Simulator Based Powered Mobility Training of Children With Special Needs

Powered Mobility Training of Children With Special Needs: Conventional Versus Simulator-based Practice

This study compared conventional powered mobility practice to simulator based practice of children with special needs aged 6-18 years.

This study compared conventional powered mobility practice to simulator based practice of children with special needs aged 6-18 years. The study has 3 stages: 1) Simulator validity study 2) Powered mobility outcome measures reliability and validity for children 6-18 years 3) Intervention study to compare simulator based practice and powered mobility practice. Simulator validity study included 30 children aged 6-18 years, proficient powered mobility drivers. All participants had physical disabilities- CP or Neuromuscular conditions. This stage included the first 30 children from the intervention study. Data for the study was based on the first evaluation out of the two evaluations in the study. This stage included 36 children aged 6-18 years in need of powered mobility practice to become a proficient driver. The particpants were divided into two groups- experimental (simulator based practice) and control group (standard powered wheelchair practice).

Powered mobility simulator- the McGill Immersive Wheelchair Simulator (MiWe) was developed for adults. In a previous study the simulator was found valid for use with children. Participants were provided a laptop, joystick and the software program- MiWe- to practice at home or school

Two groups of participants- 18 in each- were provided with either a simulator or powered wheelchair. Both groups were tested at baseline for powered mobility level. Both groups the practiced at home or school for 12 weeks, 4 times a week for at least 20 minutes. Both groups returned and underwent another evaluation to assess powered mobility level after 12 weeks of practice.

This is an evaluation that has up to 34 items that assess the driving skills of powered wheelchair users. Each skill can receive a score of 0-5. The higher the score the better. The total sum of all skills is divided by the number of skills tested and an average score ranging from 0-5 is recorded.

This is an evaluation that has 8 levels of 5 skills. It assess the level of powered mobility driving in areas that the PMP does not- cognitive, emotional, social. Each of the 5 skills receives a score of 1-8. The sum of all skills scores is divided by 5. The score can be between 1-8. A higher score is better.

The Israel Ministry of Health Proficiency Test- Assessing change from Baseline to End of intervention

This is an evaluation that assess 7 powered mobility skills. The driver needs to succeed 4/5 times each skill in order to pass test. Each of the 7 skills receives a score of 1,3,5. The sum of all skills is divided by 7 and the average score is recorded 1-5. The higher the score the better.

Inclusion Criteria: Children with a physical disability that are not proficient powered mobility driver Children that can use a joystick Exclusion Criteria: Children with visual accuracy limitations that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lens; Children who have a severe intellectual and developmental disability as defined by the Israel Ministry of Welfare's index for intellectual and developmental disabilities and reported by parents; Children that have a unstable medical conditions that prevent them from participating in powered mobility training (e.g., epilepsy) Children that can operate a powered wheelchair via switches or a scanning device.