The Thompson family is adopting tech to help cope....
The family's way to overcome the barriers is our S-Max Sella stair climbing wheelchair.
Young Grace can get around the house safely, even with mum Claire’s own condition which affects her mobility, using our stairclimbing wheelchair.
Grace’s life-limiting condition- NAA10 Ogden Syndrome- means she has global development delay, hypotonia, and involuntary movement.
The 1 in 11 million- life-limiting condition that means Grace is- and will always be - completely dependant, unable to sit up alone or walk.
Grace is unable to sit or hold herself up, walk or talk.
Because no-one knows her lifespan, there is a limit to the mobility equipment that can be funded via usual channels such as the NHS or social services.
The family found the design of their home meant a stairlift was not practical nor appropriate, especially with the harnessing Grace would need to use it safely.
Having seen our Sella in action at a disability show, mum Claire approached the Georgia Leigh Ogden Foundation which helped fund the purchase.
We not only delivered the Sella, but set the accessories to perfectly support Grace and trained the family in the stairclimber’s safe use.
We showed them how to adjust it to suit each person operating it, whether Grace’s mum or dad.
Claire says: “We knew if we wanted Grace to remain in her home we would have to find a way to get a stairclimber,”
“With her involuntary movements, we were becoming concerned for her safety going up and down the flights of stairs, as I have a condition that limits my mobility.
“The stairclimber has changed Grace’s life. She’s able to get up and down the stairs safely. I find it so easy and light to use, it is truly incredible”.
Our battery-powered kinematic S-Max Sella safely and smoothly transfers Grace between levels in the home, and onward to wherever they need to be- bedroom, bathroom, lounge….
The high balance point and PowerStep feature means the smallest carer can easily operate and control the Sella, even pausing, stopping en-route if needed.
Strong yet lightweight and completely portable, the Sella not only conveys its passenger up, down steps and stairs but onward to destination- bedroom, bathroom, lounge, garden…
Our range of accessories enable the Sella to accommodate safety and postural support as Grace grows or her needs change: options address seating and harnessing requirements from head to toe.
Thus, one piece of mobility equipment- that is Class 1 Medical Device certified- offers a universal solution, that can be used with children of all ages.
The Sella provides a timely, cost-effective preventative solution, managing the risk of possible falls or injuries, supporting the family to live life without impacting or limiting living space.
And, when not in use, it folds compactly away, optimising often limited living space.
Our Sella can often by provided via the Occupational Therapist within the NHS or local Authority from Equipment Stores: indeed, most councils across Britain now have at least one in their equipment portfolio and the machine is the UK’s #1 selling stairclimbing wheelchair.
More details of Sella and range of accessories, plus the ability to book a free, no obligation assessment, can be found here: https://www.aatgb.com/s-max-sella/.
Born 10 weeks prematurely, India Harvey has Cerebral Palsy, impacting her mental and physical capabilities.
Doctors told mum Denise: “you’ve just got to give her the best life you can”.
Denise has taken that to heart, thoroughly looking into all the equipment options available, working closely with India’s Occupational Therapist.
Denise’s research led her to AAT and ultimately our Chilli Bean infinitely remouldable bean seat.
Funded by Newlife, the charity for disabled children, a Chilli Bean has been purchased for India, replacing her existing fixed mould PPod positioning support chair.
Unlike fixed mould seating, the family can infinitely re-shape our Chilli Bean, at home.
Chilli Bean uses innovative vacuum technology, whereby the air between the beans is removed to whatever degree is required to achieve the desired shape and level of firmness and rigidity.
The process allows exact moulding of the seat to form lateral support, pommels etc to correctly support India without pressure points and the exact degree of firmness India is comfortable with.
India’s comfort and support is therefore a constant.
India’s quality of life has significantly improved.
Denise can move the Chilli Bean wherever she needs, for India to be sat and supported without the restriction of a harness.
Mum and daughter can sit and read a book together.
What's more, Chilli Bean is breathable and wipeable.
“That intimate time is so special, and means so much,” says Denise. “We couldn’t achieve that flexibility with the PPod. India prefers the Chilli Bean too because we can adjust the firmness just right for her: she doesn’t like a hard seat.
"It’s so quick and easy to adjust the Chilli Bean, and the pump is small and compact- we don’t have to stow away lots of ancillaries.
“I originally asked AAT about its Gravity Chair foam positioning seat, but once we sat India in it, we didn’t think it supported her properly. AAT’s Dan suggested Chilli Bean as we could exactly adjust it ourselves to India: it’s proved to be perfect!”
Further details about Chilli Bean can be found here https://www.aatgb.com/chilli-bean/.
Click the link to learn more including the ability to book a FREE, NO OBLIGATION demo/assessment.
Chilli Bean is just one in our range of infinitely adjustable posture cushions that cover almost every conceivable activity- not only daily things including sitting, sleeping, bathing, but the wonderful too!
Check out the gallery sections here: https://www.aatgb.com/posture-cushions/
Inevitably children grow, conditions evolve. That means what works one day may not the next, they may need additional or different support for an activity.
We are central to helping meet those needs.
We give Occupational Therapists and parents a single source they can trust to advise, assess and support the child.
We've developed a range of unique holistic solutions work individually or combined to help make daily life better- 24 hours a day.
Our stairclimber can attach to a wheelchair or have an integral seat to make going up and down stairs safe. Our revolutionary Universal Back clip-fits to the unit to correctly support the child as needed and can be easily altered as the child grows.
To ensure optimal comfort in the wheelchair- or anywhere else the child may be sat- our vacuum posture cushions mould precisely as required. And it empowers parents to infinitely vary the shape according to what’s needed.
The diversity of size and shape address every eventuality, from an arm support through to a mattress.
At bath-time, our Aqua Liberty takes the posture cushions to another level, supporting, cushioning in the bath without the constraints of a sling or a carer holding them.
If anxiety, hyperactivity are issues, our Gravity Chair provides a calming environment that is proven to enable the child to engage.
“It’s about putting what each child needs at the heart of what we do. That’s why we offer free, no obligation assessments, so everyone involved is comfortable with what will work, without pressure. We have carefully chosen our products so that there is a synergy between them, covering all aspects of daily activity. As far as possible they evolve with the child, so parents do not have to keep learning how to use new equipment- one less thing to worry about!”
Peter Wingrave, AAT Director
We have a heritage stretching back over 20 years, working with Occupational Therapists, education and healthcare professionals and parents.
Knowing how difficult daily life can be without the right support, we endeavour to undertake the initial assessment within two weeks and has a nationwide team of assessment support professionals to manage the whole process, from assessment to delivery of the equipment and training in its correct use.
For paediatric therapy support practitioner and mother Sam Reid, Gravity Chair has helped son Stanley enjoy family life.
Stanley (aged 9) has an undiagnosed neuromuscular condition. It means he fatigues easily and struggles to maintain a seating position when tired.
As a result, he often ends up lying on the sofa or bed whilst his siblings play.
Stanley’s Occupational Therapist in West Somerset, Tracy Potter, knew of the Gravity Chair, and arranged a trial to see if the innovative foam positioning system wGruld help with her client’s comfort and energy levels.
“We love the Gravity Chair! Stanley is so comfortable in it that he hasn’t sat in any other chair since. He feels safe and supported. It helps him conserve his energy, enabling him to rest whilst still being part of family life and then giving him that boost to participate.
As it’s lightweight, we can easily move it to wherever we need, even into the garden, so he’s been able to spend much more time with his siblings. I’ve told numerous friends about it, especially in the special needs community, who are now also considering it for their children.”
Stanley's mother Sam
The Gravity Chair foam positioning system has been scientifically designed to positively harness the natural forces of gravity, providing a stable, supported environment.
The deep, inclined seat provides a low centre of gravity to naturally encourage a stable, non-restrictive seating position and naturally-aligned posture.
High arm rests support the elbows forward helping reduce muscle tension in the shoulders and enabling fine motor control activities. Snug lateral supports help maintain seated symmetry.
The structure of the seat allows muscle contortion to be accommodated without putting the occupant at risk. It helps alleviate discomfort from spasm and involuntary movement, providing a safe and non-restrictive seating option to ease deformities and contractures.
An optional tilt wedge can finitely adjust inclination of the Chair to individual user needs.
A optional removable side pocket provides storage for aids and devices. Sound devices can be similarly attached to provide sensory support.
The seat is upholstered in 100% cotton with a mesh insert to allow the body to breathe. The Gravity Chair can be wiped down or washed as necessary.
Find out more, and book your free, no obligation assessment here: https://www.aatgb.com/gravity-chair/.
For anyone involved in the care of children with complex needs and muscle weakness or asymmetry, it is a constant problem to ensure they are always correctly positioned, stabilised, supported and abducted.
Our innovative Chilli Bean instantly removes those concerns. It balances posture AND function.
Utilising pioneering vacuum technology, it is easily infinitely adjusted and re-moulded- at home, by the care giver.
Whether a minute adjustment to optimise pressure-free comfort and support, or a complete re-shape, the alteration can be executed within seconds, and at no cost.
Chilli Bean is a waterproof, wipe-clean, breatheable bean bag. Using the vacuum process to extract the air from the bag, the beans are fixed into the exact shape required.
The process allows for detail formation of pommels or lateral wings whilst giving all the security, stabilisation and comfort needed without restraint.
It therefore provides an ideal solution for seating, plus a secure base for physiotherapy.
Because we fully train the carer in the re-shaping process, there is no need for the child to be put through the discomfort and delay waiting for a fresh assessment, casting for a fixed mould system, and the ensuring time waiting for that re-shaped mould to be produced and delivered (often only to find in the intervening period, the exact dimensions have changed again so it still does not fit comfortably and correctly).
A pressure-mapping service further ensures the Chilli Bean is validated to ensure the support is constant across the body, with no points to cause sores.
Chilli Bean’s neoprene surface provides sensory stimulation. It’s also easy to place additional sensory devices below to provide vibration or sound.
As Chilli Bean can be wiped clean, it can be taken into equipment stores if/when no longer needed, and re-issued, thereby delivering further positive amortisation and optimisation of care budgets.
“Chilli Bean is a revolution in postural support systems. Anyone who works with children and adults with physical limitations knows that what suits in terms of positioning one day may not work the next. Yet fixed mould alternatives can take weeks, if not months, to be adjusted.The infinite, at home variability of Chilli Bean makes it an appropriate, reasonable proposition for any healthcare professional needing postural seating for clients with physical or mental disabilities.”
Peter Wingrave, AAT Director
“It’s an amazing piece of kit. It’s the one piece of equipment Daniel has that really added value to his and our lives. It has had such a positive impact on the whole family, it gives us such freedom. We know Daniel is correctly and safely supported without restraint, we can adjust it ourselves as he needs.”
Jodie Bostock, whose son Daniel has a Chilli Bean
Find out more, and book your free, no obligation assessment:https://www.aatgb.com/chilli-bean/.
For one mum, the potential danger in carrying her son up and down stairs is no longer an issue.
She has a revolutionary combination of equipment to help achieve the transfer, safely, for the long term.
Fred(*), now aged 8, has global development delay and epilepsy. As a result, he has no mobility and is totally dependant on adults for all of his transfers.
Getting up and down stairs in the family home is achieved easily, effortlessly and safely, using an AAT S-Max stairclimber.
Regular appraisal by his Occupational Therapy team has meant the equipment has continued to support Fred, even as his requirements have changed.
Class 1 medical device classified, the S-Max https://www.aatgb.com/s-max/ can either incorporate a seat, replicating the support of a wheelchair, or be attached to most common types of wheelchair.
The battery-powered unit smoothly kinetically moves up and down stairs, safely transferring the patient from one level to another- and onward to destination, executing 300 steps from one battery charge.
The rate of movement is completely controlled by the operator, who receives full training from AAT as part of the assessment and provision process.
When not in use, the S-Max can be folded away optimising living space for all members of the household.
Originally prescribed with a car seat when Fred was a toddler, the S-Max has now been fitted with AAT’s innovative Universal Back (https://www.aatgb.com/s-max/#section-154-78) to accommodate growth from a toddler into childhood.
The Universal Back can be precisely adjusted for lateral and vertical, forward and backward support, and even accommodate thoracic asymmetry. Harnessing provides further support if necessary.
Thus, the combination will continue to support Fred as he grows into adulthood.
“It was only meant as a short-term solution, but we’ve had it at least three years already!” comments mum Jane(*).
“The layout of our home and stairs means it was difficult to fit a stairlift or through-floor lift. The stairclimber is really important, particularly as Fred has grown and become too big to carry.
"He has seizures: even if he has one whilst I am moving him up or down the stairs, I know he is safe, I just pause the stairclimber until the fit has passed.
"The stairclimber’s very easy for me to use, I know I can move him safely, and that he is properly supported.”
AAT is the only national provider of stairclimbers and support equipment. Its nationwide team of specialists can work alongside the Occupational Therapist to assess- free of charge, and with appropriate health & safety measures- the suitability of a stairclimber for the property, the client, and their carer(s).
AAT can manage the whole process, from specification of any additional accessories if needed, supply of the equipment, and training of the carer who will operate the climber, ensuring a correct and safe solution.
To book a free, no obligation assessment click: https://www.aatgb.com/booking-form/
A piece of mobility equipment is so transforming life for severely disabled Daniel that he’s now even able to enjoy family holidays!
The Bostock family is in receipt of a Sella stairclimber(https://www.aatgb.com/paediatric-powered-mobility-stairclimbers/), issued to them from stock in equipment stores and accessorised to his specific needs. It means that four years old Daniel, who requires round-the-clock care, can now be easily transferred between levels of the family home- and beyond- even on a family holiday to the mountains of Scotland, and irrespective of which of his care team is with him.
“The stairclimber’s a brilliant bit of equipment. It’s meant we can make it a really full life for Daniel,” explained mother Jodie.
“On a practical level, because of his health issues Daniel requires 24-hour care. The stairclimber is so easy, everyone can use it- whether it’s Daniels’s dad who is 6ft 3ins to his smallest carer who’s only 4ft 11 ins. Crucially, it supports and holds Daniel safely and correctly. It just works for us.”
Brain injured at birth, Daniel requires round-the-clock care support for his condition: he has Cerebral Palsy and a gastrostomy, his back arches, his legs do not bend but his body exerts strong movement and his muscle pattern changes through the day. Big for his age, Daniel had reached the point where it was no longer safe nor practical to carry him up and down stairs.
A new Occupational Therapist to the family was aware of AAT stairclimbers, and that Doncaster Council held some as stock items in equipment stores. Our Technical Director Gareth Brown jointly assessed the family and care team, to determine the suitability of a stairclimber for Daniel and all involved in his care. One of the Authority’s stock AAT S-Max Sella units was re-issued to Daniel, fitted with a tilt-in-space seat to match his specific needs in terms of size and support. We trained Daniel’s whole care team in safe use of the unit as part of the assessment package.
The Medical Device Class 1 rated S-Max Sella is purpose-designed with a compact turning circle to accommodate almost every type of staircase, including bends, and turns, and narrow flights. The battery-operated kinetic machine smoothly powers up and down stairs or steps, accommodating 300 steps from one charge. Integrated anti-tilt means it cannot be tipped over, and automatic braking ensures complete control throughout the step process.
A high balance point means you need little effort to manouevre it. The handle is fully adjustable to whatever height is comfortable for you. Rate of climb can also be set to that comfortable for operator and passenger.
When not in use, you can fold the Sella compactly away, minimising disruption and interference with daily living for the household.
The S-Max Sella is part of AAT’s range of stairclimbers that can be uniquely accessorised to each client’s needs. This can be via the revolutionary Universal Back or individual components to deliver the exact postural support and security needed. This diversity of range has established AAT as the UK’s #1 national provider of stairclimbers, with thousands in regular use in almost every local authority in Britain.AAT is further unique among stairclimber provision in offering free, no obligation assessment, training and servicing of its equipment. Assessments can be booked by visiting http://127.0.0.1/aatgb.com.new/s-max-sella/
