PT/OT

Adapted Seating Interventions for Children with Medical Complexity

January 18, 2024 by Tanya Myers, PT, DPT, AnnMarie Stauffer, PT, DPT, and Lisa Gradziel, PT, DPT
A boy sits on a Rifton Activity Chair and plays with a toy train with his therapist.

As school-based therapists, we are frequently asked to provide input on seating, standing, and movement opportunities (including walking and gross motor participation). The school is a naturally supportive setting for children of all abilities to participate more.

Evidence Based Practice Using Prompts to Improve Toilet Training for Children with Physical Disabilities March 30, 2023 by Elena Noble, MPT
For children with multiple disabilities, toilet training is a challenging process. This whitepaper describes the effective use of prompts to shape behaviors and function during the toileting process for successful outcomes in children with physical disabilities.
PT/OT Achieving Optimal Toilet Positioning March 07, 2023 by Elena Noble, MPT
For a child with multiple physical challenges, toileting is often regarded as an interruption to daily activities and an added burden. Continuing initiatives around health and disability, however, recast toileting as a critical intervention.
PT/OT Toileting Concepts for Children with Disabilities June 28, 2021 by Elena Noble, MPT
For many parents and teachers of children with special needs, toileting seems like an unattainable goal. In this webinar, Lori Potts, PT discusses strategies to address these barriers for improved toileting successes.
PT/OT Toileting Concepts for a Child with Special Needs May 01, 2020 by Lori Potts, PT
For many parents and teachers of children with special needs, toilet training can seem like an unattainable goal. Each child has unique health issues, physical disabilities, emotional/behavioral challenges, cognitive and learning disabilities as well as communication barriers. Nevertheless, an individualized, consistent toileting routine can have great positive impact on quality of life.
PT/OT Toileting Initiative Produces Great Results March 20, 2017 by Ashley Rogers, DPT
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...
Tips & Advice Toileting in Schools with the TRAM July 05, 2016 by David Zoller, PT
Using the Rifton TRAM for toileting can make a huge difference for both students and staff, providing both safety during transfers to the toilet and dignity and privacy for the student. Because students with disabilities have a wide range of needs, there are many ways to use the TRAM for this purpose. Here are some methods we’ve found here at Socorro,  presented as three case studies. (I&rsquo...
PT/OT Implementing a New and Successful Toileting Program in the Educational Setting February 02, 2016 by Nadine Wallace, PTA, Kathryn Burgwin, PT and Jessica Burton, PT
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...
Stories Rifton HTS on the Road June 26, 2015 by Kristin Capone, PT, DPT, MEd
JJ is a 4th grade student at Southern Elementary School in New Castle, Delaware. Although he uses a wheelchair because of his dystonic cerebral palsy, JJ has great communication skills and is one of the happiest kids I know. Recently, his school program planned a field trip to Glasgow Park. But right away we ran up against a familiar problem: community outings such as these present unique challenges for...
PT/OT Top 6 Features of the HTS May 04, 2015 by Elena Noble, MPT
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...
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