RESTRICTIVE PRACTICE in Wheelchair Seating - What's Cool and Not Cool?

RESTRICTIVE PRACTICE
Is it a restrictive practice 🚫 👨‍🦼 if we are preventing someone from doing 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐦? 🔒
📅 This week, I present a real-life scenario where a therapist asked me to trial an attendant-controlled wheelchair due to the client's criminal behaviour. They were concerned it could be considered a Restrictive Practice. Is it?
Without getting all "#EqualityForAll", we've really got to think this way when contemplating Restrictive Practices. 🤔
Using equipment to manage behaviour is a dangerous path for prescribers. This is more commonly observed in individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or conditions that impact behaviour.
We need to assess a client's ability to mobilise as if they have the physical capacity to do so.
▶️▶️ 𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 - 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦? 🚶‍♂️ ◀️◀️
Once we ponder this, the concept of Restrictive Practice begins to make more sense.
Some other examples:
* For a client who has had a stroke and is unable to physically walk, "𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑜 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑢𝑙𝑠𝑖𝑣𝑒." 🤷‍♂️
Would you stop them from walking?
* For a paediatric client, "𝐷𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦'𝑙𝑙 𝑟𝑢𝑛 𝑜𝑓𝑓." 🚗💨
Kids run off.
* For a client presenting challenging behaviour
Engage a behaviour specialist.
We shouldn't use a mobility device to replace our usual therapy.
There is always clinical judgement in these situations. Such as the fact that there is a higher risk of danger of moving a power chair vs a human body. I just wanted to throw this thought out for any therapist in a similar situation. I am not saying, "everyone needs joystick control of their power chair". I am just hoping it sparks a thought for anyone who's listening.
#OccupationalTherapy #AssistiveTechnology #RestrictivePractice #Wheelchairs

[@wheelieworx]

What do you think? Is there something I missed? What train of thought or resource do you use when considering Restrictive Practice? Let me kand the readers know below 🙂