Feature Article Powered wheelchair mobility: An occupational performance evaluation perspective.

Developments in powered wheelchair technology have opened up a world of opportunities for people with disabilities that affect their mobility. The challenge for occupational therapists is to examine the functional utility of powered mobility relative to individual occupational performance needs. In the absence of a comprehensive evaluation strategy, the present paper examines current practice and proposes the use of the Occupational Performance Model (Australia) as an effective framework for examining powered wheelchair mobility as an enabler of human performance. Discussion of the critical elements affecting mobility performance includes the impact of the environment, life roles, space and time, as well as individual component level performance skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]