Transferring Sides By Ann Turner

1. Transferring SidesBy Ann Turner

2. NECESSARY CONCEPTS • BodyImage- must be able to label body parts and understand the range of movements of body parts. • Spatial Concepts-must understand the placement, arrangement, and spacing of person or things in relation to one another. • Laterality andDirectionality-must understand left and right sidedness.

3. SITUATIONS WHEN APPROPRIATE • Stairs • Doors • Obstacle- For instance, trash cans, water fountains, pillars, etc.

4. CONTACT AND GRASP • Guide:Touch the follower’s hand with the back of your hand. • Follower: -Grasp the guide’s wrist and trail up the guide’s arm to the elbow. - Place your fingers on the inside of the arm near the guide’s body and your thumb on the outside. -Grasp the arm like you would hold a soda bottle. - Keep your arm bent at a 90° angle.

5. GRIP METHOD • Most stable method. • Come to complete stop. • Follower places his/her free hand just above his/her grip on the guide’s heel. • Trail or move original grip hand across guide’s back to guide’s other arm. This avoids loss of contact. • He/she steps in to new position on guide’s other side. • Resume grip with appropriate hand.

6. SLIDE METHOD • Can be done while stopped or traveling depending on the abilities of the pair. • The back of the follower’s free hand contacts the guide’s are just above the original hand grip. Fingertips should be pointing to the guide’s opposite arm. • Release original grip and turn 90° towards guides opposite arm. • Trail across guides back until guide’s opposite arm is gripped. • Continue until new alignment is achieved. • Assume normal grasp position.

7. TRANSFERRING SIDES • Since trailing is less secure than firm grip and the slide method requires a change of direction, it is not recommended for lower functioning or physically unstable individuals.