This module encourages students to apply their understanding of the theories and principles that underpin the sustainable development of postural care and wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision across the life course, to their own clinical practice. Specifically, this module is designed to support students to provide and improve 24 hour postural care management and wheelchair and seating assessment in clinical practice, across the lifespan from infancy to end of life, with particular application to optimising outcomes for wheelchair users.

The content and structure of this module support the development and application of knowledge related to theories of sustainable development of postural care, and wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision across the life course. Drawing upon national and international literature, the application of key theories of postural care and wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision across the life course for health and social care professionals and clinical engineers is central to this module. This module content includes guidelines and policy development, both globally and locally. It includes the processes involved with 24 hour postural care and identifying a pathway for assessment of body structure, function, and skin integrity preservation, strategies for translating the findings from the hands-on assessment into various seating solutions, best practices for wheelchair specifications including terminology and measurements, common barriers to implementing seating solutions, considerations for night time or alternative positioning, and understanding the value to documenting outcome measures. Students will be provided with adequate information and training to carry out a comprehensive postural assessment in sitting, supine, and standing for persons who have mild, moderate and complex physical impairments. This module will address issues relating to children, adolescence and adults including those with the loss of mobility associated with progressive medical and neurological conditions, trauma, ageing, and bariatric related issues. Delivery of this module includes a combination of online and in-class lectures, in-class discussion and lab-based activities, combined with facilitated learning activities focused on postural care and wheelchair and seating assistive technology provision issues and potential sustainable solutions across the lifespan. Podcasts, blogs and e-books, current literature drawn from recent peer-reviewed publications, international policy and current healthcare practices will be available for students to prepare for and reflect on classroom-based learning activities.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Support multi-stakeholder perspectives within the postural care, wheelchair, and seating assistive technology provision system.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Follow the application of a universal model approach to the wheelchair, seating and postural care provision processes from a human rights and security perspective. Integrate knowledge of sustainability indicators and outcome measurement appropriately for different wheelchair and seating provision practice settings and contexts. Support multi-stakeholder perspectives within the postural care, wheelchair, and seating assistive technology provision system.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: Perform comprehensive postural care/seating assessment, with appropriate solutions, for people with low and high complexity wheelchair and seating service requirements. Demonstrate proficiency in measurement and documentation of linear and angular anatomical and product dimensions. Differentiate wheelchair and seating products and their design across the range of available posture and wheeled mobility products. Demonstrate practice of basic wheelchair skills training and education.

Blended taught module supported by the most recent scientific and grey literature available in line with graduate attributes for continual professional development.