Vermont Early Mobility Project (VEM) Resources

Author: Audrey Homan

“Ride-On Car Intervention for Young Children with Down Syndrome”
Pediatric physical therapist Scottie Taylor summarized this simple but useful study of how children with Down syndrome interact with ride-on cars.

Christina M. Hospodar, Andrina Sabet, Samuel W. Logan, Michele A. Catena & James C. Galloway (2021). Exploratory analysis of a developmentally progressive modified ride on car intervention for young children with Down syndrome. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 16:7, 749-757. DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2019.1710773.
August 23, 2023
“Exploring young children’s activity and participation change following six months’ power mobility experience”
Vermont Early Mobility Project intern Cara Tillou summarized this 2020 article on early mobility as an illustrated .pdf.

“Exploring young children’s activity and participation change following 6 months’ power mobility experience”. Original article by Roslyn W. Livingstone, and Debra A. Field.

Download this resource:
- Spring_2022_Early_Mobility_Research_In_Review (.pdf)
August 23, 2023
“Power Mobility for Infants and Pre-School Children”
This article is called “Power Mobility for Infants and Pre-School Children”. It is “a brief overview of information regarding the use and introduction of power mobility with infants and preschool children with disabilities. It is intended to provide clinicians with relevant background information and to describe the current best level of evidence.”

It was written by Roslyn Livingstone in 2011. It appeared in Child Development & Rehabilitation.
- Read the article over at Child Development & Rehabilitation website
August 23, 2023
“RESNA Position on the Application of Power Wheelchairs for Pediatric Users”
This is a 2009 position paper by the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) on the Application of Power Wheelchairs for Pediatric Users.

RESNA states: “The purpose of this article is to share typical clinical applications as well as provide evidence from the literature supporting the application of power mobility (PM) for young children and to assist practitioners in decision making and justification.”
- Read the .pdf article over at RESNA’s website.
August 23, 2023
“Facilitating Child Participation Through Power Mobility”
Tamra Yandow and Deborah Sharpe wrote this 2019 research summary of “Facilitating child participation through power mobility”.

The original article appeared in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, and was written by J. Casey, G. Paleg, and R. Livingstone.

Download this resource:
- EMJournalArticleSummaryFacilchildparticPM (.pdf)
August 23, 2023
Accessible Recess
This tip sheet is loaded with ideas on how to make recess accessible to all!

Download this resource:
- VEM-Tip-Sheet-Accessible-Recess (.docx)
- VEM-Tip-Sheet-Accessible-Recess (.pdf)
August 23, 2023
Indoor Play
This tip sheet introduces ideas for indoor play with a student with power mobility.

Download this resource
- VEM-Tip-Sheet-Indoor-Play (.docx)
- VEM-Tip-Sheet-Indoor-Play (.pdf)
August 21, 2023
Getting Started with Power Mobility
Not sure where to start when introducing power mobility into a classroom environment? This tip sheet is for you! These tips are helpful for other environments as well.

Download a copy of this resource

Download a copy of our tips for getting started with power mobility:

VEM-Tip-Sheet-Getting-Started-with-Power-Mobility (.docx)

VEM-Tip-Sheet-Getting-Started-with-Power-Mobility (.pdf)
August 21, 2023
Takeaways from Permobil’s “Considerations for Maneuvering Through School In A Wheelchair”
A panel discussion led by Angie Kiger

Watch or listen to the webinar at the Permobil site (please note: neither captions nor transcript are available)

VEM’s Takeaways:

GOAL: Students in wheelchairs are engaged in activities alongside their peers; their equipment does not define them as a student.

Evaluation

EVERYONE on the team should be included in equipment evaluations

Consider a trial at school as well as home/clinic

Start early!

Communication and Collaboration

EVERYONE is responsible for ensuring collaboration between team members

Key collaboration is between SLP and PT/OT; consider AAC AND wheelchair access together

Over communicating is not a bad thing!

Commuting

Know the law for the state/district for what’s needed for bus transport

Do a trial run

Know and train multiple people to get the child on/off bus

School Environment

Assess the ENTIRE school (inside and outside) for accessibility

Have a solid evacuation plan

Have a back-up plan in case the wheelchair breaks

Use short, successful activities for training

What did you think of the webinar? Where could you use this information in your own work?
November 29, 2022