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 2008/9
June 2008
Tuesday 3rd - Sheffield
Tuesday 3rd - Glasgow
Wednesday 12th - Stanmore
Wednesday 12th - Belfast
Wednesday 18th - Oswestr
Monday 23rd - Oswestry Children's Week
July 2008
Wednesday 9th - Southport
Wednesday 23rd - Stoke Mandeville
Thursday 31st - Salisbury
August 2008
Wednesday 13th - Rookwood
Monday 22nd - Middlesbrough
September 2008
Wednesday 10th - Oswestry
Thursday 18th - Glasgow
Tuesday 23rd - Sheffield
Wednesday 24th - Stoke Mandeville
October 2008
Thursday 2nd - Stanmore
Thursday 23rd - Belfast
November 2008
Wednesday 19th - Stoke Mandeville
Friday 21st - Middlesbrough
Wednesday 26th - Oswestry
Wednesday 26th - Rookwood
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 call the office and speak to Sean on 020 8875 1805 for more information.
NEXT TRAINER WEEKEND APRIL 2008: Fri 4th - Mon 7th, Keswick
We would like to thank Astratech for their sponsorship of Wheechair Skills.