Manual Wheelchair Propulsion on Cross Slopes

Principal Investigator: Rory Cooper, Ph.D.

Funding Source: Bureau of Public Debt-US Dept. of the Treasury

2007-2008

The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of cross-slopes (i.e. slope that is perpendicular to the running slope in the direction of travel), under varying conditions, on propulsion of manual wheelchairs.

Manual wheelchair users from the Human Engineering Research Laboratories Wheelchair Users Registry will be recruited to participate in this study.  Individuals will be asked to complete a paper-based questionnaire with questions regarding their demographics, type of injury/disability and barriers encountered in the community.  Participants may then be asked to complete a second questionnaire which will be completed via a web-based survey which will present them with a series of photographs of various types of cross-slopes for which they will rate their level of comfort traveling over these surfaces.   

The study is being done to assist the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) to develop and maintain accessibility guidelines to ensure that newly constructed and altered buildings and facilities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Architectural Barriers Act are accessible to, and usable by, people with disabilities.  Of particular concern is establishing a maximum cross-slope that is safely usable for individuals propelling manual wheelchairs.