Authors:
Ana Marta Amaral de Carvalho
1
;
Alireza Asvadi
1
;
Carlos Carona
2
;
Ana Lopes
1
and
Urbano Nunes
1
Affiliations:
1
University of Coimbra, Portugal
;
2
Coimbra Cerebral Palsy Association; Cognitive and Behavioural Center for Research and Intervention - University of Coimbra, Portugal
Keyword(s):
Cerebral Palsy, Mobility, Accessibility, Safety, Powered Wheelchair, Improvement, Assistive Navigation.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Biomedical Engineering
;
Development of Assistive Technology
;
Health Information Systems
;
Human-Machine Interfaces for Disabled Persons
;
Practice-based Research Methods for Healthcare IT
Abstract:
This research characterizes mobility, accessibility and safety of individuals with severe motor impairment such
as users suffering from Cerebral Palsy (CP). Through the analysis of enabling factors, constraints associated
and the search of possible improvements, it is possible to identify the needs in these fields and subsequently
develop strategies accordingly. The sample was collected in Coimbra Cerebral Palsy Association (APCC)
and it included 16 individuals with CP. To these individuals we gave an evaluation protocol with a form with
clinical and sociodemographic data and a questionnaire. The main limiting factors include building/vehicle
access, difficulty in reverse drive and lack of safety. The most valued features of a powered wheelchair are
comfort and structure, easy navigation and wheelchair control and safety. The lack of safety in the outdoors
was a relevant limiting factor. Almost all individuals requested improvements of the powered wheelchair. The
most requested impro
vements were safety related or related with navigation problems. An assistive navigation
solution based on a shared control algorithm is presented, where a powered wheelchair is equipped with the
Kinect sensor, in order to help the user maneuvering the wheelchair safely.
(More)