Barriers Experienced by Nondisabled Wheelchair Users: A University-Based Occupational Therapy Program Educational Exercise

Abstract

In the context of a course in assistive technology offered by the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto, a practical exercise was conducted to better understand the physical and social barriers experienced by wheelchair users. The purpose of the exercise was to sensitize students to the ways in which the environment and people's attitudes can impact on the lives of people who use mobility devices. Using structured field logs, students recorded their observations of barriers experienced in different environmental contexts over a 48-hour period in which they used a wheelchair. Students rank-ordered each barrier in terms of perceived difficulty on their occupational performance. This article describes the educational exercise and students' reactions to the exercise. Implications of the educational strategy and the findings that emerged will be discussed in relation to professional education, clinical practice, and research.

Key Words:

• Wheelchair use
• Environmental barriers
• Accessibility
• Physical barriers
• Social barriers
• Professional education
• Occupational therapy