I'll also chime in to say you can get started on alternative drive controls and still keep the joystick, at least on my Permobil. I have two profiles for joystick, and two profiles for alternate drive.
And use your best physical capabilities for drive controls. The basic head array would not work for me, so I use even a different setup. I have left and right head array sensors for left and right steering, but use my left thigh to go and stop, and right thigh for the mode switch. My point is try to choose controls that match your capability.
Ideally, everyone should have access to professionals who have the expertise and skills to know when to configure a chair that way.
In March, I'll be presenting on my experience providing power mobility to veterans with ALS at the International Seating Symposium. I'm currently in the process of looking for trends in how we are providing custom mobility equipment to veterans since we started our multidisciplinary ALS clinic 3 years ago. This includes identifying "go to" configurations and looking at what changes we have to make over time.
One of the things about our process for providing mobility equipment is our focus on optimizing user/caregiver usability, durability, and reliability during pre-fitting configuration. I feel that spending a little more time up front prevents some things from happening later, makes the fitting go more smoothly, and minimizes the need for future visits.
Surprisingly, I'm finding that most who start with a joystick are able to stay with a joystick although it may require somebody with the skills and expertise needed to get the joystick in the optimal location, support the user's upper extremity, and program the electronics.
This veteran is still going strong with the joystick although I would have expected him to be using the head array by now (My initial post was last December)
Additional discussion can be found here...
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Fortunately, BrianD, it sounds like you have a skilled individual working with you who knows how to configure the chair for your needs.
I'm following some of the posts in this thread and may even use them in my presentation. They provide some of the best evidence that, too often, we drop the ball after we get payment approved and an order form has been completed. As I see it, that is maybe 35% of the entire process.
BTW, that red switch on the ASL interface box is one of the first things I mention--usually before the person is even in the chair!