Compass Chairs: A Classroom Solution

“The Rifton chairs work great on progressing children from totally supported sitting to more independent sitting, but a child may not yet be safe on a standard classroom chair. 

I have found that the Compass Chair works great as an interim step between totally supported sitting and more independent sitting. It provides touch support on both sides for safety but the child is still free to move around within the seat. If needed, a lap belt can be used initially for increased safety. 

As the child becomes more stable, we eliminate the lap belt and then move to a standard chair (with no armrests). Teachers are more comfortable with this step because of the increased safety for their students.

The Compass Chair also works great on working on sit-to-stand transfers - several preschool students have moved from sitting to standing at their classroom tables and back to sitting with relative ease from this chair.

Thanks for making a great product.”

Vicky Scheel, PT
San Antonio, TX

The Compass Chair has proved a popular solution for many children in inclusion classrooms with mild to moderate positioning needs.

Available in five sizes, select the size that allows the child’s feet to rest flat on the floor with arms at table level. Include several sizes in your classroom for a range of children.

The armrests are high enough to provide upper body support and encourage self-supported sitting, or even enable sit-to-stand transfers. 
                      
For further support, attach the optional Hip Belt: It secures to the back of the chair, to come up from behind and below the child at a 45° angle. Children can close the dual-adjust buckle of the strap. And if the next child doesn’t need the hip belt, it is easily removed with the quick-release clip.

 “The therapy staff at our school continues to value the fit and function of the Compass Chair. The contoured seat and back facilitate improved posture in many of our students. In addition, we find that the armrests not only allow for appropriate seating at any desk or tabletop in the classroom but also set boundaries for our more restless students. 

Teachers as well as parents also like the fact that these chairs look like "typical" classroom furniture. The Compass Chair has been a welcome addition to our classrooms and remains a practical and innovative seating solution for many of our students.”

Mary Beth A. Ward, OTR
Therapy Coordinator / Harbor School

Children in any classroom concentrate better when they sit snugly at the table. 
It’s hard not to concentrate with all this built-in security! The short armrests of the Compass Chair allow the chair to be moved right up to the working surface, and the circular design – the “hug” feel – is comfortable and reassuring for children in an inclusion classroom.

The Compass Chair is an appealing, ergonomic chair that promotes correct posture, while allowing children to feel supported and secure, with defined boundaries.  In addition to all of this, it integrates well with standard classroom chairs in your inclusion classroom.