Breaking down barriers and improving quality of life for wheelchair users

Manual wheelchair provision in Brazil is outdated and inappropriate for stroke or partly paralysed users. Users report that their independence, quality of life, employment potential, and ability to contribute to society are severely compromised.

Project timeframes

The project ran from September 2015 to September 2016.

 

Project aims

This project aims to

  • Identify a population of partly paralysed wheelchair users in Santa Catarina and describe current wheelchair provision for them.
  • Explore the barriers to social participation, and the impact that this has on their quality of life.
  • Build an international collaboration with experts that will inform and influence the National Policy of Brazil of the rights of persons with disabilities.
  • Produce findings to inform social welfare and enable the potential for economic and social development.

The project will enable a Brazilian research physiotherapist to work with a UK assistive mobility expert to explore the barriers to assistive technology, evaluate disabled users needs and influence government health care policy.

 

Project findings and impact

To follow on completion of the project.

 

Research team

Associate Professor Anne Mandy

Dr Fabiola Chesani

Output

To follow on completion of the project

 

Partners

Universidade do Vale do Itajaí - UNIVALI