Occupational therapy student Elizabeth Rodea tests out a custom seating design for a manual wheelchair. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)
Students Elizabeth Rodea (from left), Haley Hoffman, Alexandra Duxbury and Catherine Wilson take notes on different wheelchair technologies presented by Lori Maas from Home Care Medical. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)
Master’s students Steven Sizer (from left), Rachel Beaver and Candice Cho try out three different kinds of seating for manual wheelchairs. (UWM Photo/Troye Fox)
Student Constance Carlson tests out a higher-tech wheelchair at Home Care Medical’s facilities. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Silverman)
Student Stephanie Paly test drives one of Home Care Medical’s standing wheelchair, an assistive technology that allows the user to interact with people and objects at eye level. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Silverman)
Student Alexandra Duxbury tries out a different version of a standing wheelchair. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Silverman)
Mikelyn Olson listens on how to use and operate a powered wheelchair. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Silverman)
Students from the Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology course try out tilt and recliner wheelchairs. Steven Sizer (middle); Elizabeth Rodea (far). (Photo courtesy of Michelle Silverman)
Student Cindy Gauthier gives a sign of approval after testing out a joystick-controlled power wheelchair. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Silverman)
Each year, master’s students in the occupational therapy program at UWM have the opportunity to learn about, and also ride, wheelchairs through a lab in the Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology course at UWM. Also known as “Mobility Technology Day,” the lab allows students to experience the kinds of technology they may be prescribing during their practice.
With wheelchairs provided by Home Care Medical, a Wisconsin-based home care product and service supplier, as well as positioning accessories and seating from the Adaptive Engineering Lab in Milwaukee, students tried out the technologies that they’ve learned about in the classroom.
As a part of the lab, students also went to Home Care Medical’s facilities to test drive the motorized wheelchairs and higher-tech components to further familiarize themselves with assistive technology.
