A stunning day amid the forests and trails around the Badaguish Cairngorm Outdoor Centre using the BOMA all terrain wheelchair. The orienteering session was used to explore and experience independence and autonomy in an environment that is often difficult and restrictive for people to move around in.
People
Amy arrived with a few close family members and Sophie Tear, Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Scotland’s Family Support Worker. Amy uses a manual wheelchair and welcomed an opportunity to learn something new and independently access areas of the countryside that she would never be able to reach using her chair.
Planning
Planning was relatively simple for this session, both the instructor and Amy had met on a previous activity and a certain level of familiarity and understanding of her aspirations and functional abilities streamlined the process. A simple session of two Boma’s driven independently was the aim with a contingency of only using 1 Boma if Amy did not feel confident or comfortable in sole control. The Boma would then be rigged with the Monkey Bar Attendant Handle bar with the instructor following and supporting with control behind.
A general introductory session around the grounds of Badaguish Cairngorm Activity Centre was planned to introduce the controls, gain an understanding of steering and to progress through different types of terrain starting with smooth tarmac, moving through paved paths and onto grass and gravel. The aim was then to take a comfort break and have some refreshments whilst reviewing the experience to provide an opportunity for Amy to think back to what had just happened as a reference to then be able to project forward as to what that might be like whilst undertaking a journey further afield.
Depending on the decision one or two Bomas would be taken out and the journey length would be adjusted accordingly.
Environment
The day provided a slightly cloudy but cool day, dictating warm clothes but not the need for gloves, although these were taken in preparation for a change of circumstance or weather causing extremities to cool ie. circulation, wind chill, rain etc.
The grounds of Badaguish Cairngorm Outdoor Centre are a variety of block paving, tarmac, grass and gravel and provide an excellent starting point to understanding the basic control of the BOMA all terrain wheelchairs. Using a less complex learning environment enables the development of techniques and skills to be developed without complications of uneven or terrain with gradients which may evoke concern or apprehension, interferences to learning.
The outlying areas of the Glenmore Forest provide a variety of rough graded trails and grass covered, less used trails. The BOMA chairs are more than capable of handling this terrain with comfort to the user.
Equipment
Two Equal Adventure all terrain wheelchairs, one handle bar and one joystick controlled, were used. Amy sitting balance was supplemented using an Equal Adventure Aquabac postural support to compliment her available sitting balance but also provide a degree of security reducing any concerns of being tipped or falling out.
Practice
Having met before the introductory formalities were reduced between Amy and her instructor for the session. Understanding the functional abilities and hand function of Amy, the joystick controlled version of the BOMA was selected by Amy. Instructions were able to be provided in a style, at a pitch (level of information) and at a pace (speed of delivery) that had already been established and built on the relationship that had already been developed. Once convinced of a certain degree of control had been achieved an extended journey further into the forest was undertaken.
Conversation was informal and an opportunity to reflect on how being in the outdoors felt to Amy was taken. The reflection included what the independence of using the BOMA meant to her and included stopping to consider where the BOMA was able to let her access and what that also meant to her.
Key Message from EA
Starting small and building understanding, learning techniques, growing skills all help daunting big events become more manageable.
Possible Micro-Adventure Opportunities
- Hug a tree, feel the bark, lower branches and leaves.
- Plan a route and follow it on a map.
- Find out more about and go on an Equal Adventure BOMA highland tour. Cross Scotland by whatever means you can.
