In order to get obtain a range of information, the team reached out to different experts related to mobility and assistive devices.
We spoke to Dr. Carmen DiGiovine who is an Associate Professor and Director of Rehabilitation Science and Technology at the Assistive Technology Center. At the AT Center, patients come in for initial evaluations and are fitted with a wheelchair that suits their needs. We briefly toured the facility and learned more about the roles of rehab engineers who apply engineering principles to improve the quality of life for disabled individuals.
They primarily work with patients who have neurological or spinal cord injuries (i.e. stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, etc.)
Dr. DiGiovine put us in touch with wheelchair suppliers that work closely with the AT Center. These include ATP certified companies such as NuMotion, National Seating and Mobility, and Health Aid of Ohio. We hope to shadow employees and possibly go on home visits with them to interview and interact with the wheelchair users.