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Motorized wheelchair driving by disabled children
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|February 1, 1984
Summary
Young children with physical disabilities can learn to control motorized wheelchairs. This early powered mobility can help them achieve gross motor milestones.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Assistive Technology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Early gross motor development is crucial for children.
- Physical disabilities can impede achieving motor milestones.
- Powered mobility devices offer potential for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if children under 4 years with physical disabilities can learn to control motorized wheelchairs.
- To assess the feasibility and timeline of acquiring driving skills in young children.
Main Methods:
- Study included 13 children (20-37 months) with physical disabilities and normal intelligence.
- Children used motorized wheelchairs with adaptive seating.
- Parents introduced wheelchairs at home without formal training; progress tracked via logs and hour meters.
Main Results:
- 12 of 13 children acquired 7 driving skills within a mean of 34.4 cumulative hours.
- Skills were learned over an average of 16.3 days, with actual movement averaging 8.1 hours.
- Children as young as 24 months demonstrated skill acquisition, with initial skills often being start-stop and circling.
Conclusions:
- Motorized wheelchair operation is achievable for physically disabled children from 24 months.
- Early powered mobility is a valuable rehabilitative intervention for promoting gross motor development.
- This intervention supports approximating normal motor milestones in young children with disabilities.