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TO: Mary Louise Scheidt, Clerk's Office FROM: Beth Jordan, Risk Management DATE: 4 January 1985 SUBJECT: Wheelchairs BooK `95 fAGE 465 This is written to fgliow up on our conversation earlier today concerning County -provided wheelchairs at the new Courthouse. Wheelchairs are considered personal adaptive devices, much like hearing aids, and we assume that individuals who are wheelchair - dependent will have their own wheelchair available for their use. Given the physical size and distances which may be traveled in the new facility, however, I understand that some Courthouse visitors may benefit from the use of wheelchair transportation which the County may elect to provide as a courtesy. - With that in mind, I suggest the following: 1. Wheelchairs should be in excellent mechanical condition. I suggest that the wheelchair be purchased new from a reputable dealer and/or that a used or donated wheelchair be inspected and found to be in excellent working condition by a reputable dealer prior to its acceptance by the County. Thereafter, routine preventive maintenance checks should be performed by a dealer representative at intervals recommended by the manufacturer. 2. Visitor transfer into and out of a wheelchair should be -made by the visitor. If the visitor requires the use of a wheelchair, we can assume that the visitor best knows his or her limitations and has used a wheelchair in the past. Therefore, the visitor should be able to transfer without assistance from County personnel. If any assistance is requested, the County employee should ask the visitor what he or she specifically needs assistance with and provide the assistance under the visitor's direction. 3. Whenever an employee assists with wheelchair use, he or she is exposing the County to liability for any potential Injury to the wheelchair user. Any such employee who assists a visitor should be thoroughly knowledgeable on wheelchair use including set-up, transfer, braking, balance, etc. 4. If we have a visitor who does not routinely use a wheelchair but who cannot maneuver through the building's distances to receive services, we may want to alternatively consider accommodating that visitor with having the County employee(s) who can provide the requested service meet with the visitor near the entrance to the building. By making our services portable, we negate the necessity of having the visitor travel distances and the need for wheelchair transportation. 5. As with all ADA issues, County personnel should remain sensitive to the needs of the visitor. In this way, visitors will be accommodated in their need to use the new facility and the County's liability for injury will be minimized. If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. cc: Jack Price, Personnel Director 18 June 20, 1995