1. Optimising the
performance of activities
Charlie’s story

2. Introducing Charlie
• Charlie is a single 30 year
old man, who sustained a
spinal cord injury (C6-C7)
2 years ago as a result of
an off-road motor bike
accident.
Click here to find out more
about levels of spinal cord
injury.
Photo credit: Charlie Evatt

3. Introducing Charlie
• Charlie was a park ranger
for the Forestry
Commission prior to his
accident.
• He wishes to return to full
employment, but does not
want to be “just stuck
behind a desk”.
Photo credit: Charlie Evatt

4. Introducing Charlie
• He is now a permanent
wheelchair user, living alone in a
ground floor flat, which has been
adapted for wheelchair users,
and gives access to a small
garden with:
• A lawn and washing-line
• Containers and hanging-baskets
• However, this flat is on the
outskirts of town. Although most
facilities are accessible by public
transport, the service is
sporadic; and he consequently
feels isolated from his friends.
Photo credit: Charlie Evatt

5. Charlie’s problems
Charlie is desperate to regain
his independence, and to take
more control over his own
lifestyle.
• Although he is now independent in
self-care, he still relies on daily visits
by Home Care services for domestic
tasks such as vacuuming.
• When he is alone, he wants to be able
to answer the door to visitors safely
and easily.
• He is also frustrated that he cannot
tend to the garden or carry out simple
tasks like opening a window by
himself.
Photo credit: Charlie Evatt

6. Charlie’s problems
Charlie is desperate to regain
his independence, and to take
more control over his own
lifestyle.
• The difficulties that Charlie has with
transport means that he spends a large
amount of his spare time reading and
watching the TV.
• He is proud of his large collection of
wildlife films and books; but often finds
that he has to wait for a visitor in order
to access those which have had to be
stored on higher shelves.
• He is worried about the effects of his
injury on any future relationships,
particularly in terms of having sex.
Photo credit: Charlie Evatt