Mobility is the ability to move around freely and easily.
This includes getting up and down from a lying or sitting position, moving from one place to another, walking, running, and climbing.
Mobility assistive products are used by people of all ages who have mobility difficulties.
They can:
- Provide support to help a person sit up, transfer, stand, walk and run
- Provide people who cannot walk with a different way of moving around
- Assist a person manage or prevent health problems such as: pressure wounds, foot wounds, injuries from falling, stiff joints, pain, breathing and digestion difficulties.
Watch this short video, where Martin from the Solomon Islands explains how a well fitting wheelchair and the right cushion helped heal his pressure wounds.
Reflection
Do you know anyone who uses one or more mobility assistive products?
If yes, what assistive product do they use? In what way does it assist them? Think about whether it assists a person to:
- Sit up, transfer, stand, walk and/or not fall over
- Move around in a different way
- Manage or prevent health problems
Creating an accessible environment helps people to be as mobile as possible.
Some important ways to make an environment more physically accessible for people who use a mobility device are:
- Install ramps and grab bars where needed
- Make doorways wide enough
- Make pathways and other outdoor areas smooth
- Remove obstacles
- Make space for people and their mobility assistive product to move about.
Meet Cali
Cali attended a meeting at her community hall. She arrived in her wheelchair, and took her walking frame for inside.
A ramp at the front door of the hall made it easy for Cali to get inside using her wheelchair.
Inside the hall there was enough space for her to move around with her walking frame.
The bathroom was accessible, with wide doorways and space for Cali to turn around inside with her walking frame. There was also a grab bar which made it easier for Cali to move on and off the toilet.
Cali enjoyed the meeting. She felt welcome and able to contribute to the meeting along with other community members.
You can find links to further information about accessible environments under the ‘Resources’ section at the end of this module.