Wheelchair guidelines

Wheelchairs for children and adults with muscular dystrophy and related conditions.

A guide to the issues involved in the assessment, choice and manufacture of wheelchairs and the provision of suitable wheelchair access to a house.

The information is for:

• People with muscular dystrophy and related conditions and their carers
• Therapists and other professionals who do not have experience in wheelchair and seating assessments
• Wheelchair Services staff who are experts in wheelchair assessment, but may have limited experience in the provision of indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs and/or the specific needs of people within this disability group
• Specialist staff of voluntary disability organisations who may have particular expertise in advising people with specific disabilities and whom Wheelchair Services are encouraged to use or consult, in accordance with section 15 of the NHS guidelines, HSG(96)34,Powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs for severely disabled people (May 1996). See Appendix 2. 
• Wheelchair manufacturers, in order to highlight the features that need to be considered
• Architectural designers who want to understand more about the mobility equipment around which they are adapting the environment

The topics covered in this guidance (a document which can be downloaded below) are: 

• What is a good seating position? 
• The need for specialist seating systems 
  
• Range of specifications & wheelchair features 
  
• Specialist types of chairs needed 
  
• Architectural planning issues 
  
• Appendix 1. Wheelchair standards & guidelines 
  
• Appendix 2. Which chair and why?
  

For detailed information about wheelchairs, please download this document: Wheelchairs (186 kb)

(This information can also be found in chapter 8d “Wheelchairs” from the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s Adaptations Manual, 2nd edition).

Suppliers' contact details

If you would like the contact details of any of the suppliers referred to in the article, please visit the link below.

Suppliers' details

Association of Wheelchair Children

The AWC is a charity that provides free training courses for young wheelchair users throughout the UK and Ireland. The courses incorporate games and are a fun day for families as well as offering young people the chance to learn wheelchair skills.

You can email them at: northteam@wheelchairchildren.org.uk or visit its website by clicking the link below.

Visit the AWC website