SCO 215
Rachel Bianca Mallari
Prof. Sherrell Powell
WHEELCHAIR EXPERIENCE WITH SIMULATION OF A DISABILITY
This author simulated a person with a primary progressive multiple sclerosis
(MS). This condition affects 10% of those diagnosed with MS and areas of self-care,
motor function, sensory, and cognition are primarily impaired. During the four-hour
wheelchair experience, activities such as going to the cafeteria to buy a drink, go to
meetings, get the Academic Peer Instruction folder from the mailbox, typing in the
computer and prepare snacks prior to one of the meetings were accomplished. With the
tasks mentioned above, various skills and techniques were utilized to successfully carry
out these tasks. For instance, the initial struggle began with opening the door to get out of
the room. Proper wheelchair positioning was necessary to be able to effectively execute
the movement to get out of the room. It can be very frustrating and taxing. The need to
ask for assistance was essential. This can pose as a problem to those people who don’t or
don’t want to acknowledge that they require help. The next step was to propel the
wheelchair along the hallway and into the elevator. It happened that while this author was
performing the said task, her mobile phone rang. Therefore, not only she has to maneuver
the wheelchair but also manage the phone on her hand. Initially, it was difficult to push
the wheelchair with one hand and hold the phone with the other. However, techniques
such as putting the phone on speaker or getting an earpiece would make it possible to talk
on the phone while ambulating with a wheelchair. The next phase was to get into the
elevator, and it was a little crowded at that moment. Perception skills were crucial in
order to get into the elevator without running over someone else’s foot and proper
wheelchair positioning in order to give space for people getting on and off the elevator.
On the way to the campus’ cafeteria, there was a ramp. Strength was vital to propel the
wheelchair up the ramp and give slight resistance to the wheel when going down in order
not to crash onto someone or fall. Reaching for the bottle of soda that I purchased was
somewhat challenging. The soda was located on the third top shelf. Thus, assistance was
necessary. Gratefully, someone offered help. The architectural barriers that were noted
during the entire simulated disability wheelchair experience were the size of the elevator,
and the height of the mailbox.
The look of pity and helplessness were conveyed by some people whom I
encountered. Some asked if I needed help and some offered and rendered assistance.
Those who know me were shocked and concerned seeing me on a wheelchair. They
asked, “What happened to you?” or “Are you alright or okay?” The minute I entered the
room on a wheelchair, the guest speaker on the meeting stopped and gaped at me. She
was surprised that despite of my “disability” I am still able to work as a tutor. My
supervisor was ecstatic with the idea that students were given the chance to feel how it is
like to be wheelchair bound. Thus, developing a sense understanding and appreciation of
having the use of both hands and feet. Some have doubtful look on their faces. Perhaps
they recognized me as an OTA student.
This exercise was beneficial especially for student whose career revolves around
disabilities or impairments. It is one thing to teach a person the skills that they need in
order to be independent and it is another to know their affective state which greatly
contributes to the way they respond to treatment or intervention. In Occupational
Therapy, client intervention should be conducted in a holistic approach. Therefore, one
should understand the entire being of a person and how the disability affects their lives.
This was a challenging yet a valuable learning experience.
This writer would recommend making the environment more accessible for
people who are wheelchair bound such as reasonable height for counters, vending
machines and mailbox. Also, provide decent size of elevators or better yet an elevator
exclusively for people on wheelchairs. The society needs people to advocate for the
disabled. Each infrastructure (building) whether private or public should adhere with the
laws that provide reasonable accommodations for disabled people such as the Americans
with Disability Act of 1990 or Fair Housing Act of 1988.
After this experience, I consider myself fortunate for having the independence and
the use of both upper and lower extremity. I became more appreciative of what I have
and grateful that I have the ability to do things without the aid of an adaptive equipment.
Being on a wheelchair is not easy. I admire and respect those people who are wheelchair
bound and still move on with their life. They should not be judged because of their
disability but rather look on their capabilities and give them opportunity to accomplish
things despite of their impairment.