Independent Wheelchair Transfers in the Built Environment: How Transfer Setup Impacts Performance Phase 2: Final Report

Conclusion

During this second phase of the independent wheelchair transfer study, platform transfers with and without grab-bars and a backrest and two-step transfers were evaluated. The study found that the majority of participants (5th percentile) could transfer independently to the platform at a height that was within one inch of the mean wheelchair or scooter seat to floor height (22.1 inches) and to a platform that was 27 inches wide. Grab bars had a significant impact on performance when added. Up to 78% of the study participants used the grab bars when they were added to the platform, enabling one person to independently transfer to the platform and many others to transfer higher and lower than they could go without them. Furthermore, grab bars were used more frequently (by up to 94% of participants) when performing transfers between two platform steps verses transferring between the wheelchair and one platform.

Fifteen percent of WMD users who independently transfer would not likely attempt or succeed with a two-step transfer if they were faced with them in the built environment.  Of those participants who did attempt to transfer, up to 5% failed to make it up or down to the second step for the adjacent transfer and up to 11% failed to make it up or down to the second step for the ramped transfer.  Of the participants who attempted and were successful with both two-step transfers, the 50th percentile could attain a 7 inch vertical height difference which is close to the maximum allowable height difference in the standards of 8 inches.  A lower step height (about 2.0 in) would be needed to accommodate the 5th percentile of users who would attempt this type of transfer. When transferring to the platform, a 104 inch wide by 55.5 inch deep clear floor space in front of the platform accommodated 100% of the study participants when considering all types of transfers evaluated in this study. A standard clear floor space in front of the platform (60 inches by 60 inches) accommodated between 52% to 66% of the participants depending on the type of transfer (with or without grab bars and backrest) and direction of the transfer (moving to or moving from the platform). The results from this study along with the results from the first phase should be taken into consideration when designing and building environments for independent wheelchair transfers and in particular recreational areas like amusement parks, playgrounds, and pools as well as other areas that require the need for transfers like medical diagnostic equipment and exam tables.