Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) who are restricted to a wheelchair have the same or increased need for access to school, medical appointments, stores, entertainment, and home as other children. However, because of medical, physical or behavioural problems these children often require more assistance during transportation than typical children. Parents and caregivers are responsible for assuring safe transportation of their child with special health care needs. These drivers may have limited resources or experience barriers to the safe transportation of CSHCN in wheelchairs. This study observes how caregivers transport children with special health care needs (CSHCN) in wheelchairs and compares these observations to best practice recommendations of the American National Standards Institute/Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America Subcommittee on Wheelchairs and Transportation. These recommendations include using transit option wheelchairs; facing the wheelchair/rider forward; securing the wheelchair with a four-point tie-down system to a structurally sound and non-moveable part of the chair; and using a crash-tested lap/shoulder belt occupant restraint. (Author/publisher)
Abstract