CIDE Wheelchair Seating Guide

Below you will find helpful resources provided by CIDE for proper wheelchair seating assistance.


Guide to Standardized Wheelchair Seating Measures & Glossary of Wheelchair Terms and Definitions are available to download for free using the form on this page. . 

These two resources were developed through grant funding from the Paralyzed Veterans of America Education Foundation under the direction of Kelly Waugh, PT, MAPT, ATP. The overall goal of this project is to advance clinical practice and outcomes research in the field of wheelchair seating by promoting the adoption and use of standardized terminology and measurement during all phases of wheelchair service delivery.

Members of the project teams that created these two resources include: Barbara Crane, PT, PhD, ATP/SMS, Susan Johnson Taylor, OT/L, Susan Cwiertnia, PT, MS, ATP, Faith Saftler Savage, PT, ATP, Kim Davis, MSPT, ATP, Lois Brown, MPT, ATP/SMS, and Susan Christie, PT/ATP with Illustrations by Rick Morris. 

the clinical application wheelchair seating guide cover

A Clinical Application Guide to Standardized Wheelchair Seating Measures of the Body and Seating Support Surfaces, Revised Edition

In this resource manual defining over 130 measurement terms, the authors present a complex ISO standard in a format and language that is easy to understand and practical to use. It includes the correct terminology for angular and linear measurements of the seated person's body and the seating support system.

For each term the guide explains the purpose of the measure and its clinical relevance, with an accurate definition, a sample measurement procedure, and 1 to 2 illustrations helping to clarify each measure.

Wheelchair Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Wheelchair Terms and Definitions, Version 1.0

This glossary includes a searchable list of 550+ defined terms related to wheelchairs, wheelchair seating, and wheelchair seated posture. The terms are organized functionally in four sections: (1) Wheeled Mobility Device Types and Related Terms, (2) Wheelchair Components and Features, (3) Seating Support System and (4) Angular and Linear Dimensions. Reference sources are included for each term and definition, and historical terms are linked to the preferred term in a comprehensive index.

Download for Free

Both resources can be downloaded as a PDF for free and can be accessed by filling out the form below. Providing this information will help us keep you informed of any updates or new versions of these products.

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