Three-wheel and four-wheel scooters: alternatives to powered wheelchairs?

The ministry wanted to know under what circumstances it would be preferable to allocate three- and four-wheel scooters rather than electric-powered wheelchairs (EPWs) and whether transferring its program to the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec would make for easier management of all mobility devices. The findings show that a scooter is of greater benefit than a motorized wheelchair when it meets the user's mobility needs and the user has the ability to operate it. Scooters actually seem to support social integration, mainly because they have a less stigmatizing appearance. Moreover, since their average cost is half that of EPWs, their allocation could represent savings. However, scooters do not necessarily represent an alternative to powered wheelchairs.