Another fun discovery during the U.S. Access Board visit in Atlanta in May was this wheelchair handling skills practice track at the Shepherd Center. The center, one of the premier rehabilitation centers for spinal cord injury in the U.S., boasts one of the largest wheelchair friendly fitness centers I’ve ever seen. I was charmed by this simple garden with hardscape to challenge the novice and long-time user alike.
Note the various height steps on the left section, starting with 2”, 4” and finally 6” – to practice both dropping off a curb in a wheelie or popping up a curb. The gravel patch and brick section far back on the right allows practice on unstable surfaces. The grate in the sidewalk demonstrates amply the need to avoid passing your front caster directly over a slot in the floor surface (lest your caster drop in and you drop out – of your chair!)
What a lovely setting for new and developing wheelchair users to practice those real-life conditions that one has to manage to be an active wheelchair user. I wished I had more time to try out MY skills (I can see my daughter’s eyes rolling right now…) In case you don’t have a pretty outdoor setting handy, here’s a great resource for increasing YOUR wheelchair handling skills.
-
- Shephard Center outdoor track
-
- Brick and gravel in track
-
- Grate in path of travel on track
Gosh… I have only been in my wheelchair for little over a year. I don’t know how to bounce down stairs. That smaller first step, I think I could handle getting over it; the other 2 not so much! Rock pathway–eek! I know not to go over slotted surfaces.