physical disability

Often times a stander can be a great way to position a child with disabilities upright to play. A tray can be attached to the stander to provide a surface for playing with toys. The tray can also be removed so that the child can be moved close to participate in other activities like splashing in a water table or digging in the sand at a sand table. You may need to raise the level of the water table by placing it on blocks so that the child can reach the sand or water. Don’t forget stools for siblings and peers so that they can reach the stander tray or water table to play with the child.

This plastic desk can be used in multiple ways. The desk can be placed on the floor next to the family sofa so the child has back support while playing near other family members. It's great for those children with poor sitting balance because the two side pockets act as support. It can also be used to help children learn to complete tasks. Items are placed in the left pocket, the child completes the task on the table top and when done, sets the completed task in the right pocket. In this picture, the desk is used with a laundry basket for a child who has low tone.

This inexpensive stander was designed by an O.T. and can be easily built by someone with minimal carpentry skills.

A piece of foam was cut into a wedge and placed under the dislocated hip when the child was sitting which improved her posture and her ability to use her hands to play. When used in the highchair, she had more support and was able to feed herself more successfully. The wedge was also used under her foot when standing to improve her stability and posture to facilitate easier play at the couch with toys. The wedge was also easy to transport: just throw it in the diaper bag and it could be used in other settings.

This table was built to provide a simple, cost effective way for a child to play with toys when seated on the floor. A simple tray was constructed out of triwall cardboard (a byproduct of the local furniture industry—they use it to ship furniture). The tray is strong, can be easily adapted by cutting it, and can even be covered with contact paper to add color and allow it to be wiped clean. Total cost of the table was about $7.00 for the triwall and glue.

A child’s grandmother created a “sleeve” to fit over the child’s wheel chair seat belt, making it safe and harder to undo.

Materials

• One piece of soft flannel material 36" long and 7" wide
• Thread to match material
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine or needle

Directions
Lay material on flat surface with back side facing up.
Using straight pins, pin edges together lengthwise along material.
Using sewing machine or needle, stitch along line lengthwise.

Directions:

• Wrap a dishtowel around the child’s body to provide more support while standing.
• Wrap magazines around the child’s legs and secure with pieces of fabric. This will give the child more support when walking.

Directions:
Slice a metal coffee can along one side and through the bottom; this allows the can to be pried open. A hole the size of the exact diameter of the tricycle’s post should be cut into the bottom of the can. The can, can then be placed around the post with the bottom resting on the fender strap. A scrap of wood can be nailed inside to stabilize the upper portion of the can. Tape the can closed. Pad and cover with vinyl so that the child’s leg does not stick to the post.

A strap that was manufactured as a backwasher with handles on each end was used to help a child crawl. This child was moving his legs in an attempt to crawl, but his arms were not quite strong enough to bear his weight. The strap was placed around the child’s chest to hold the upper body above ground in order to facilitate crawling.

Materials Needed:
A. 2- 24” lengths of 3/4” Schedule 40 PVC (drill holes at 6” and 13” from one end on both lengths)
B. 2- 10” lengths of 3/4” Schedule 40 PVC (drill hole at 4” from one end on both lengths)
C. 1- 12 1/2” length of 3/4” Schedule 40 PVC
D. 2– 11” lengths of 3/4” Schedule 40 PVC
E. 2– 6 1/2” lengths of 3/4” Schedule 40 PVC (drill hole at 4 1/2” from one end on both lengths)
F. 2– 6” lengths of 3/4” Schedule 40 PVC
G. 2– 3” lengths of 3/4” Schedule 40 PVC