Permit to Drive

Much like a student driver needs driving lessons, practice and a permit before they can get on the road, a child needs similar skills to drive a motorized wheelchair. Some skills can be learned, acquired or achieved with medical intervention (i.e. glasses). To start with a child must have sufficient vision in order to drive a motorized wheelchair. They must be positioned appropriately and have a point of access to drive the chair. A child must understand certain commands and actions, stop and go being the most important. In addition, a child should understand directionality - left, right, straight and reverse.

For more information and tips on getting a child ready for a motorized wheelchair read this article entitled, Pre-Mobility Training Guidelines, written by Michelle Lange OTR.