Wheelchair Skills
Back-Up wheelchair skills sessions teach skills relevant for everyday life in an in-accessible world. For anyone with a spinal injury, whether tetraplegic or paraplegic, having good wheelchair skills will enable you to maximize your independence and lead a more active life.
“The best thing was that we were taught by our peers”. SCI Participant
Back-Up sessions offer an opportunity for inpatients and outpatients to learn on a peer-to-peer basis from long term wheelchair users. In addition to learning new wheelchair skills participants often pick up tips and advice from the trainer’s first hand experience.
Participants have a chance to learn basic skills like back wheel-balancing as well as more advanced techniques for tackling thresholds, ramps and even stairs.
“It was fantastic being shown how to use a wheelchair by other wheelchair users”, “the session gave me more confidence and showed what is possible with time.” SCI Participants
Attending a skills session
If you are currently an inpatient at one of the spinal centres in the UK, please ask your Physio or OT about attending one of the wheelchair skills sessions. If you are registered as an outpatient with one of the spinal centres, you may also be able to attend an upcoming session. Please contact Sean on 020 88751805 and he will let you know who to get in touch with at the centre to arrange this. If you are not affiliated with a spinal centre, it may be possible to get a referral from your GP, but this is likely to take a little longer. Please note that only a limited number of places will be available for outpatients.
Session Calendar 2009
June Thursday 4th - Oswestry Thursday 4th - Belfast Tuesday 23rd - Sheffield Wednesday 24th - Pinderfields |
October Thursday 15th - Belfast
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July Wednesday 22nd - Stoke Mandeville |
November Wednesday 4th - Rookwood Wednesday 18th - Stoke Mandeville Wednesday 25th - Oswestry Thursday 26th - Stanmore Thursday 26th - Salisbury Friday 27th – Middlesbrough |
August Wednesday 5th - Rookwood Friday 14th - Middlesbrough Wednesday 19th - Southport Thursday 27th - Stanmore Thursday 27th - Salisbury |
December Tuesday 8th - Sheffield
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September Wednesday 9th - Oswestry Wednesday 23rd - Stoke Mandeville Thursday 24th - Glasgow Tuesday 29th - Sheffield |
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Keep an eye on this page as new dates will be added throughout the year. For further information or to find out about the next wheelchair skills session at your nearest spinal centre contact Sean by email or call 020 8875 1805.
Interested in volunteering as a wheelchair skills trainer for Back-Up?
If you are interested in becoming a wheelchair skills trainer please complete a copy of our WCS Trainer application form and return it to Sean in our office. For additional information you can also speak to Sean on 020 8875 1805.
Wheelchair skills plus