Kevin Is a 17-Year-Old Adolescent with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy

Kevin is a 17-year-old adolescent with athetoid cerebral palsy. Kevin participates in many aspects of his school day in a typical classroom with his peers, but he goes to a special education resource room for tutoring. For the past 5 years, he has been using a manual wheelchair with a sling back and seat that belonged to his deceased grandmother. The footrests have been removed. He frequently complains of a back pain and has to be repositioned in his wheelchair because he slides out. He is often observed hanging over the left armrest of his wheelchair. He is dependent on others to push his current wheelchair to all activities at school, though he can move backward using his feet and his extensor tone. He has a ring walker that he uses sometimes to move through the halls, but he is often late for class. Kevin is nonverbal, but he uses his eyes and hand to answer "yes" and "no" questions. His scores on IQ tests are in the low 80s. The school team is asking for your input regarding assistive technology that might assist Kevin to achieve his educational goals. His primary goals include (1) easier and faster movement on his own, (2) making money, (3) dating, and (4) going to college to become a history teacher.
-Which of the following mobility options would be most beneficial for Kevin?

A) A manual (dependent-propelled) wheelchair that is designed to allow Kevin to push the chair with his feet
B) A manual wheelchair, but have Kevin increase his walking using his walker throughout the school
C) Power wheelchair at school, and a manual chair and walker for use at home and in his community
D) Power mobility at school and at home, if his family home and transportation can accommodate the chair