OSOT - The WHO Wheelchair Provision Guidelines and the Benefits to Ontario Occupational Therapists
Presenter(s)
Andree Gauthier (she/her), OT Reg. (Ont.)
Built on the 2008 World Health Organization's (WHO) Guidelines on the Provision of Manual Wheelchairs in Less Resourced Settings, the 2023 WHO guidelines were developed because of new evidence and the need to be used in all settings. They are a collaboration between the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP), WHO, and the International Society of Orthotics and Prosthetics (ISPO). The guidelines emphasize a service delivery model and availability of trained personnel to support wheelchair users in the selection, fitting, use and follow up of wheelchair provision. This webinar will provide an overview of the guidelines with examples of the benefits of their use within a clinical setting. The content will support occupational therapists to develop essential, affordable, accessible, effective, efficient, safe, and sustainable wheelchair services.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to: Identify the 4 principles that underpin the 2023 Guidelines. Define what is an appropriate wheelchair. Provide clinical examples of the use of service level recommendations. Provide examples of system level recommendations.