Apologies for coming into this discussion at such a late stage (our e-mail has been out of service for over a week) but I would like to share what little experience I have had with riser wheelchairs.

We once had a user (about 9 years ago) who had bought a Manger riser powerchair, he had Becker MD and was complaining of lower back pain. He mostly used the chair in a raised position and I noted that the seat tilted to one side quite considerably and would almost certainly have been a contributory factor.

We also have a tetraplaegic user in a Balder with a rise facility, he has to be accomodated in a sideways lean position and again this causes the seat to tilt to one side which in turn causes the wheelchair to veer.

Other than the 2 models mentioned above I know of the Inacare Spectra Plus range, the Permobil Koala and the Ibot.

 



Gary Williams

Rehab. Eng.

Wirral wheelchair centre

St. Catherines hospital

Derby Rd.

Birkenhead

Merseyside

CH42 0LQ



Tel 0151 604 7261

or 07733 225606

e-mail [log in to unmask]





 



	-----Original Message----- 

	From: Paul D. Nisbet [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 

	Sent: Tue 27/04/2004 13:01 

	To: [log in to unmask] 

	Cc: 

	Subject: Re: wheelchairs with adjustable height seats for school

	

	



	Thanks to everyone who commented on this query - it sounds like a riser is

	important. Next question, if I may: can anyone recommend good wheelchairs

	with risers, and/or risers that can be retro-fitted to wheelchairs? (She

	already has an NHS chair, but I haven't found out what sort it is yet.)

	

	Paul

	

	__________________________________

	Paul D. Nisbet

	Senior Research Fellow / Joint Coordinator

	CALL Centre, University of Edinburgh

	Paterson's Land, Holyrood Road

	Edinburgh EH8 8AQ

	Tel. 0131 651 6236

	Fax. 0131 651 6234

	[log in to unmask]

	http://callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk

	__________________________________

	

	-----Original Message-----

	From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.

	[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of anne HARRIS

	Sent: 22 April 2004 16:24

	To: [log in to unmask]

	Subject: Re: swheelchairs with adjustable height seats for school

	

	Hi Paul

	We provide many children with adjustable height powered wheelchairs to

	access their environment at school, eg science labs, design &

	technology, school libraries at secondary lvel.  This works very well

	for them and allows disabled children to sit at the same tables as their

	able-bodied peers for these lessons.  This is especially important in

	science where they may not necessarily be able to handle the equipment

	themselves, but being apart of the group who carry out experiments,

	provides a much better experience than being with an educational care

	assistance. It also means they are able to benefit form the social

	interaction, as sometimes they can be integrated but not necessarily

	included. Socially at school pupils spend a lot of time standing up

	outside at breaks, a riser allows them to be at an equal height with

	their peers in this situation, so that people are not always talking

	over their heads.  Eye to eye contact is important when communicating.

	Hope this is helpful.  Anne

	

	

	Anne Harris

	Regional Mobility Therapist

	Whizz-Kidz

	Tel: 0115-9761172

	Transform the life of a disabled child

	There are so many ways you can help us give disabled children the

	independence they've only ever dreamed of. Visit our website for ideas

	www.whizz-kidz.org.uk

	Or call us on 020 7233 6600

	Whizz-Kidz is a national charity that changes the lives of disabled

	children by providing advice, information and customised mobility

	equipment that is not available from the NHS.

	Whizz-Kidz 1 Warwick Row, London, SW1E 5ER

	020 7233 6600

	www.whizz-kidz.org.uk

	Registered Charity No. 802872

	

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	-----Original Message-----

	From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.

	[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paul D. Nisbet

	Sent: 22 April 2004 16:03

	To: [log in to unmask]

	Subject: Re: swheelchairs with adjustable height seats for school

	

	Hi folks

	

	Here's a problem which I'm sure you guys have tackled many times:

	

	We've a client in primary school who is due to go to secondary school

	next

	term, who drives a powered chair. At a planning visit to the secondary

	school the staff pointed out that she would have difficulty accessing

	all

	the different desks and workbenches that are in the subject classrooms,

	and

	were asking if a chair with adjustable height seat would be suitable -

	eg

	Spectra Plus Riser. My initial reaction is that a wheelchair tray might

	be

	more practical and a lot cheaper, but I expect it could be very useful

	to

	have adjustable height as well. Anyone used such things in this sort of

	situation?

	

	Paul

	

	__________________________________

	Paul D. Nisbet

	Senior Research Fellow / Joint Coordinator

	CALL Centre, University of Edinburgh

	Paterson's Land, Holyrood Road

	Edinburgh EH8 8AQ

	Tel. 0131 651 6236

	Fax. 0131 651 6234

	[log in to unmask]

	http://callcentre.education.ed.ac.uk

	__________________________________