Wheel Chat: Episode 13 – Smarter wheelchair driving with Michiel Van der Bauwhede

In this episode of Wheel Chat, hosts Anton Mitchell and Justin Boulos are joined by Michiel Van Der Bauwhede from CoMoveIT to explore breakthrough thinking in alternative wheelchair controls - specifically for individuals with complex movement disorders such as cerebral palsy.Michiel shares the story behind CoMoveIT’s head and foot steering system - an adaptive control solution born out of university research and driven by a mission to restore confidence and mobility for users who are often overlooked by conventional joystick or switch options.What’s in this episode:Why traditional switches and joysticks don’t work for many people with cerebral palsyHow adaptive algorithms can “learn” a user’s movement patterns for smoother controlThe importance of closed-chain positioning in reducing tone and increasing functionWhen to consider head and foot control systems - and what signs to look forThe difference between switch, proportional, and adaptive controlsGaming, independence, and access to digital worlds through alternative drive methodsThe role of posture, support, and tone management in enabling safe powered mobilityWhether you're a clinician, assistive tech provider, or someone supporting a user with complex physical needs, this episode offers a detailed, practical, and inspiring look into what's possible when technology adapts to the user - not the other way around.https://comoveit.com/en/Email us :We’d love to hear from you. If you have any questions about this podcast, please email us at [email protected] us : TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@wheelchat_podcastInstagram : https://www.instagram.com/wheelchat_podcast/Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of Anthony and Justin.