Testing of manually-propelled wheelchairs. The need for international standards.

The Veteran's Administration Rehabilitation Engineering Centre (VAREC), and others in the United States have been involved in work associated with improving the wheelchair since early in the 60's. United States Veteran's Administration standards for the "push" wheelchair have been promulgated based on a number of tests, some simple and some requiring complex equipment. A draft of a standard for electrically powered wheelchairs has also been developed by VAREC. Nevertheless, such efforts as those which have taken place in the United States on both the "push" wheelchair and electrically powered systems have so far not been related to the work in other nations; certainly the definitive action toward the development of international standards recently started should employ mechanisms to include the work of all.