For individuals with limited mobility, assistive transportation is a must. There is not always a lot of readily available information as to which adaptive equipment may be right for your child.
According to Emily Martin, OT, the main difference between strollers and wheelchairs is oftentimes an age thing. For example, an occupational therapist may recommend a parent to get their child a stroller if they are not yet in school.
Size
We can't stress enough how important it is to properly measure a child to be fitted for either a stroller or a wheelchair. Measuring them thoroughly and reading the guidelines, consulting an occupational therapist, and contacting the company from which you are purchasing equipment ensures that the individual benefits from the adaptive equipment
Age appropriateness and mobility
A parent may want the ease of being able to position their child in a special needs stroller when their child is preschool age, but as they get older, a parent may want their child to learn autonomous, self-sufficient skills.
For younger kiddos, it may be easier to push them around in a stroller. For school-age kiddos, it may be more age appropriate for them to move around, whether it's a motorized wheelchair or just one where they have to turn the wheels.
Positioning and support
Depending on the abilities of the individual, positioning is a pretty big factor to consider. Special needs strollers have varying degrees of postural support, based on the needs of the individual who may benefit from it. However, special needs strollers are often designed like that of a sling, which does not always help with hip and leg support. As children grow older, they may need to spend significantly more time in a structured, positioned and supportive seating system to help with alignment.
In short, a therapist should be able to know and cater to the independence, mobility, and positioning needs of an individual who may benefit from a wheelchair or a special needs stroller.
Rolling on
In short, listen to your therapist. Measure your kiddo. Measure them again, and then double-check with the company you are buying from to ensure that you are getting the right stroller or wheelchair for your loved one with special needs.
Find Wheelchair and Stroller Measurement Forms and get help from our product specialists here
Originally published March 4, 2019. Updated for clarity and republished March 15, 2022.
