I am currently supervising two doctoral candidates, four MSc students, one MRSc student, and co-supervising two post-doctoral students. I also supervise a variety of MOT student research projects and have four research staff (two full time). I have funding available for graduate students on a number of projects. If you would like to discuss graduate level training opportunities, please contact me.
After graduating from the University of Alberta in 1991, I worked as a clinician in acute and residential care before starting graduate studies at UBC in 1998. I am an emerging leader in the field of aging and assistive technology; in 2016 I received the CIHR New Investigator Award. Outside of work, I am a father of three busy, young children and a dedicated bicyclist, recreational chorister and backcountry enthusiast.
ScanCourse
Here is a link to the standardized instructions for administering the ScanCourse, dual task measure of visual scanning during ambulation/while wheeling.
Here is a link to the power mobility assessment safety and training guidelines we previously developed.
Articles for Download (limited eprints available)
Perceptions of power-assist devices: interviews with manual wheelchair users
Setting the Sails: Stakeholders Perceptions of an Adapted Sailing Program
Mobility Challenges Among Older Adult Mobility Device Users
Evaluating common approaches to improve visibility of wheelchair users
Learning to use a rear-mounted power assist for manual wheelchairs
My research focuses on four overlapping areas: assistive technology, social participation, caregiving and outcome measurement. My work is centered on four main populations: assistive technology users, informal and formal caregivers, individuals with spinal cord injury and residents in long-term care.
My teaching philosophy has its roots in the tenets of student-centred learning and the principles of adult learning. I am currently an instructor with the UBC MOT program and the on-line MRSC program.
Reviewer
BMJ Open
Disability and Rehabilitation
Social Science and Medicine
Physical Therapy (PTJ)
Canadian Medical Association Journal
Canadian Journal on Aging
Ageing and Society
BMJ: Clinical Trials
Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Reviewer, AGE-WELL Highly Qualified Personnel Competition
Reviewer for CIHR Project Grant Competition
Reviewer for Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Spinal Cord Injury Grants Review Committee
Memberships
Chair, Clinical Faculty Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Canadian Association on Gerontology
Canadian Society of Occupational Scientists
Assistive Technology Journal Editorial Board Member
*links to articles provided when possible*
Rushton, P. W., Mortenson, W. B., Viswanathan, P., Wang, R. H., Miller, W. C., Hurd Clarke, L., & CanWheel Research Team. (2017). Intelligent power wheelchair use in long-term care: Potential users’ experiences and perceptions. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 12(7), 740-746. doi:10.1080/17483107.2016.1260653.
Mortenson, W. B., Demers, L., Rushton, P., Auger, C., Routhier, F., & Miller, W. C. (2017). Psychometric properties of a power mobility caregiver assistive technology outcome measure. PLOS ONE, 12(6): e0178554. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178554
Mortenson, W. B., Jang, S., Goldsmith, C. H., Hurd Clarke, L., Hobson, S., & Emery, R. (2017). Feasibility of a systematic, comprehensive, one to one training (SCOOT) program for new scooter users: Study protocol for a randomized control trial. BioMed Central Trials, 18(1), 235-243.
Rushton, P. W., Labbé, D., Demers, L., Miller, W. C., Mortenson, W. B., & Kirby, R. L. (2017). Understanding the burden experienced by caregivers of older adults who use a powered wheelchair: A cross-sectional study. Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, 3(0), 1-8. doi:10.1177/2333721417703736
Shing, J., James, L., Mortenson, W. B., Mattie. J., & Borisoff, J. (2017). Experiences with and perceptions of an adaptive hiking program. Disability and Rehabilitation, 0(0): 17.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2017.1302006
Mahmoud, H., Qannam, H., Zbogar, D., & Mortenson, W. B. (2017). Spinal cord injury rehabilitation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Time to rehabilitation admission, length of stay, and functional independence. Spinal Cord, 1-6. doi:10.1038/sc.2016.165.
http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/39NWC5YiiaVkHbu8VizG/full
Martin Ginis, K. A., Evans, M. B., Mortenson, W. B., & Noreau, L. M. (2017). Broadening the conceptualization of ‘participation’ of persons with physical disabilities: A configurative review and recommendations. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 98(2), 395-402. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2016.04.017.
Mortenson, W. B., Hurd Clarke, L, Goldsmith, C. H., Jang, S., & Kirby, R. L. (2017). Measurement properties of the Wheelchair Skills Test for scooters among experienced users. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 0(0), 1-6. doi:10.1080/17483107.2017.1280546.
http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/dfRgdxJpa2yFMAkjnxSw/full
Wada, M., Mortenson, W. B., & Hurd Clarke, L. (2017). Older adults’ online dating profiles and successful ageing. Canadian Journal on Ageing, 35(4). 479-490. doi:10.1017/S071114980816000507.
Mahmoud, H., Qannam, H., Zbogar, D., & Mortenson, W. B. (2017). Spinal cord injury rehabilitation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Time to rehabilitation admission, length of stay, and functional independence. Spinal Cord, 1-6. doi:10.1038/sc.2016.165.
Giesbrecht, E. M., Smith, E. M., Mortenson, W. B., & Miller, W. C. (2016). Met and unmet needs for mobility device, home modification, and personal assistance among wheeled mobility device users in Canada. Health Reports, TBD. [accepted]
Rushton, P. W., Mortenson, W. B., Viswanathan, P., Wang, R. H., Miller, W. C., Hurd Clarke, L., & CanWheel Research Team. (2016). Intelligent power wheelchair use in long-term care: Potential users’ experiences and perceptions. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 1-7. doi:10.1080/17483107.2016.1260653.
http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/uwfweGrW9uAVHwahWb7q/full
Mortenson, W. B., Sixsmith, A., & Kaufman, D. (2016). Non-digital game playing in older adults. Canadian Journal on Aging, 36(3), TBD.
Demers, L., Mortenson, W. B., Fuhrer, M. J., Jutai, J. W., Plante, M., Mah, J., & DeRuyter, F. (2016). Effect of a tailored assistive technology intervention on older adults and their family caregivers: A pragmatic study protocol. BioMed Central Geriatrics, 16(103), 2-11. doi:10.1186/s12877-016-0269-3
Bishop, A. M., & Mortenson, W. B. (2016). Discharge criteria and follow-up support for dementia care units. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 35(3), 321-30. doi:10.1177/0733464815577140
Kaufman, D., Sauvé, L. Renaud, L., Sixsmith, A., & Mortenson, W. B. (2016). Older adults’ digital gameplay: patterns, benefits, and challenges. Simulation & Gaming, 1-25. doi:10.1177/1046878116645736
Mortenson, W. B., Sixsmith, A., & Beringer, R. (2016). No place like home? Surveillance technologies and the meaning of home in old age. Canadian Journal on Aging, 35(1), 103-114. doi:10.1017/S0714980815000549
Mortenson, W. B., Hoag, E., Higgins, R., Emery, R., & Joyce, L. (2016). Stakeholders’ perspectives related to the development of a scooter training program. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 11(4), 289-294. doi:10.3109/17483107.2014.1001449
Smith, E. M., Giesbrecht, E. M., Mortenson, W. B., & Miller, W. C. (2016). Prevalence of wheelchair and scooter use among community dwelling Canadians. Physical Therapy, 96(8), 1135–1142. doi:http://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20150574
Mortenson, W. B., & Kim, J. (2016). A scoping review of mobility scooter-related research studies. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development, 53(5), 531-540. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2015.05.0084