Emily using her scooter board

It's not ideal, but we're making due. Here is Emily moving around on her scooter board. She gets board with it pretty fast, but it's fun for her to move on her own. This might be a possible tool for weak Type I SMA families that want to give their kids some "freedom."

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• atrophy
• emily
• mobility
• muscular
• sma
• spinal

[PauleQueenie]

Was the scooter board adapted by Emily's occupational therapist? Do you find the scooter board a better idea than an electric wheelchair or an alternative for Emily? Which does she prefer and is more comfortable for her?

She surely is quite clever at manoeuvering the scooter board.

[miershpedankl]

@PauleQueenie We did get the scooter board from her occupational therapist. She was playing with it while we were waiting for her fancy powerchair, which she uses at school now. She loves the chair, but gets very worn out sitting upright. She loves the chair for exploring :)

[PauleQueenie]

@miershpedankl, thank you for your reply and thanks Emily for me for the good grace of being filmed for such large audience on her prowess using a scooter board. The scooter board has the advantage of not compressing her spine and let her breathe freely. I suppose she wears a corset (spinal jacket) while sitting in her electric wheelchair and I have noticed how tiring they are because of the restriction they give. Have u posted Emily on her wheelchair? She must be proud while in it no?

[miershpedankl]

@PauleQueenie She does wear a TLSO when she is driving her chair. I guess we haven't put any videos up of her driving yet! I'll have to make sure we get one up soon. She loves the independence that it provides. :) We're still working on the positioning for the joystick and stuff -- so I'll get one up soon.

[1191957]

What is a scooter board?

[miershpedankl]

It's more or less a board with some gears and wheels that let her move herself around a little. Emily can't move like you and I b/c of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) which weakens her muscles tremendously. She's having a good time though. :) Now we're working on getting her into a nice power chair!!

[Maggie3039]

what dose she have?

[miershpedankl]

@Chevalier765 Actually she also has a chair now. She only uses the scooter board if she's not handling the chair well. This was good while we were waiting for her chair though :)

[Gu0Gu]

i want a scooter board ,too! thats cool^^

[Chevalier765]

Is it possible to make her sit in a chair? Perharps it will be more comfortable