For many people with spinal cord
injuries learning good wheelchair
skills is the key to independence
and a good quality of life. Whilst
physiotherapists in the Spinal Injury Centres
can teach the basic skills needed for life in a
wheelchair it is often only by learning from
experienced wheelchair users, that these skills
can be truly mastered.
In 2001 the charity Back Up recognised
this and set up a wheelchair skills training
initiative which they took into Spinal Centres.
Working alongside the hospital staff,
they helped many newly injured people
learn techniques and gain confidence in
using a wheelchair. Back Up have now
expanded their training with a new “Join the
Dots” community based wheelchair skills
programme, which we are delighted to be
sponsoring.
The first five sessions in Aylesbury, Sheffield,
Middlesbrough and Pinderfields have been a
great success. Back Up Outreach and Support
Manager Pete Donnelly said: “It is essential
for people to have the confidence and skills
to get around their communities in their
wheelchair when they leave hospital.
That’s why we are building on our wheelchair
skills training sessions and now taking the
training into local towns. It’s great to have
the support of Irwin Mitchell for this vital new
service and fantastic that we have volunteers
from their offices to join the sessions and
experience them first hand!”
In Sheffield, two ex-patients from the Spinal
Centre were able to come on the course,
because of the additional help available
from the Irwin Mitchell volunteers.
More information can be found at:
www.backuptrust.org.uk
At the end of the day one of the course
attendees thanked Back Up by writing:
“Just a line to say how much I
gained from attending the course
last week in Sheffield, I ‘got’ the
back wheel balance very quickly
and am practicing at home! I
think it will come in really useful
for France (dropped kerbs being an
unpredictable quantity!). Please
thank Andy and his volunteers for
their help, it was really enjoyable
meeting them all.”
For general enquiries
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