Rosemary J. Gowran
Wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision: a gateway to freedom
Gowran, Rosemary J.; Clifford, Amanda; Gallagher, Andrea; McKee, Jennifer; O�Regan, Bernadette; McKay, Elizabeth A.
Authors
Amanda Clifford
Andrea Gallagher
Jennifer McKee
Bernadette O�Regan
Prof Elizabeth Anne McKay E.McKay@napier.ac.uk
Professor
Abstract
Aim: The meaning of wheelchair and seating assistive technology and the impact inappropriate provision has on people’s lives from a service user’s perspective within an Irish context is highlighted. There is a dearth in evidence examining the process of wheelchair and seating provision and the interconnectedness between satisfaction, performance and participation from an equality and human rights perspective. The purpose if the study is to investigate wheelchair service users’ perspectives of wheelchair and seating provision in Ireland.
Method: This is a mixed-methods study with an exploratory sequential design that includes two phases. During phase one, wheelchair service users were invited to take part in qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews, which were thematically analysed and formed part of a larger ethnographic study involving multiple stakeholders in sustainable wheelchair and seating provision strategy development. In phase two, an online Survey Monkey questionnaire was distributed to obtain a wider overview of wheelchair service provision from a wheelchair service users perspective. Data obtained from the closed questions and content analysis for open comments was analysed descriptively for this phase.
Results: Eight wheelchair service users agreed to participate in the interviews and 273 responded to the online survey. Thematic analysis and questionnaire frequency and content analysis revealed the vital meaning of wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision. However, bottlenecks within the system affect daily living, with qualitative data highlighting the obstruction to experiences of independent living from initial appointment to wheelchair breakdowns during daily life.
Conclusion: Appropriate wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision is a basic human right, supported by the essential and embodied nature of the wheelchair as demonstrated through the wheelchair service users’ perspective throughout this study. These findings highlight the impact of ad-hoc services on individual freedoms and how the overall pace of the system affects a person’s ability to organise their time as an equal member of the community across the lifespan. A national review of wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision services is called for, giving consideration to access to services, assessment and delivery, follow up and management, education and training.
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Acceptance Date | May 8, 2020 |
Online Publication Date | Jun 8, 2020 |
Publication Date | 2022 |
Deposit Date | Jul 30, 2020 |
Publicly Available Date | Jun 9, 2021 |
Journal | Disability and Rehabilitation |
Print ISSN | 0963-8288 |
Electronic ISSN | 1464-5165 |
Publisher | Taylor & Francis |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 44 |
Issue | 3 |
Pages | 370-381 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2020.1768303 |
Keywords | Human rights, assistive technology, wheelchair provision, policy development, daily living |
Public URL | http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2667338 |
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Copyright Statement
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Disability and Rehabilitation on 08/06/2020, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09638288.2020.1768303.
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