Sorry for the lengthy replies but, I got some interesting ones on the OT
lists. I forward them as I get permission.
Beth the OT
email address: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: carebear [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2001 5:14 AM
To: Technology SIS Listserv
Subject: [tech-sis] wheelchair transit standards Re: invacare chairs
hi, i'm an OT from the chicago area and i'm new to
this listserv. i'm am writing to comment on the issue
of wheelchair transportation safety. i work in the
school system and wheelchair safety on buses is a big
concern. in the winter, our co-op had alpha bus
company train the therapists on the tie down systems
they use. mike wagner, of alpha bus company, has been
part of the SOWHAT (subcommittee on on wheelchairs and
transportation -RESNA). he told us that a transit
wheelchair option is now available for wheelchairs.
however, this option is voluntary by the wheelchair
companies. the wheelchair user or vendor must
specifically request to have the transit option on
their wheelchair. this transit option consists of the
4 metal loops that are bolted to points on the base of
the wheelchair that some of you have seen. this
standard may be just for pediatric wheelchairs but i'm
not sure. i believe there is a related adult
standard. the wheelchair companies have argued that
there is not much demand for wheelchairs that meet the
transit standard. GIVE ME A BREAK! we must advocate
for our clients, speak up and demand transit standard
safe wheelchairs. make sure the vendor you go through
specifically asks for this option. mike said these
loops could be put on ANY wheelchair, but i say that
remains to be seen due to all of the individualized
wheelchair modifications that are made.
This is the standard:
WC-19-Wheelchairs Used as Seats in Motor Vehicles was
APPROVED by ANSI on April 19, 2000 and is now a
voluntary U.S. national standard.
this of course has nothing to say about the seating
systems, but i'm just adressing the issue that i've
heard about. of course i have horror stories about
kids being tied down on the bus using the swing-away
footplates, removable armrests, etc. as a matter of
fact, the very bus drivers that trained us on where
and how to tie down the wheelchairs were subsequently
found to tie down the chairs in the wrong spots. i
have even seen a chair with those transit-certified or
transit-standard loops not being used as tie down
points!! that's what they're there for!! when i told
the bus driver that, she looked at me like i was
crazy. so we also need to educate the bus drivers and
constantly check up on them to make sure they tie down
the wheelchairs using the base or the transit metal
loops.
i hope this helps. i am by NO MEANS an expert in this
area. if anything i have written is in error, forgive
me. the pittsburgh webpage is a good resource on
what's been going on with SOWHAT:
ANSI/RESNA Subcommittee on Wheelchairs and
Transportation (SOWHAT)
Overview and Status Report
Last Update: November 2000
http://www.wheelchairstandards.pitt.edu/ANSIRES/SOWHAT/Refdocs/SOWHATintro.h
tml
http://www.wheelchairstandards.pitt.edu/
--Carolyn B OTR/L
the more i think about it, i'm not sure if it was the
loops that were transit certified or if there is a
"Transit certified wheelchair" that has the loops on
it that is made by a particular company.
nevertheless, perhaps the more it's requested, the
quicker the other companies will follow suit. the
information i have on this topic is at work and i'm
off for the summer, so i'm sorry i can't verify the
info.
maybe you'd want to add that to the end of my email.
carolyn
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