The Impact of Transfer Setup on the Performance of Independent Transfers: Phase I Final Report

Future Work

Bars and the side guard were used often for repositioning the trunk and buttocks onto the platform after landing however their use for this purpose was not documented. Grab bars and handhelds placed in other locations (e.g. in the front, on the sides, overhead, or to the element itself) could have enabled more successful transfers.  The side guard although intended to serve as an obstacle to the transfer was sometimes used to facilitate getting in and out of the station. Future studies should look into the effects of variable ‘side guard’ widths, heights, contours and shapes to see if it such as structure could act more as a benefit versus a hindrance to the transfer. The next phase of study will research alternative hand placement options for both initial hand placement and repositioning upon landing on the target surface. 

Only adult aged WMD users were studied and the sample consisted of a limited number of women and scooter users.  The next phase of study will include children, more women, and scooter users.  There is a lack of information about multi-step or multi-tiered transfers and how they can facilitate a barrier free or more level transfer for certain types of transfer elements (e.g. playground equipment, amusement park rides, medical diagnostic equipment) or places where transfers are expected (e.g. boat docks, airliners, etc.). A workshop and/or discussion panel with stakeholders (i.e. consumers, therapists, manufacturers, researchers, designers and Access Board members) is being planned to determine 1) what efforts should be made to mine the data gathered in the first phase to look at other transfer issues and 2) what other critical issues need to be addressed through research and design development in this area.