What is Wheelchair University?

Wheelchair University is a place for community members who are interested in:

• Education related to wheelchairs and their use
• Research related to wheelchairs and their use
• Standards development and its application
• International activities related to wheelchairs
• Links to potential funding sources in support of wheelchair research
• Links to other related WWW sites

The Departments at Wheelchair University

Education

Professional Development (Academic Programs)

• Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, University of Pittsburgh
  • PhD in Rehabilitation Science, University of Pittsburgh
• Other Academic Programs
• Credentialing in Assistive Technology

Continuing Education

• Slide Lecture Series on Application and Use of Wheeled Mobility Technology - html and pdf versions of slide lectures you can use to educate your self.
• Slide Series on Research in Wheeled Mobility and Technology - html and pdf versions of slide lectures you can use to educate your self.
• Continuing Education Opportunities
• International Seating Symposium
  • The 2005 21st International Seating Symposium January 20-22 in Orlando, FL.
  • The 2004 20th International Seating Symposium will be March 4-6 in Vancouver, BC. Abstracts due by June 15, 2003.
  • The 2003 19th International Seating Symposium will be February 27 - March 1 in Orlando, FL.
  • The Proceedings of earlier International Seating Symposiums (12th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th) at the Canadian Seating and Mobility Conference website.
• Team Rehab Reports - the lead articles from 10 years of issues have been archived on WheelchairNet with permission of the publisher.
• Home Study Program for AT Service Delivery Providers - University of Pittsburgh, Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology.

Research and Development

Research

• Slide Lecture Series on Application and Use of Wheeled Mobility Technology - html and pdf versions of slide lectures you can use to educate your self.
• Slide Series on Research in Wheeled Mobility and Technology - html and pdf versions of slide lectures you can use to educate your self.
• Information about current seating and wheeled mobility research studies
• Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Wheeled Mobility: Research Tasks
• Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Wheelchair Transportation Safety
• Human Engineering Research Laboratories - VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
• Reference Database: Wheeled Mobility, Seating and Transport Safety
• Disability and Rehabilitation Research
• International Developments in Wheelchair Research
• Links to Rehabilitation and other Disability Research Sites

Standards Development and Testing

• Human Engineering Research Laboratories - VA Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
• RERC on Wheeled Mobility: Standards Development Project
  • ANSI/RESNA Wheelchair Standards (Seating devices, transport wheelchairs)
  • International Standards Organization (ISO) - Working Groups 6 &11
  • Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Task Group on Wheelchair Tie-downs
  • FDA-Food and Drug Administration

Technology Transfer

• A Guide to Wheelchair Selection: How to Use the ANSI/RESNA Wheelchair Standards to Buy a Wheelchair - download this publication.
• Application Guideline to SAE J2249 Standard: Wheelchair Tie-downs and Occupant Restraint Systems
• RERC on Wheeled Mobility: Technology Transfer Projects
• The Stakeholders Forum: The proceedings, related documents and a press release about the Workshop which was held May 25/26, Pittsburgh, PA
• Other Technology Transfer Activities
  • RERC on Technology Transfer at the University of Buffalo

Service

• A Guide to Wheelchair Selection: How to Use the ANSI/RESNA Wheelchair Standards to Buy a Wheelchair - download
• Application Guideline to SAE J2249 Standard: Wheelchair Tie-downs and Occupant Restraint Systems
• Slide Lecture Series on Application and Use of Wheeled Mobility Technology
• Service Delivery Development
• Professional Membership Organizations

• RESNA - The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America.
• AAH - American Association for Homecare (formerly NAMES - National Association of Medical Equipment Suppliers)
• NRRTS - National Association of Rehabilitation Suppliers
• AOTA - American Occupational Therapy Association

Related WWW Sites

• NIDRR - National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
• NCDDR - The National Center for Dissemination of Disability Research.
• Disability Data - an InfoUse Project.
• NARIC - The National Rehabilitation Information Center.
• ABLEDATA - an Information Source for Assistive Technology.

Last Updated: 3-2-2006