Beach Access: Assistive Devices and Surfaces

Table 1. Subject demographic data.


Variable
Demographic   
Indiana Florida Combined
N 60 51 111
GENDER
Female 24 (40%) 32 (62.7%) 56 (50.5%)
Male 36 (60%) 19 (37.3%) 55 (49.5%)
Mean Age (years) 26.5 60.8 42.1
DISABILITY
Amputee   2 (3.3%)   4 (7.8%)   6 (5.4%)
Arthritis
  -
  3 (5.9%)   3 (2.7%)
Balance   2 (3.3%)   1 (2.0%)   3 (2.7%)
Cerebral Palsy 15 (25.0%)   2 (3.9%) 17 (15.3%)
Multiple Sclerosis   2 (3.3%)   1 (2.0%)   3 (2.7%)
Muscular Dystrophy   6 (10.0%)
  -
  6 (5.4%)
Paralysis Nonspecific   2 (3.3%)   7 (13.7%)   9 (8.1%)
Post Polio   2 (3.3%)   1 (2.0%)   3 (2.7%)
Spina Bifida 13 (21.7%)
  -
13 (11.7%)
Spinal Cord Injury 13 (21.7%)  4 (7.8%) 17 (15.3%)
Stroke
  -
  8 (15.7%)   8 (7.2%)
Walking Difficult   1 (1.8%) 11 (21.6%) 12 (10.8%)
Other   2 (3.3%)   9 (17.6%) 11 (10.0%)
Disability Present at Birth
Yes 28 (46.7%)   4 (7.8%) 32 (28.8%)
No 23 (38.3%) 41 (80.4%) 64 (57.7%)
Did not answer   9 (15.0%)   6 (11.8%) 15 (13.5%)
Assistive Device Normally Used
Ambulatory
  -
  5 (9.8%)   5 (4.5%)
Amigo/scooter   1 (1.7%)   2 (3.9%)   3 (2.7%)
Cane   2 (3.3%)   4 (7.8%)   6 (5.4%)
Crutches   4 (6.7%)   -   4 (3.6%)
Manual Wheelchair 33 (55.0%) 26 (51.0%) 59 (53.2%)
Motorized Wheelchair 16 (26.6%)   5 (9.8%) 21 (18.9%)
Prosthesis   1 (1.7%)
  -
  1 (0.9%)
Walker   2 (3.3%)   7 (13.7%)   9 (8.1%)
did not answer   1 (1.7%)   2 (3.9%)   3 (2.7%)
Require Assistance for Transfers
Yes 25 (41.7%) 23 (45.1%) 48 (43.2%)
No 31 (51.7%) 17 (33.3%) 48 (43.2%)
Not applicable  4 (6.7%) 10 (19.6%) 14 (12.6%)
Did not answer
  -
  1 (2.0%)   1 (0.9%)