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

Key Study findings:

• The majority of participants (e.g. the 5th percentile or approximately 95% of the study sample) could transfer independently to a 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.

• Up to 78% of the study participants used grab bars when they were added to the platform and they helped participants to transfer higher and lower than they could without them. 

• 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.

• When multiple transfers are required to reach higher or lower surfaces 15.2% of the participants in this study could not complete them at any height (11 out of 72 participants; 8 of which wouldn’t attempt to transfer at all and 3 of which attempted the transfer but failed in the process). 

• Of the participants who attempted and were successful with performing two-step transfers, the 50th percentile could attain a 7 inch vertical height difference which is below the maximum allowable height difference in the standards of 8 inches. This was true for both types of two-step transfers evaluated in this study.  One two-step transfer included a ramp in between two platform steps whereas the other two-step transfer had no ramp or space between the first and second platform steps.

• 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 turning area of 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 transfer (moving to or moving from the platform).