Prospect: Getting Power Assist Prescription Right

Getting Power Assist Prescription Right 

Want to learn all things power assist and be able to get hands-on with the devices? If so, this session is for you.  

Designed for OTs and physiotherapists, this session combines the clinical evidence behind upper limb preservation with practical, side-by-side device comparison you can't get from a brochure.  

This session moves beyond the spec sheet - you'll trial rear attachment, push-rim, joystick, and front-mounted power assist devices so you can feel the differences in performance, control, and handling that matter most when scripting for your clients.

What you’ll learn 

• Understand why preservation of upper limb and shoulder function is central to power assist prescription, grounded in current clinical practice guidelines 

• Identify who benefits most from power assist: injury avoidance, energy conservation, peer mobility, and increased community access 

• Understand when a power assist device is the right fit versus stepping up to a power wheelchair 

• Differentiate the four main power assist categories - rear attachment, push-rim activated, joystick controlled, and front mounted - and their clinical indications 

• Compare device performance across weight, range, speed, incline handling, and control method to match the right device to the right client 

• Recognise the practical considerations for each device type, including transport, cognitive demand, terrain, and biomechanics 

• Trial multiple power assist devices firsthand, indoor and outdoors. 

3 CPD Points 

Presenters

Kayla Capurso

ILS Clinical Educator, Complex Rehab/Kids

Anton Chapman-Smith

ILS Assistive Technology Professional, Complex Rehab