394 chapter 43
USE OF A CANE
It usually works best to hold the cane on
the side opposite the weaker leg.
Move forward and put down the weaker
leg and the cane together.
For different crutch and cane designs,
see Chapter 63.
His ‘tracks’ should
look like this.
WHEELCHAIR TRANSFERS
Persons who use wheelchairs become much more independent if they can learn to
transfer (get in and out of their wheelchairs) by themselves, or with limited help. For
those who need some help, it is important to find ways to transfer that make it easiest
both for the disabled person and the helper.
Too often, as disabled children get
bigger and heavier, mothers and fathers
hurt their own backs.
THE WRONG WAY TO TRANSFER
Different persons will discover their
own ‘best way’ to transfer with or
without help, depending on their own
combination of strengths and weaknesses.
Here we give some suggestions of ways
to transfer that many people have found to
work well.
WARNING:
Notice that it is often easier to
One disability can lead to another!
transfer sideways out of a chair, and also back into it. To transfer sideways, however,
a wheelchair without armrests, or with at least one removable armrest, is needed.
Therefore, for many disabled children, make an effort to get or make wheelchairs
without armrests or with removable armrests. Unfortunately, most wheelchairs in
many countries have fixed, often very high, armrests. We therefore will give examples
of transfers both with and without
armrests.
A good way to transfer the child who
needs help is like this.
Put the child’s feet on the floor and
lean her forward against your body.
Have her hold on as best she can.
To lift him,
grip his pants
or make a
canvas or
leather sling.
Lift her like this and swing her onto
the bed.
Ideas for wheelchair design, adaptation, and use are in Chapters 64, 65, and 66.
Disabled village Children