Wheelchair Jacket
Well, Emily is now officially in elementary school. What does this mean for us? Emily now needs to ride in her wheelchair to school on the bus instead of sitting in a car seat and sending along her medical McClaren Stroller. All is fine as far as the riding in the wheelchair goes, but what to do when the weather turns cold? Emily's wheelchair has a new seating system that has been custom molded to her little body. What this means for Emily is that she needs to wear very lightweight and breathable materials when she is in her wheelchair. She will no longer be able to wear the super cute denim jeans that she wore in the past as they are too thick and hot for her new seat. Emily is also no longer able to wear a jacket of any kind as she would not be able to fit into her wheelchair seat and she would also get way to hot! So, I looked into options and the only company that I could find that has jackets made specifically for people in wheelchairs, but wasn't exactly what I was looking for. I will provide you with the information anyway in case it is a good match for you or your child..... http://www.kutawayssports.com/about.html
So, I consulted with a friend of mine, Janine Peterson, who went to school for design and together we talked through ideas. Janine measured Emily and looked at her in her wheelchair to see how the jacket needed to lay. Once she had a rough sketch and measurements we headed out to the specialty fabric store and picked out something warm, but cute and fun to match Emily's personality! We came up with two colors for the jacket material that is wind and weather proof - light purple and black. For the inside I wanted something that was going to be soft and warm, so we looked at fleece material, but settled on a super soft minky material with black and white zebra print on it. Janine then suggested a layer of 3M thinsulate on the inside to help keep Emily warm during the bitter cold months in Minnesota.
I am super happy with the end result and so excited to share photos and Janine's information with you all!!
Janine Peterson does Professional Alterations for Weddings and more! Express service at no extra charge. Contact her to set up a fitting! Also available for Custom Interior Sewing and Consultation. Her email address is janine.e.peterson@gmail.com. Janine also has a web site as well. Her specialty is formal wear, but Janine is very talented and can meet any need that you have. Check her out at: http://janine.e.peterson.googlepages.com
Please contact Janine for any idea or need that you may have for you or your child! She is easy to work with, fast, and very reasonably priced! Please mention that I referred you to her - I don't get anything out of it I just want her to know that I help spread the word about her amazing talents!
So, I consulted with a friend of mine, Janine Peterson, who went to school for design and together we talked through ideas. Janine measured Emily and looked at her in her wheelchair to see how the jacket needed to lay. Once she had a rough sketch and measurements we headed out to the specialty fabric store and picked out something warm, but cute and fun to match Emily's personality! We came up with two colors for the jacket material that is wind and weather proof - light purple and black. For the inside I wanted something that was going to be soft and warm, so we looked at fleece material, but settled on a super soft minky material with black and white zebra print on it. Janine then suggested a layer of 3M thinsulate on the inside to help keep Emily warm during the bitter cold months in Minnesota.
I am super happy with the end result and so excited to share photos and Janine's information with you all!!
Janine Peterson does Professional Alterations for Weddings and more! Express service at no extra charge. Contact her to set up a fitting! Also available for Custom Interior Sewing and Consultation. Her email address is janine.e.peterson@gmail.com. Janine also has a web site as well. Her specialty is formal wear, but Janine is very talented and can meet any need that you have. Check her out at: http://janine.e.peterson.googlepages.com
Please contact Janine for any idea or need that you may have for you or your child! She is easy to work with, fast, and very reasonably priced! Please mention that I referred you to her - I don't get anything out of it I just want her to know that I help spread the word about her amazing talents!
Answer2 Children's - Toddler / Infant Shoes
These are one of the pairs of tennis shoes that we have and use for Emily's AFO's and her SMO's. The older ones used to light up when walked on, but the new version does not light up. The Velcro is extra long to ensure proper closure of the shoe with orthotics in them. The price is pretty good on these shoes as well.
Here is where we bought these shoes from - http://www.thewideshoes.com
Here is where we bought these shoes from - http://www.thewideshoes.com
SureStep SMO
SureStep is the most effective means of providing stability to children who pronate when standing and walking. This patented, dynamic system allows children to gain stability, while still allowing normal movement and function. Children with low muscle tone who have trouble with stability due to pronation can now walk, run and jump without the delays and instabilities that often result. SureStep is not a different brace, but rather a completely unique system that manages the foot and ankle without over-managing.
SureStep is a revolutionary new concept in bracing, specifically designed for children with normal to lower muscle tone who:
http://www.surestep.net/index.php
SureStep is a revolutionary new concept in bracing, specifically designed for children with normal to lower muscle tone who:
- Realize moderate to severe pronation when standing and/or walking.
- Display a general instability when pulling to stand and during cruising.
- Have developmental delays and are late in learning to advance beyond cruising around furniture.
- Are under 85 pounds.
*(see SureStep BigShot for kids over 85lbs.)
http://www.surestep.net/index.php
Superstand Tristander by Prime Engineering
Emily in a Superstand
I love this stander by Prime Engineering! We tried it in prone, supine and upright for our daughter and it is super easy to use. It is also on wheels so we can move Emily around the house for different things to look at and interact with.
The most versatile standing system available, Superstand works as a Prone, Supine or Upright Stander without the need to purchase additional parts. Changing positions is as simple as changing from the headrest to the chin support and simply reversing the tray.
Superstand grows an unprecedented 22" in height without any additional parts needed and positioning options adjust quickly without using tools. Try Superstand and watch it grow with your child's development.
The most versatile standing system available, Superstand works as a Prone, Supine or Upright Stander without the need to purchase additional parts. Changing positions is as simple as changing from the headrest to the chin support and simply reversing the tray.
Superstand grows an unprecedented 22" in height without any additional parts needed and positioning options adjust quickly without using tools. Try Superstand and watch it grow with your child's development.
Pony/Bronco by Snug Seat
Emily in her Pony by Snug Seat
This is the first walking aid that we had for our daughter, Emily. When we got this for her she was too small for even the smallest gait trainer. She used this in the home and at school and seemed to really like it.
Walking aids with great mobility Pony/Bronco are walking aids that encourage the child to stand and walk. The sensation of standing despite a disability is crucial to the user's social and physical development. The lungs, muscles and bones are all strengthened and the feeling of freedom gives renewed energy and a general sense of well-being.
Pony Pony comes in four sizes and has a five-wheel construction specifically designed for indoor use.
It is excellent for rehabilitating hip function, supporting the child so it can balance properly. The seat, body support and handle are all easy to adjust, and the angle can be regulated with a minimum of effort.
Bronco Bronco is for outdoor use and comes in three sizes. It has four robust wheels and an exceptional braking system specifically developed by R82. Bronco provides excellent support for the chest while keeping the child's pelvis firmly in place
Walking aids with great mobility Pony/Bronco are walking aids that encourage the child to stand and walk. The sensation of standing despite a disability is crucial to the user's social and physical development. The lungs, muscles and bones are all strengthened and the feeling of freedom gives renewed energy and a general sense of well-being.
Pony Pony comes in four sizes and has a five-wheel construction specifically designed for indoor use.
It is excellent for rehabilitating hip function, supporting the child so it can balance properly. The seat, body support and handle are all easy to adjust, and the angle can be regulated with a minimum of effort.
Bronco Bronco is for outdoor use and comes in three sizes. It has four robust wheels and an exceptional braking system specifically developed by R82. Bronco provides excellent support for the chest while keeping the child's pelvis firmly in place
x:panda by Snug Seat
Emily with her sister in the x:panda
We LOVE this chair! We got the x:panda pretty much as soon as it hit the market here in the US and love it. We tried many chairs out before deciding to go with this one and thought the stability of this chair was hard to beat. The back of the chair moves with the child instead of being hard and stiff. We got pretty much all of the bells and whistles with it: the hig/low indoor base (so Emily can play with her sister and friends at their level), a padded tray, all of the supports from head to toe, and the outdoor stroller base. The downfall to this chair is that it is very expensive. However, we had a great physical therapist and doctor who helped get this chair approved through our insurance.
x:panda is a multiadjustable dynamic seat, delivered in 3 different sizes - each seat with up to 10 cm in seat width and depth adjustment coupled with sliding back growth. The back is dynamic, making it possible for the child to extend and push back against relatively light resistance and then recover into the desired sitting position also being lockable for feeding. Further the back can be angled to make it possible to place the child with either an open or closed hip angle.
Main features:
* Suits children from 16 cm seat depth
* Dynamic back - maintains pelvic positioning
* Dynamic movement - adjustable to fit all users
* Growth - individually in width, depth and back
* Patented recline adjustment
* Innovative stylish design
x:panda is a multiadjustable dynamic seat, delivered in 3 different sizes - each seat with up to 10 cm in seat width and depth adjustment coupled with sliding back growth. The back is dynamic, making it possible for the child to extend and push back against relatively light resistance and then recover into the desired sitting position also being lockable for feeding. Further the back can be angled to make it possible to place the child with either an open or closed hip angle.
Main features:
* Suits children from 16 cm seat depth
* Dynamic back - maintains pelvic positioning
* Dynamic movement - adjustable to fit all users
* Growth - individually in width, depth and back
* Patented recline adjustment
* Innovative stylish design
Rifton Pacer Gait Trainers
Emily in her gait trainer
As Emily got taller and stronger we needed to find a good gait trainer that she could easily use. We tried a couple of brands and settled on the Rifton Pacer Gait trainer. She has had it for about one year now and we still really like it. It is fairly easy to adjust and she can move it with ease.
The Rifton Pacer Gait Trainer is a gait trainer that can be adapted to meet the needs of most individuals, whether minimal or maximum support is needed. Rifton has made the Pacer Gait Trainer design lightweight and easy to use, with an aesthetic design.
Pacer standard features are:Height-Adjustable Frame Transportable 5-in-1 Casters Open Design for Easy Transfers Forward or Rear Facing Design Accessories Easily Attach to Frame without tools
The Rifton Pacer Gait Trainer is a gait trainer that can be adapted to meet the needs of most individuals, whether minimal or maximum support is needed. Rifton has made the Pacer Gait Trainer design lightweight and easy to use, with an aesthetic design.
Pacer standard features are:
Zippie Quickie Tilt In Space Wheelchair
Emily dancing in her Quickie Wheelchair
Emily got her first true wheelchair shortly after she turned two years old. We take her to Shriners Hospital and Clinic in Minneapolis, MN and this is what they recommended for her. We do not have a handicap modified van so we have to lift this wheelchair in and out of it every time we use it. It seems like it weighs about 40 pounds or so and can be lifted by one person, but it easier to take in and out by two people. The tilt part is very nice for days that Emily has exceptionally bad head control. I would recommend this chair to anyone who has a very involved child.
Quickie has developed a dramatic new approach to tilting in space. It's called the Quickie IRIS (Intelligent Rotation In Space). Unlike systems that incorporate a fixed pivot-point, dual pivot-point, or linear element, the Quickie IRIS' rotational design is based on the idea of rotating the seat-frame around a user's center-of-gravity. This, combined with up to 60 of posterior rotation and hi-resolution adjustment, provides the ultimate in control, maneuverability, and stability.
Quickie has developed a dramatic new approach to tilting in space. It's called the Quickie IRIS (Intelligent Rotation In Space). Unlike systems that incorporate a fixed pivot-point, dual pivot-point, or linear element, the Quickie IRIS' rotational design is based on the idea of rotating the seat-frame around a user's center-of-gravity. This, combined with up to 60 of posterior rotation and hi-resolution adjustment, provides the ultimate in control, maneuverability, and stability.
Special Tomato Chair
Emily in her Special Tomato
We were looking for a nice supportive chair for Emily that we could easily attach to a regular chair and take with us to other people's houses. We came across the Special Tomato chair and really liked it so we ordered it and now Emily's school has one just like it for her to use there as well. We opted to get the rolling base so that she can be rolled around the house with ease. What I really like about this chair is that it puts Emily right at peer level with her sister and her friends. We did not order the version that has a lot of support and a tray option which I now regret. The picture of Emily is in the older version of this chair. Shortly after we got it, they released a new and improved version.
From the original creator of Tumble Forms® comes the NEW Special Tomato® special needs equipment line. Special Tomato® products are made of a NEW Latex-Free seamless material that is guaranteed to be peel-resistant and tear-resistant, as well as impermeable to fluids to withstand cracking. These products cannot be submerged in fluids.
All Special Tomato® adaptive equipment products are soft to the touch for comfort that is unsurpassed, but durable enough to endure the stress and damage often caused by frequent use. This uniquely soft, heavy-duty anti-microbial material has become one of the signatures of this top quality Special Tomato® product line. The Special Tomato® Soft-Touch™ Sitters and other Special Tomato® special needs products can be cleaned easily with common disinfectants – Great for use with multiple children and adults in therapy clinics and schools.
From the original creator of Tumble Forms® comes the NEW Special Tomato® special needs equipment line. Special Tomato® products are made of a NEW Latex-Free seamless material that is guaranteed to be peel-resistant and tear-resistant, as well as impermeable to fluids to withstand cracking. These products cannot be submerged in fluids.
All Special Tomato® adaptive equipment products are soft to the touch for comfort that is unsurpassed, but durable enough to endure the stress and damage often caused by frequent use. This uniquely soft, heavy-duty anti-microbial material has become one of the signatures of this top quality Special Tomato® product line. The Special Tomato® Soft-Touch™ Sitters and other Special Tomato® special needs products can be cleaned easily with common disinfectants – Great for use with multiple children and adults in therapy clinics and schools.
Traveller Plus Britax Special Needs Car Seat
We just recently got this car seat for Emily. She is now four years old and would typically be in more of a booster car seat, but was still able to ride in her old forward facing car seat. This car seat is very big, so you need to make sure that your vehicle can handle it. We have Toyota mini van and it takes up one whole captian seat with no space on either side of it. This car seat should grow with Emily for several years to come. We did get it approved through our health insurance and Medical Assistance through the help of a letter written by a physical therapist. We prefer that Emily always ride in a car seat and not in her wheelchair, so this is a good fit for her.
Snug Seat is the exclusive distributor of the Traveller Plus from Britax USA, the worldwide leaders in car seat innovation. The Traveller Plus accommodates children weighing up to 105 lbs., and can be used with either a lap belt or a lap shoulder belt combination, allowing you to use the Traveller Plus in any forward facing rear vehicle seat. The car seat is LATCH compliant for children up to 48 pounds, and includes a Versa-Tether®. The Traveller Plus is available with either a plush tan or blue seat cover and has two optional accessories…a seat extension that attaches directly to the front of the seat for a deeper and more comfortable fit for larger children, and a pommel that attaches to the crotch strap for leg abduction.
Snug Seat is the exclusive distributor of the Traveller Plus from Britax USA, the worldwide leaders in car seat innovation. The Traveller Plus accommodates children weighing up to 105 lbs., and can be used with either a lap belt or a lap shoulder belt combination, allowing you to use the Traveller Plus in any forward facing rear vehicle seat. The car seat is LATCH compliant for children up to 48 pounds, and includes a Versa-Tether®. The Traveller Plus is available with either a plush tan or blue seat cover and has two optional accessories…a seat extension that attaches directly to the front of the seat for a deeper and more comfortable fit for larger children, and a pommel that attaches to the crotch strap for leg abduction.
Theraquatics.com Aquatic Exercise and Therapy Equipment
I was searching the Internet for therapy items that I could use with Emily in the pool. I stumbled across the Theraquatics web site and looked at their products and they seemed to be a good match for Emily and her low muscle tone. So I called the company first to talk through a few of their products and decided that the child size neck collar along with the posture pillow would be a great match for Emily in the pool. On good days Emily only needs the neck collar, but on the not so good days she also needs the posture pillow as well. For whatever reason Emily nurse also likes to use the posture pillow under her head along with the neck ring. I believe it is more for the concern of the nurse feeling that Emily will not stay afloat rather than the need of Emily. Anyway, I really LOVE these products! They are very light weight, comfortable, dry super fast, and are filled with little pellets like in a bean bag chair. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a little extra help in the pool!
http://www.theraquatics.com/aquafit.html
http://www.theraquatics.com/aquafit.html
Freedom Concepts - Chill-Out Chair
We got this chair through Emily's waiver in January of 2011. It is a chair that is specifically designed for children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). We decided to get most of the bells and whistles on it except for the tray. We got the Designer Series so that it would match our other household furniture and not look so institutional. This is a great chair! My only compliant is that the medline blocker liner underneath makes the chair not breathable. So, Emily begins to get very hot and sweaty after only about 15 minutes in the chair.
The chair is pretty costly, but definitely worth it - especially if you can get it through a grant, waiver or insurance.
Here is a link to Freedom Concepts web site for more information on the Chill-Out Chair.
The chair is pretty costly, but definitely worth it - especially if you can get it through a grant, waiver or insurance.
Here is a link to Freedom Concepts web site for more information on the Chill-Out Chair.
This is Emily and her sister, Isabelle in their chairs. Emily is on the Right in her Chill-Out Chair.
