Technology for mobility may be the single largest factor in determining an individual's ability to participate, both at the level of employment and community living. This study involves a survey, and a wheelchair skills test, and you may choose to participate in one or both of these components.
The specific aims for this study are:
- To investigate the impact of policy changes on customizability and features of wheelchairs and the number of working wheelchairs and individual owns.
- To investigate distance traveled, time spent active, and speed traveled in a power and/or manual wheelchair and its relationship to wheelchair provided, wheelchair breakdown, quality of life, and wheelchair skill.
- To investigate whether patient related factors are associated with customizability and features of wheelchairs and the number of working wheelchairs an individual owns.
Survey Portion:
Persons aged 16 and older with a traumatic spinal cord injury who are at least one year post-injury may participate.
Wheelchair portion:
Participants must use a manual or power wheelchair as primary means of mobility and be willing to come to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago for in-person participation.
Compensation: $30
