{"id":218,"date":"2012-11-02T02:09:00","date_gmt":"2012-11-02T02:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/?p=218"},"modified":"2023-03-27T13:51:02","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T03:51:02","slug":"mounting-assistive-technology-part-1-where-to-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/?p=218","title":{"rendered":"Mounting Assistive Technology – Part 1: Where To Start"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As an occupational therapist specialising in assistive technology, I often get asked the question, how do I mount this communication device or iPad to my wheelchair (or bed or table)? There are many different options for mounting systems that can appear a little overwhelming at the first look! Before even considering mounting systems, you need to start with the person using the equipment as the first consideration. Any assistive technology should always be matched to the person’s needs, abilities and their other equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But before you even start with the person, let\u2019s ask the important question of why do we need mounting?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people who need a communication device just think about the actual piece of equipment and what features they need e.g. the language or symbol system, the access options, the size and weight of the device, battery life, speaker quality, the ability to access email or internet etc. What is often forgotten is that one of the most important factors in successful communication device use for people with disabilities is that the user is able to access the equipment reliably. If you can\u2019t reach to press the buttons or screen, the device is moving about, or the eye gaze system can\u2019t track your eyes then it makes it very difficult to use the device to communicate!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Correctly prescribed mounting systems can ensure that the device is positioned securely and consistently so that the user is able to access it reliably in a variety of positions and environments and during the different tasks they need to perform. It also ensures that the device is safe and won\u2019t get damaged by being dropped or knocked off a table or wheelchair tray, very important for those expensive items!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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properly configured mounting is an integral part of successful SGD use <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It is crucial to spend time not only considering the device features required by the user for their communication needs, but also the features required of the mounting system as well. If the user has a physical disability and needs a new communication device, I would always recommend a joint assessment with a speech pathologist and occupational therapist where possible. It is important that the access options to the device, including how it will be mounted and positioned, are considered at the same time as the device itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incorrectly prescribed mounting systems can also cause a hazard to the user. A thorough risk assessment should be carried out when prescribing mounting to ensure that the mounting system is appropriate for the user and the equipment it will be mounted to, and for the purpose and environments where it will be used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a first port of call though, if you are a therapist prescribing a mounting system for a wheelchair, I would recommend checking out a risk assessment such as developed by the \u201cWheelchair Risk Assessment and Mounting Process Group\u201d or WRAMP, a collection of assistive technology experts in the UK from a range of assessment services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The WRAMP Group’s Assessment and Risk Analysis Tool<\/a> is a really thorough and clear tool to step you through the risk assessment process. It highlights all the important considerations when prescribing mounting for a wheelchair so can be a guide throughout the entire process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tools of the trade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You’ll need a good set of tools and associated equipment for assessment \u2013 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essential:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Tape measure (soft and hard)<\/li>
  • Good quality, long handle allen key sets, both metric and imperial but most importantly ensure you haves at least a 5mm and 4mm wrenches.<\/li>
  • Your phone to take pictures of the chair and device “in use” position and as a flashlight<\/li>
  • Pencil, paper. String or twine<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Recommended:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • A metric Socket set – for easier turning of the screws <\/li>
    • A Screwdriver set – in case you need to adjust and replace other aspects of the wheelchair<\/li>
    • Vernier calipers (we bought ours at Aldi for less than $20!) – if you know how they work they are so much more accurate than using the “paper” or “string” method … and we don’t have to revisit high-school maths (remember? Diameter = Circumference \/ Pi)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      <\/span>
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      Knowing the tube diameter of the wheelchair is important<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The most important pieces of information you can collect in the first instance re photos of the wheelchair with potential attachment points highlighted along with measurement relationships of that point to where the device is best positioned for access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      A picture tells a thousand words and that’s certainly the case when discussing, prescribing or explaining mounting systems to others or for recollection later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


      That’s a good place to start.  In my next few articles I\u2019ll help you think about the considerations for the abilities and needs of the user, the device that needs to be mounted, and also what equipment it needs to be mounted to.  And don\u2019t forget, you can always call the friendly staff at Communicate AT to help point you in the right direction too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Before we start looking at the needs of the person, let\u2019s ask the important question of why do we need mounting? And is that achieved?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":246,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=218"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":891,"href":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218\/revisions\/891"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mounting.communicateat.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}