Wheelchairs are one of the most preferred assistive devices used by the disabled 365 days a year to provide mobility. For this reason, it is extremely important to design, manufacture and select wheelchairs suitable for individuals and usage conditions. At the same time, environmental regulations are of great importance for users to continue their daily life activities with a wheelchair.
Although statistics on wheelchair use are limited, it is estimated that approximately 1% of the population in developed countries uses wheelchairs, and this rate is higher in the world. In our country, it is known that approximately 12% of the population consists of disabled individuals and physically disabled individuals constitute the majority of this group. However, there is no clear data on the number of individuals using wheelchairs. Considering the number of disabled individuals, it is possible to say that the number of individuals who use wheelchairs effectively and who need wheelchairs is quite high. Considering the rate of wheelchair use in the world and in our country, choosing the appropriate wheelchair is extremely important.
In order for a wheelchair to be qualified as suitable, it should help the individual to meet his/her own needs, be suitable for environmental conditions, have good body compatibility, be easily accessible, be safe, long-lasting, not force individuals economically, and provide postural support. Wheelchair selection should be made according to the user's preferred and predetermined needs, the user's capacity and the environment in which they live. In the appropriate wheelchair selection and evaluation process, a multidisciplinary team should include the user, family members, caregivers, professionals who carry out the treatment process, and individuals in the person's social environment. The main focus in the evaluation process should be the user and their goals. Considering why the person will use the wheelchair, the expected recovery and existing motor skills should be well analyzed. The wrong choice of wheelchair can cause more harm than good, causing irreparable damage.
Although it is stated that the wheelchair design should be personalized, it must comply with certain standards. Regarding wheelchair standardization; The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed international standards known as the ISO 7176 series. Many national standards committees have adopted the ISO 7176 series or individually adapted version as their own wheelchair. Soydan Y. et al. who need a wheelchair; developed a software algorithm for the selection of the most suitable (optimal) wheelchair for the disabled, the elderly and patients with permanent or temporary disability for different reasons. In practice, the most suitable wheelchair selection can be made by evaluating components such as the physical characteristics, wishes, usage area and features of the users, purpose and features of use, economic conditions, current technological products and features, expert opinions, standards, regulations and laws. With the development of technology day by day, this new study on wheelchair selection is extremely promising.
Instructor See. Tuba Şenol stated that the selection of suitable wheelchairs is extremely important for the integration of disabled individuals into society and for public and public health. He emphasized the need for wheelchairs to be designed in a way that allows users to participate in as many activities as possible. He stated that wheelchairs should be light, strong, highly maneuverable, foldable (not occupying space), comfortable, balanced, adaptable to uneven floors and have features that can be easily driven. He also stated that in children, it is necessary to pay attention to the selection of materials that will adapt to the growth rate, the development of self-confidence of the child and his communication with his peers. Noting that wheelchair sections also have standards at this stage, depending on seat width, depth and height; He said that attention should be paid to the back, foot, arm and head supports and that they should comply with the standards. Noting that only the selection of wheelchairs suitable for the characteristics of the users is not sufficient, he also stated that the appropriate landscaping is of great importance for the correct use of the wheelchair. He emphasized that in order to make the physical environment accessible and livable for the disabled, it is necessary to comply with the relevant standards of the Turkish Standards Institute in zoning plans, urban, social and technical infrastructure areas and structures.
When we consider historically, although the development of wheelchairs is very slow compared to other sectors, we can say that an incredible acceleration and user-oriented diversity has been achieved with the application of the developments in the fields of computer, electronics, materials, mechatronics and biomechanics to wheelchairs in recent years. Parallel to this, the number of wheelchair users has increased significantly. Based on all this information, we can say that appropriate selection and appropriate environmental regulations are of vital importance for wheelchairs, as is the case with all assistive device technologies for the disabled, and it is necessary to raise public awareness on this issue.
