Adaptive Mobility and Positioning Blog

When we’re talking about activities of daily living, it doesn’t get more basic—and more personal—than toileting. But the process of toileting is also a valuable opportunity to teach transfer, standing and hygiene skills—all essential to building independence in self-care. A successful and thoroughly dignified approach to incorporating these skills into the toileting routine is...

It all started when therapists from the three special day schools of Baltimore County Public Schools sat down to talk at one of our yearly meetings. The discussion turned from the mundane to the visionary, how to provide more functional, purposeful activities for our kiddos throughout the day. And, of all things, we talked about toileting. As a vital part of the student’s day, we wanted the toileting...

What have we done to improve our old bath chair? Here are the key features that distinguish our new Wave Bathing & Transfer System: Larger and Wider The Wave bathing system still comes in three sizes, but there are some important differences. The seat on the small and medium is now wider – a full 15” – with open sides so the seat is comfortable for all sizes. And the large has a 17...

In response to requests from the field we’re happy to offer a sample letter of medical necessity for the newly up-graded and redesigned Rifton Wave, a bathing and transfer system. Good hygiene is paramount to good health, and this particular product has the solutions for bathing and showering as an activity of daily living. The Rifton Wave is a medical device, not intended as a self-help convenience...

By popular request we now have created a positioning checklist for the Rifton Activity chair. Therapists know how tough it can be to remember each client’s specific support prompts and settings, especially with an adaptive chair that is used between multiple clients.

The Day School at The Children’s Institute is an approved private school in Western PA.  We have 186 students with 27 classrooms. We provide a school program for students with multiple disabilities and for students with autism. All of our students present with severe disabilities affecting motor control, cognition and/or behavior. We have been using MOVE (Mobility Options Via Education) here at...

Since we launched the Hygiene and Toileting System (HTS) almost two years ago we’ve received an outpouring of success stories in the “first time toileting” category. In an informal survey we asked therapists and parents which features made the biggest difference for them. Here’s the top six: The load-bearing and flip-away footboard. “I have one child who uses the...

As a physical therapist in the home care setting, I am always looking for new and innovative ways to improve a patient’s ability to perform functional mobility and activities of daily living (ADL). Improving mobility and ADL performance helps prevent bodily deterioration, reduces caregiver stress, and enables the patient to stay at home longer before requiring institutionalized care. One of my most...

Our most recent offering, the Rifton Hygiene and Toileting System (HTS), facilitates toileting for people with disabilities while at the same time making the task of hygiene care easier for caregivers. Effective toileting not only maintains a healthy bowel and bladder, it makes an enormous difference on a child’s quality of life (as any parent can tell you). In the past, many toileting routines and...

The human body is designed to move. Movement is vital in keeping the body’s systems healthy and functioning. Without movement, function is lost, muscles weaken and skin is at risk of breaking down. Conditions such as cerebral palsy may limit an individual’s ability to initiate purposeful, spontaneous movement and so impede muscle strengthening and growth. Such people must be presented with...