Complex bodies and adaptive equipment

Who these guides are for, Directory details, and sources

This section is for anyone whose needs go beyond what a typical therapy appointment covers, including people with significant motor disabilities, medical complexity, feeding tubes, respiratory equipment, wheelchairs, complex positioning needs, or significant daily-care needs. No diagnosis is required to use these guides. We use “complex bodies” respectfully, as shorthand for bodies that need more support, equipment, or coordination than most—not as a judgment. Children, transition-age people, and adults all belong here.

How the Directory lists equipment resources

The Resource Directory splits equipment and supply providers into narrow categories. We place a provider in a category only when we could verify that product line, and every listing shows the date it was last checked.

Find equipment resources

Sources

• Durable Medical Equipment Coverage — Medicare.gov (opens in a new tab) — the definition and examples used across this section.
• Wheelchair quality standards — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (opens in a new tab) — individualized-fitting standards for complex rehabilitative wheelchairs and assistive technology.
• Tennessee Technology Access Program (opens in a new tab) — funding assistance, device demonstration, device loan, and device reuse.
• Long-Term Services & Supports Member Resources — TennCare (opens in a new tab).