Students get hands-on experience with occupational therapy equipment during UWM's Mobility Technology Day

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- If you're studying to become an occupational therapist, you know you'll someday be working with people in wheelchairs.

At UW-Milwaukee Wednesday, April 21, occupational science students got a chance to try out that equipment during Mobility Technology Day.

Students got hands on or "seats on" experience working with the powered chairs and other equipment.

It takes practice to get the hang of using them, even for people who don't need them.

The goal is to give the students insight into what their patients are dealing with.

"The students really need to learn about this technology so they can help the individuals figure out the best technology to get and how to learn how to use it safely, and so it really helps them in their practices as they're learning about becoming these professionals," said UW-Milwaukee Professor Roger Smith.

A lot of classes at UWM are online these days, but this experience needed to be in person.