Services to Students with Disabilities
Disaster Emergency Plan - Attachment B

Attachment B

WHEELCHAIR NOMENCLATURE

1. Armrests 2. Wheel Locks 3. Wheel and Handrim

4. Casters 5. Seat/Back Upholstery 6. Footplates

The following represents the varying weights, lengths, and widths of wheelchairs, both electric and manual, with person in it. The American National Standards Institute states that doorway widths should be 32 inches.

WEIGHT	LENGTH	WIDTH
200 Pounds	48 inches	25 inches
360 Pounds	50 inches	26 inches
375 Pounds	63 inches	63 inches

GENERAL OPERATIONAL GUIDE
HOW TO OPEN/FOLD WHEELCHAIRS

TO OPEN CHAIR: Tilt chair to one side, push down on seat rails (fig 1).

TO FOLD CHAIR: Fold up the footplates, tilt chair to one side, lift upward on seat rail or on upholstery next to seat rail. For chairs with detachable or offset arms (fig.2), fold by lifting carrying straps.

Figure 3. When folding the wheelchair be sure the foot plates are all the way up against the leg frames.

PROCEDURE:

1. Remove the seat cushion, back rest, or any other such additional equipment.

2. Push heel straps (clips, leg rests, etc.) forward and fold the foot plates up. (see figure 3).

3. If seat straps are available (loops attached to either side of seat frame), grip both straps and pull up. If seat straps are not available, grip the center, front and back edges, of the seat and pull up. This should fold the wheelchair in half. Kept the seat pushed down between the frames and the back rest pushed back. This will allow for optimal closure.

CURBS AND SINGLE STEPS: There are generally two methods which can be used to assist a person in a wheelchair over a curb or single step. The wheelchair can be rolled down off the curb, or the step: backwards or forwards, Which method used depends upon the preference of the user, the environmental situation, the strength of the assisting person, and the confidence the wheelchair user has in the assistant. As in all activities, if the wheelchair user does not have sitting balance, a seat belt should be attached to the wheelchair and used.

A. BACKWARD: The least taxing method on the assisting person and usually the safest for the wheelchair user, is to turn the wheelchair around until it can be rolled off the step or curb backwards.

Figure 4. When the wheelchair is being rolled backwards off a curb, support it by lightly pressing against it.

PROCEDURE:

1. Just before reaching the edge of the curb or step turn the wheelchair around so that it is facing avvay from the edge.

2. Holding tightly to the handles, back the wheelchair down off the curb. Let the rear wheels roll down over the edge. Additional support can be furnished by pressing a hip against the back of the chair as it comes off of the edge. (See figure 4.)

3. To prevent the front wheels coming down with a jar that could throw the wheelchair user out of the chair, press a foot on the anti-tipping bar as the chair is backed away from the curb. Then gently lower the front wheels to the ground.

4. Turn the wheelchair around, being careful not to clip the ankle of a passer-by and proceed on your way.

B. FORWARD: This method is effective if the assisting person is experienced in handling wheelchairs. It is most useful on crowded street corners and places where the wheelchair can not be turned around to go off an edge backwards. The wheeichair user should have on a safety belt or be holding to the chair to prevent being thrown forward out of the wheelchair.

PROCEDURE:

1. As the curb is approached, place one foot on the anit-tipping bar and tip the wheelchair back on the large wheels. This keeps the wheelchair user securely in the chair as the chair rolls off the edge. The assisting person should not be supporting the weight of the wheelchair user, but just keep the wheelchair balanced on the large wheels.

2. Once the front wheels are up, remove the foot from the anti-tipping bar. Continue rolling the wheelchair of the edge with the front wheels up.

3. After the large wheeis are off of the edge, allow the front wheels to drop down gently by pressing a foot on the anti-tipping bar as the wheels come down.

ROLLING ON THE REAR WHEELS: Can be used to roll the wheelchair over the following types of terrain: going over railroad tracks and grates embedded in the street or sidewalks; soft lawns, sand, snow, etc., even deep pile carpets. These type of terrain tend to throw the front wheels aside or cause them to sink in, making the progress difficult if not impossible. Lifting the front wheels of the surface gives the assisting person more control over the wheelchair.

If the assisting person is not strong enough (although it actually takes little physical strength if the wheelchair is kept balanced) or doesn’t feel confident, it is advisable to turn the wheelchair around and go backwards over rough terrain, This also puts the front wheels out of the way as they are following rather than guiding the wheelchair. Remember not to tilt the chair too far backwards.