The first consideration in selecting a scooter is to determine whether it will meet the needs of the potential user.  The primary market for scooters is individuals with physical disabilities or health conditions which affect their ability to walk or limit their physical endurance.  Typically, scooter users have some ability to walk, but are limited in distance or stamina—people with milder forms of cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, arthritis, cardiac conditions, or stroke survivors, among others.  Scooters are used to increase and extend the range of personal mobility and help conserve energy.  Scooter users often have difficulty propelling manual wheelchairs, but do not require the sophisticated electronic controls and seating systems common in powered wheelchairs.

A number of other physical factors must also be evaluated when determining whether a scooter is an appropriate mobility aid.  A scooter user generally must be able to sit upright for extended periods and have sufficient seated balance to maintain an erect posture.  Further, sufficient upper body and arm strength to master the controls and steer and maneuver the unit is required.  In addition, uncorrected vision disabilities, or conditions which may cause confusion or memory loss or which inhibit proper safety awareness may render a scooter an unsatisfactory mobility aid.

Other considerations in selecting a mobility aid include how and where the scooter will be used, whether or not it will need to be transported, and if so, how it will be transported.  Additional factors include whether or not a scooter will be the primary mode of transportation, how far it will need to travel in between battery charges on a given day, and whether it will be used primarily indoors or outdoors, or in a combination of environments.  The overall evaluation of all these factors will help determine whether a scooter is an appropriate assistive device for a particular individual in a specific set of circumstances.  Persons considering a scooter for the first time should seek the advice of a physician, therapist, or other rehabilitation professional about whether a wheelchair or scooter is most appropriate, and what type of scooter best meets their needs.

It is also important that a scooter under consideration be thoroughly tested and compared with other similar models, if possible, in the setting in which it will be most typically used.  Some manufacturers and distributors allow the prospective buyer to take the scooter for on-site trials for a specified period.  Such trials allow a person to more accurately determine whether the vehicle will perform as required in a given setting, and whether the controls, seating, and leg room are sufficiently comfortable for long-term use.  Like shopping for an automobile, it is advisable to test comparable models and their features.

Source: ABLEDATA Fact Sheet on Scooters