Functional mobility and autonomy: an experience report on the application of a wheelchair skills training program for people with spinal cord injuries.

Abstract

This work constitutes an experience report focusing on the lived experience of a person with a spinal cord injury during his participation in an institutional wheelchair skills training program carried out at the National Institute of Psychophysical Rehabilitation of the South (I.Na.Re.P.S). This program is intended for individuals receiving treatment at the institution due to a spinal cord injury and/or for their caregivers, whether in inpatient or outpatient modalities. Its purpose is to provide training in wheelchair use to enhance functional mobility and autonomy, promoting opportunities for interaction and participation in the desired environment. In addition, the implementation of programs of this nature supports the exercise of the rights of people who require this equipment to function satisfactorily and independently in daily life, both at home and in the community. Within this framework, the concrete experience of a wheelchair user is presented and analyzed with the aim of understanding the impact that participation in this type of intervention has on occupational performance.