Wheelchair Skills Training

Name: Silver Fern Therapy
Address: 2 Cosmeston Drive, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, CF64 5FA
Telephone: 02921 660346
Price range: Call us for details

Call us today on 02921 660346

Ever had difficulty getting up a kerb, holding a cup of tea, or safely negotiating a ramp? Silver Fern Therapy can help – we provide manual wheelchair skills training for individuals and groups all over the UK.

Many people purchase their wheelchair (or have it prescribed by the NHS) without any formal training on how to use it. There are some very simple techniques that most wheelchair users can learn in order to better negotiate obstacles and manoeuvre more effectively.

Our wheelchair training courses are provided by experienced chair users who have improved the skills of many hundreds of wheelchair users over the years. The format of the training varies depending on your existing skill level; however, we base our program on a standard set of skills, progressing from basic use to advanced wheelchair skills.

Your family and/or care staff play an important role in our training programme too. We’ll instruct them on how to keep you safe when you’re learning new skills. We’ll also provide them with special equipment to ensure they’re able to safely assist you while you develop your wheelchair skills and build up your confidence.

Our wheelchair skills programme is managed by Rhys Llewellyn. Learn more about Rhys here..

If you would like to discuss our wheelchair training further, please get in touch.

Basic Training Programme

Moving forwards, backwards and sideways

We look at your propelling technique and suggest any changes that might improve your efficiency. Your ability to manoeuvre in small spaces can be improved by being able to make small forward/back movements that result in the chair moving sideways.

Stopping

Stopping is of course critical to your safety, and stopping efficiently reduces the likelihood of injury and reduces your energy expenditure. We’ll make sure you’re able to stop and slow down effectively on a variety of surfaces using different techniques.

Turning

There are many methods that you can use to turn your wheelchair. You might want to turn on the spot, or veer one way as you cruise down a slope. Being able to use a variety of techniques enables you to turn the chair using the most efficient method for the situation.

Moving one-handed

Having one hand free and still being able to propel your wheelchair can be really useful. It will enable you to carry a hot drink, for example, without the safety risk of placing it between your legs. It will also allow you to keep one hand clean whilst cooking.

Slopes and Ramps

Many homes have ramped access to the front door and most wheelchair users will need to negotiate dropped kerbs or slopes. Being able to transfer your weight to make ascents and descents of slopes safer can really improve your confidence mobilising outdoors.

Doors

Every type of door needs a different technique to open and move through. You’ll learn how to stabilise yourself when opening the door, how to keep the door open when you move through it, and how to close the door safely once you’re through.

Lifting front wheels

Being able to safely lift the front wheels from the floor is probably the most useful skill a wheelchair user can have. Your front wheels won’t ride well over bumps, so being able to lift them over the bump instead (even for a moment) improves your efficiency and safety when propelling. This skill also lets you negotiate small door thresholds and smooth out the gradient change when negotiating the start or end of a ramp.

Same level transfers

You probably don’t spend 24/7 in your wheelchair, so being able to transfer to and from your wheelchair is an important skill to have. Doing this independently isn’t always possible, but we can give you some advice on how other people can help you.

Advanced Training Programme

Rear wheel balance

Being able to lift your front wheels off the floor is one thing; being able to keep them in the air is another! We’ll show you how to find your centre of gravity, allowing you to balance on your rear wheels.

Deep / shallow balance

Once you’re able to balance on your rear wheels, we’ll show you how to use your body weight to adjust the balance point. This is a great skill to have for negotiating high kerbs.

Moving with rear wheel balance

Being able to move whilst balancing on your rear wheels takes some practice, but will really improve your efficiency travelling over soft ground such as grass or loose gravel. It will also enable you to safely roll down kerbs.

Raised thresholds

Many houses are fitted with uPVC door frames that are raised above floor level. We’ll show you how you can negotiate these, remaining balanced on your rear wheels the entire time.

Kerbs

Some kerbs are just too high for any wheelchair user to negotiate independently. But we’ll show you how to assess whether you can manage a kerb by yourself, and how to instruct other people to assist you.

Steep ramps

Using the deep/shallow balance skill described above, you’ll learn how to safely travel down ramps on your rear wheels only.

Steps

Negotiating multiple steps isn’t ideal for any wheelchair user, but occasionally lifts can break down or a ramp may be blocked. Being able to safely ascend and descend steps can be a useful skill to have, especially when travelling abroad.

Escalators

Using escalators is essential for some wheelchair users where lifts aren’t available. Or you may just want to avoid a queue for the lift. With practice and some reasonable core stability, we can show you how to manage ascending and descending escalators.

Split level transfers

Not all of your transfers will be to a surface that’s on the same level as your wheelchair. We’ll give you some advice on transferring to higher surfaces (such as a van) and lower surfaces (such as the floor, canoe or hand-bike).

Wheelchair Skills Training

Ever had difficulty getting up a kerb, holding a cup of tea, or safely negotiating a ramp? Silver Fern Therapy can help – we provide manual wheelchair skills training for individuals and groups all over the UK.

Basic Training Programme

Moving forwards, backwards and sideways

Stopping

Turning

Moving one-handed

Slopes and Ramps

Doors

Lifting front wheels

Same level transfers

Advanced Training Programme

Rear wheel balance

Deep / shallow balance

Moving with rear wheel balance

Raised thresholds

Kerbs

Steep ramps

Steps

Escalators

Split level transfers

Affiliations

Address

Contact Us

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Our Services for Case Managers & Health Professionals

Wheelchair Skills Training

Ever had difficulty getting up a kerb, holding a cup of tea, or safely negotiating a ramp? Silver Fern Therapy can help – we provide manual wheelchair skills training for individuals and groups all over the UK.

Basic Training Programme

Moving forwards, backwards and sideways

Stopping

Turning

Moving one-handed

Slopes and Ramps

Doors

Lifting front wheels

Same level transfers

Advanced Training Programme

Rear wheel balance

Deep / shallow balance

Moving with rear wheel balance

Raised thresholds

Kerbs

Steep ramps

Steps

Escalators

Split level transfers

Affiliations

Address

Contact Us

Like & Follow Us

Newsletter Sign Up