Help Desk → UsersFirst Mobility Map → Your Wheelchair Team → Step 2: Gather your Wheelchair Team
2.2. Step 2: Gather your Wheelchair Team
Step 2: Gather Your Wheelchair Team
- Why you need a wheelchair team
- Who is in a wheelchair team
- What wheelchair team members do
Why do I need a wheelchair team?
Not all wheelchairs are the same, so you need to match your wheelchair to your needs. Getting the right wheelchair requires a good team, because the more minds and eyes helping, the fewer details will be missed.
Note: Once your wheelchair is delivered to you, it is VERY difficult to return it. Make sure it is what you need.
Wheelchair accessories and products are designed to improve movement and independence. Your team will get to know you and help to match the wheelchairs' features with your wants and needs.
Who is in my wheelchair team?
Your team may include the following people:
- Physician or Doctor
- Clinician or Therapist (occupational therapist (OT) or physical therapist (PT))
- Medical Equipment Supplier, and
- Consumer organizations (information, support, community)
What will my wheelchair team members do?
Doctor or Physician
- This doctor may be a general practitioner or may be a specialist
- Will give you a prescription for a wheelchair and wheelchair assessment (ie your ordering physician)
- Refer you to a clinician or therapist for your wheelchair assessment (Note: You have the right to choose your clinician)
- May write your 'letter of medical necessity' for your insurance company
Clinician or Therapist
- Will most likely be an Occupational Therapist (OT) or Physical Therapist (PT)
- Completes your wheelchair assessment
- May write your 'letter of medical necessity' for your insurance company
- May refer you to a medical equipment supplier (Note: You have the right to choose your supplier)
- Works closely with your supplier to meet your needs with your wheelchair
Medical Equipment Supplier
- Oversees the ordering, billing, delivery, and assembly of your wheelchair
- Will repair your wheelchair when necessary
- Should be a certified Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) (Note: To find out if a supplier is certified you can visit this website)
- Works closely with the clinician to meet your needs with the correct wheelchair equipment
Consumer Organizations
- Can offer additional information about equipment, mobility, funding and more
- Links to some organizations are listed on the next pages of this document
You will learn more about each other these team members in the following pages of Chapter 2.
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