Wheelchair and Adaptive Seating Clinic
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center offers a Wheelchair and Adaptive Seating Clinic for children, adolescents and young adults who have special needs.
Prescribing and obtaining the most appropriate wheelchair or seating system for your child requires specialists who are up-to-date on the latest advances in seating and positioning technology. Our team of professionals are experts in helping find the solution that best meets your child's needs.
When to Consider a Wheelchair Team Evaluation
A referral to the Wheelchair and Adaptive Seating Clinic can help when:
- Your child has complex positioning or mobility needs
- Your child's current seating system does not meet his needs
- You anticipate that your child's medical, physical or cognitive status will change significantly
- You are considering motorized equipment for your child
How a Wheelchair and Adaptive Seating Assessment Can Help
A properly fitted wheelchair or seating system prescribed especially for your child can have many benefits:
- Promotes independence and easier functioning within the home and school environment
- Allows for your child's growth and changes in ability
- Reduces the risk of problems due to improper positioning
- Decreases hospitalizations due to skin breakdown
- Reduces the number of modifications of the wheelchair over the course of time
About Our Team
Our team of professionals work with your child to evaluate and prescribe the seating system that works best:
- Our physiatrist (a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation) will evaluate your child 's medical condition and address any related concerns.
- Our occupational therapist or physical therapist will evaluate your child's range of motion, balance, posture and motor skills to identify seating and mobility needs.
- Our rehabilitation technology specialist will provide information about available equipment and how it can be modified to meet your child's needs. The technician measures and fits the wheelchair, and assists with obtaining funding for the equipment.
What You Can Expect
A consultation with our Wheelchair and Adaptive Seating Clinic will give you:
- An evaluation of your child 's mobility and positioning needs
- A determination of the wheelchair or seating system that best meets those needs
- A list of vendors who provide the equipment, and ordering information
- A report provided to the vendor of your choice
- Help in exploring funding and payment options
- Instructions regarding the wheelchair or other equipment recommended
Making an Appointment
A referral from a physician or certified nurse practitioner is needed for a wheelchair evaluation. This ensures that all your child's medical needs are coordinated through his primary or specialty care physician. Even if another professional recommends this service, we must have a written referral from your child's doctor before we can schedule an appointment. This referral can be on the physician's letterhead or prescription form.
Call 513-636-4651 to make an appointment or for more information. Referrals may be faxed to 513-803-1111.
