How do I decide on wheelchair seating for a client?
Answer
There is a wide array of seating products on the market. We have only touched on some of them. It is imperative to first evaluate the client to determine their needs. That narrows down the possible seating products that we are even going to consider. If you have tried 20 cushions with the client, chances are you need to go back to the drawing board and clarify the seating parameters. We should have narrowed down the field quite a bit by the time we are ready to consider any specific materials. We need to keep in mind the seating system category, the primary and secondary supports and the materials that are being used.
Michelle Lange, OTR/L, ATP/SMS
Michelle Lange is an occupational therapist with over 35 years of experience and has been in private practice, Access to Independence, for over 15 years. She is a well-respected lecturer, both nationally and internationally, and has authored numerous texts, chapters, and articles. She is the co-editor of Seating and Wheeled Mobility: a clinical resource guide. She is the former NRRTS Continuing Education Curriculum Coordinator and Clinical Editor of NRRTS Directions magazine. Michelle is a RESNA Fellow and member of the Clinician Task Force. Michelle is a RESNA certified ATP and SMS.
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