Virtual Reality for Power Wheelchair Training

A virtual reality platform may lead to better training of people with complex disabilities
who desire to be power wheelchair users and thus allow them to benefit from living a more
active life. A virtual reality training program could significantly impact the lives of
people with disabilities by improving function, reducing abandonment of power wheelchairs,
and reducing morbidity and mortality and associated costs occurring from power wheelchair
accidents. This new virtual reality training program will reflect improvements in
accessibility, customization, simulator sickness, ease of use, and will have report
generating capabilities as compared to previous virtual reality training platforms. The
investigators expect that virtual reality training will be a superior alternative to standard
in-person wheelchair training.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Volunteers must be 14 years or older.

- Volunteers must have a disability that prevents them from effectively and
independently using a manual wheelchair, power assist wheelchair, or scooter.

- Volunteers must be able to communicate in English, follow simple commands, and give
written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Volunteers with active seizures.

- Volunteers who have active pelvic or thigh wounds.

- Volunteers who require a test wheelchair but who exceed the weight capacity of the
test wheelchair (>300 lbs).

- Volunteers who require a test wheelchair but also require specialized seating that
cannot be replicated for the training.