Mobility

The hierarchy of mobility skills is as follows: bed mobility, mat transfer, wheelchair transfer, bed transfer, functional ambulation for ADL, toilet and tub transfer, car transfer, functional ambulation for community mobility, and lastly community mobility and driving. This order is somewhat what I expected it to be because you always have to start with the simplest step first. If someone tries to go to the restroom but can't successfully transfer into their wheelchair, there is no way this would work. The least important occupation in the list is driving, so that is why it is listed last. I think this sequence is beneficial because if a person is not able to do bed mobility tasks, then there is no way they would be able to do anything else. The first step to independence is bed mobility. 
Although I observed in a rehab hospital, I never got to witness transfers of any kind. I would have to stay in the therapy room while the OT went to get the client. I wish I could have gotten to see more of the bed mobility skills and transfers. 
I definitely agree with this approach. It is always better to start with something simple and work your way up. You do not want your client to get discouraged because he/she can't complete a task. I think you should always make the task achievable and then increase in difficulty each session. The simulation labs definitely helped me grasp the concept of transfers since I had never seen them done before. I think it is way easier to learn by doing rather than just watching.