New Wheels

T.C. has been living at a nursing home for the last couple of years. The disability he acquired at that time requires that he receive care for many of his daily needs. Meanwhile, T.C. has been growing like a weed. The last wheelchair he has been using is without electric controls and your general universal boring wheelchair.

John Daley, T.C.'s physical therapist, decided to advocate for better services for T.C.. He called P&A and asked how to get the ideal wheelchair for T.C. with "tilt in space capabilities."


Teams of professionals met at John's request discussing the best options for mobility for T.C.. John secured letters from T.C.'s physician, prescribing the exact chair for T.C.'s needs. P&A contacted the Medical Assistance Division to override the typical response that electric wheelchairs were not given to clients in nursing homes. The Medical Assistance Division contacted the local Income Support Division office and the Medicaid Utilization Review office to confirm Medicaid's approval of the wheelchair request.

T.C. drove his chair for the second time the day of this picture. The controls were too sensitive, but even so, T.C. handled his chair with amazing dexterity. We were all running to get the doors as he whizzed on by. Fly with the wind, T.C.!

Next advocacy step for T.C.? How about an augmentative communication device?