Applicability of the Wheelchair Skills Program to the Indian context.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the applicability of the Wheelchair Skills Program (WSP) to the Indian context. During a two-week period, we visited two clinical institutions and one manufacturing facility, in New Delhi, Jaipur and Kanpur, respectively. We met with local clinicians, held workshops and training sessions, and made qualitative observations. The community obstacles observed in India were similar in nature to those in North America. However, obstacles appeared to be more prevalent and, in some cases, more extreme. Of the wheeled mobility devices that we observed in the community, arm-crank-propelled tricycles were most commonly seen. Of the hand-rim-propelled wheelchairs we observed, most were heavy and non-adjustable ('depot style'). Ground-level carts were also seen. We also encountered people who needed wheelchairs but did not have them. The WSP requires further development and implementation in India will address present challenges. However, this preliminary evaluation suggests that WSP training has potential to help the mobility and participation of wheelchair users in India.