-- "Maneuvering Room"
The phrase "maneuvering room" refers to the amount of space needed to maneuver a wheelchair successfully, easily and safely. Situations in which "maneuvering room" is an important issue include:
-- when a wheelchair user must maneuver into or out of a room.
-- when a wheelchair user must enter or exit a building.
-- when a wheelchair user must maneuver through a corridor.
-- when a wheelchair user must park the wheelchair for a transfer from the
wheelchair to another location such as a toilet, a shower, a chair, a bed, or a
vehicle such as an automobile that cannot accomodate the wheelchair user in
such a way that the wheelchair user can remain in their wheelchair while
boarding, riding, or disembarking.
-- when a wheelchair user must use a curb cut to transition from curb level to
street level or vice versa.
-- when a wheelchair user must get to or from a bus stop or other boarding
location in order to use the transit system.
-- when a wheelchair user must position himself or herself at a counter, table,
or desk.
-- when a wheelchair user must enter or exit a place of business whether this be in its own building or in a space within a building.
-- when a wheelchair user must move around within an establishment -- a
school, a place of work, a medical facility, etc.
-- "Manual Wheelchair" or "Manual Chair"
The phrase "manual wheelchair" or its shortened form "manual chair" refer to any wheelchair intended for "manual" operation -- operation via "muscle power" as it were -- either by its user, an assistant, or both. The manual wheelchair does not have a powered drive mechanism.
-- "Powered Wheelchair" or "Power Chair"
The words "power" and "powered" used in the strictest sense regarding wheelchairs refer to any wheelchair which is primarily operated via a powered drive mechanism. For the purposes of our discussion, however, we will use the term "power wheelchair" or its shortened form "power chair" to indicate a powered wheelchair intended for use for the most part in its standard manufactured configuration and which is not intended or designed to accomodate extensive modifications. This term differentiates the "power wheelchair" or "power chair" from the "rehab wheelchair" or "rehab chair" discussed below. We will also not be applying the term "power wheelchair" or "power chair" to "scooter wheelchairs" or "scooters" which are defined below.
-- "Rehab Wheelchair" or "Rehab Chair"
In our discussion, we will generally use the term "rehab wheelchair" or its shortened form "rehab chair" to refer to any powered wheelchair which is constructed in such a way that it can either be used in its standardized configuration or it can accomodate extensive modifications if these are needed by its individual user. Unlike the types of powered wheelchairs that we will be referring to as "powered wheelchairs", "power chairs", "scooter wheelchairs", or "scooters", the "rehab wheelchair" or "rehab chair" is not limited to being operated in its standard configuration with little or no modifications.
-- "Scooter wheelchair" or "scooter"
The term "scooter wheelchair" or its shortened form "scooter" will refer to a powered wheelchair whose design resembles a scooter or electric cart. Like the "power wheelchair" or "power chair" defined above, the scooter wheelchair is nearly always designed to be used in its standard configuration as produced by the manufacturer and is not intended for extensive modifications. Scooter wheelchairs have either three or four wheels, arranged with respect to one another in a manner similar to that of a motorized vehicle. While modern power wheelcchairs or power chairs generally have "mid wheel dirve" and can perform very tight turns, scooter wheelchairs turn in a manner similar to motor vehicles. Unlike other wheelchairs which have nothing in front of the user, scooter wheelchairs generally always have a "t"-shaped handlebar or "tiller" located at the front end.
-- "Space"
In our discussion, we'll be using the term "space" to refer to the smount of "space" or "room" a wheelchair user needs for himself or herself and the wheelchair while stationary.
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Copyright (c.) 2007-Present -- Michael and Brenda Swanson