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  • Home
  • Get Started
    • Learn About ALS
    • Newly Diagnosed
    • People with ALS
    • Veterans with ALS
    • Caregivers
    • Paid Caregivers
    • ALS Professionals
  • Planning
    • Health Insurance
    • Employment
    • Self-Care
    • Medical Decisions
    • Research and Clinical Trials
    • Care Options
    • Advance Directives
    • Legacy
    • Transportation
    • Home Modifications
    • Travel
  • Guides
    • Home & Daily Living
    • Newly Diagnosed
    • Respiratory
    • Power Wheelchairs
    • Communication
    • Braces
  • Equipment
    • ALS Equipment Guide
    • Mobility
    • Transfer Devices
    • Ramps and Lifts
    • Toileting Devices
    • Tub and Shower Devices
    • Braces and Splints
    • Grooming Devices
    • Dressing Aids
    • Eating Devices
    • Drinking Devices
    • Sleeping and Beds
    • ALS Smart Home Devices
    • Leisure Devices
    • ALS Equipment Loan Closets
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ALS POWER WHEELCHAIR GUIDE

Driving Your Wheelchair


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.




ALS POWER WHEELCHAIR GUIDE


Power Mobility Devices
​Qualifying and Ordering
Insurance Coverage
Home Accessibility
Tilting and Reclining​
Electronic Controls

Driving Tips
Alternate Controls
Making Adjustments
Battery Charging

​Attachments/Accessories
Transporting Your Chair

Traveling By Plane


NEWLY DIAGNOSED | HOME & DAILY LIVING | RESPIRATORY | WHEELCHAIRS | BRACES

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