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  • Home
  • Get Started
    • About ALS
    • Newly Diagnosed
    • People with ALS
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    • Caregivers
    • ALS Professionals
    • Family & Friends
  • Planning
    • Health Insurance
    • Employment
    • Self Care
    • Medical Decisions
    • Care
    • Advance Directives
    • Transportation
    • Home Modifications
    • Travel
  • Equipment
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    • Bathroom
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Driving Your Power Wheelchair


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Upon delivery of your custom power wheelchair, an assistive technology professional (ATP) from your durable medical equipment (DME) company will come to your home to adjust the chair and teach you the basic controls for operating and driving your chair.​
Like learning to drive a car, it may feel overwhelming and unnatural at first. With practice, you will become more confident and skilled at maneuvering your power wheelchair.

Practicing at Home

It is a good idea to begin practicing in a safe, controlled setting. There are multiple adjustments you can make, including turning down the torque and speed settings.

If you are unable to figure out how certain things work, try reading the manual for your specific wheelchair model. Nowadays, manuals and training videos can usually be found online.

Venturing Out

Your custom power wheelchair is designed to take you outside of your home to experience beautiful weather, run errands, visit friends, and go to restaurants, movies, and ball games. Once you feel more comfortable driving your chair, you can practice going up ramps, over small, sloped curbs, into more crowded spaces, and over varied terrain like light gravel and dry grass.

Talk with your ATP about what your chair can safely handle and what terrain and weather conditions you should avoid. Always follow their recommendations.



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Learn more about power wheelchairs...
Power Mobility Devices
​Qualifying and Ordering

Insurance Coverage
​Home Accessibility
Tilting and Reclining
​Electronic Controls
Driving Your Power Chair
Alternate Driving Controls
Making Adjustments
​Charging Your Batteries
Attachments and Accessories
​Transporting Your Chair
Traveling By Plane

Power Wheelchair Guide Home
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Get Started

About ALS
​Newly Diagnosed
People with ALS
Veterans with ALS
Caregivers
ALS Professionals
Family & Friends

Planning

Health Insurance
Employment
Self-Care

Medical Decisions
Care

Advance Directives
Transportation

​Home Modifications
​Travel

Equipment

Overview
​
Braces
​Home & Daily Living
Bathroom
Mobility
Respiratory
Communication​

Resources

ALS Clinics
Support Services

Support Groups
​Research & Trials

Get Involved
Resource list
​Glossary

About

Our Story
Myna's Story
​Our Team
Newsletter
​
Testimonials
​Contact Us
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