By Erin Jester
A Doctor of Occupational Therapy student is turning research into action with a capstone project aimed at increasing accessibility to the great outdoors.
In a 10-week case study, Tyler Martin, a fourth-year O.T.D. student, examined the impact of the EcoRover chair — an all-terrain tracked wheelchair — on wheelchair users’ participation and inclusion in natural spaces.
Martin wanted to incorporate his love of the outdoors and passion for accessibility into his capstone project, which clicked when he learned about the EcoRover.
Unlike traditional power wheelchairs, the EcoRover has continuous tracks (like tanks and bulldozers) that have better traction than wheels and can traverse sand, mud, snow, rocks and other obstacles without getting stuck.
The EcoRover was designed by a wheelchair user, which is not the norm, Martin said. A common complaint from his research participants was that assistive devices are often designed without enough user input.
“It’s quite ironic because these individuals are using a wheelchair every day of their life,” Martin said.
In addition to interviewing wheelchair users, Martin partnered with organizations across Florida to raise awareness that EcoRovers exist and are available to rent, including in Alachua County. Alachua Conservation Trust acquired an EcoRover last year, which can be rented for free at five locations in the county.
Martin used social media to find research participants, like Charlotte Merle-Smith, who saw his post in a Facebook group for people with spinal cord injuries.
Merle-Smith, an Ocala resident, has used a wheelchair since her injury 18 years ago. After a rehabilitation period, she looked for ways to get back to her active lifestyle.
Using different types of wheelchairs and assistive devices, Merle-Smith has competed in CrossFit competitions, completed three marathons and has been able to enjoy sailing, waterskiing, downhill skiing and horseback riding.
She uses an electric scooter-like attachment on her wheelchair to get around easier on the farm where she lives but has to be wary of obstacles like loose soil and holes.
Before she met Martin, Merle-Smith had heard of track chairs, but not the EcoRover, and didn’t know they were available to rent in Alachua County. When she tried one out with Martin, she was pleased to find she could navigate difficult terrain and go down a hill without worrying about how to get back up.
Merle-Smith said she’s been sharing her experience with friends to get the word out and may consider buying an EcoRover in the future.
“This was the first time I could go out, off the pavement, and be OK by myself,” she said. “That was huge.”
Overall, Martin’s case study participants said the all-terrain chair increased their independence outdoors and emotional wellbeing, and enjoyed getting back to activities they enjoyed pre-injury, such as hiking, hunting and archery.
“Seeing the client impact and how it affects them … that was beautiful for me to hear,” Martin said.