 21 year old male Client: 21 year old male Diagnosis: spina bifida Diagnosis: spina bifida Goal: to attend barbering school and then work as a barber Goal: to attend barbering school and then work as a barber Issues: client sits very low in his manual wheelchair and needs to be seated at or above his customer’s head level to properly and safely cut and style their hair Issues: client sits very low in his manual wheelchair and needs to be seated at or above his customer’s head level to properly and safely cut and style their hair

Accommodations power wheelchair with very high power seat elevator power wheelchair with very high power seat elevator

Case Study #5 Client: 33 year old female. Client: 33 year old female. Diagnosis: C5-6 Complete Spinal Cord Injury. Diagnosis: C5-6 Complete Spinal Cord Injury. Goal: continue to run all aspects of family goat farm. This includes all business aspects of the farm, as well as supervising daily care of animals, breeding, and birthing in the barns and fields. Goal: continue to run all aspects of family goat farm. This includes all business aspects of the farm, as well as supervising daily care of animals, breeding, and birthing in the barns and fields. Issues: current power wheelchair unable to negotiate rough terrain. Issues: current power wheelchair unable to negotiate rough terrain.

Accommodations 4x4 power wheelchair with tilt-in-space seating system and trailer 4x4 power wheelchair with tilt-in-space seating system and trailer motorized height adjustable office desk motorized height adjustable office desk specialty gate latches specialty gate latches

Summary All aspects of lifestyle must be examined before the proper mobility device is chosen. All aspects of lifestyle must be examined before the proper mobility device is chosen. A good combination of the correct mobility device along with appropriate job site accommodations can dramatically increase a person’s chances of success. A good combination of the correct mobility device along with appropriate job site accommodations can dramatically increase a person’s chances of success.

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