Message to Readers

O&M for Wheelchair Users is an electronic book with "click on" videos. The videos serve to reinforce and clarify description within the text. As you read the text, click on any photo and watch it come alive. When you finish, click again and the video returns to its static format.

The table of contents (TOC) provides a quick and easy way to navigate through the book. Click once on a TOC topic and the book moves directly to that chapter. It is also possible to do a word search to locate all locations of that topic in the book.

Word Usage
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) uses the word "consumer(s)" within the text as a generalized term to designate all experienced wheelchair users. APH uses the word "student(s)" to designate a person new to wheelchair use or a person who seeks continuing instruction. APH recognizes that we are all lifelong students, regardless of age.

The terms "O&M Specialist" and "instructor" are interchangeable. "Human guide" and "spotter" refer to O&M Specialists and instructors, as well as any person who gives assistance to the wheelchair user upon request.

Text pronoun gender matches that of the videos. When no video is available, the instructor pronoun gender reflects that of the author, Scott Crawford, and the student pronoun gender is female. This format provides reading ease and clarity, as well as maintains a balance of gender representation.

---

« About the Authors

Main Menu

Chapter 1 - Introduction »