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