Written by Amanda Marten, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
For individuals living with physical or cognitive limitations, adaptive technologies are a gateway to interacting with the world. Having the right seat, wheelchair, or even bed allows users to function effectively in a world that is not always accessible. But what about children who are living with a disability? Kids usually have far less autonomy about the types of devices or aids that they use -- these decisions are generally made for them by caretakers and clinicians. It is important, then, to find a company that understands the importance and level of care that goes into these choices.
Thomashilfen North America -- formerly known as ExoMotion -- was founded around a guiding principle: Parents and caretakers should be at the front and center of care decisions for their own children and families. In this modern information age, Thomashilfen still believes that parents and caretakers know what is best for their children. By providing adaptable and innovative solutions for seating, strollers, beds, car seats, and more they are ensuring that, regardless of your child's specific situation, a Thomashilfen product is a smart decision.
 | Thomashilfen EASyS Advantage Pediatric Seating System with Outdoor A-Chassis View Product |
Finding the right wheelchair is something that can be tough even for adults living with mobility limitations. It isn’t surprising, considering the huge number of options available. This difficulty can be compounded for children and young adults; kids have different needs from a mobility aid than adults do. Kids need a wheelchair that allows them to be a kid-- not just to get around, but to play, learn, and grow.
For individuals under the age of 18, wheelchairs are by far the most commonly used mobility aid with approximately 88,000 pediatric users in the U.S. Pediatric wheelchairs are typically smaller than their adult counterparts, and they often are designed with interchangeable or adjustable parts so that they can ‘grow’ to meet the needs of their users. Larger wheels with a lower overall frame height are other great options as they facilitate all-terrain use and help foster play outdoors. Ultimately, finding the right wheelchair is an important discussion to have with your child’s physician or clinical care team.
.jpg&newwidth=365&maxheight=200 "Swifty2 Special Needs Stroller") | Swifty2 Special Needs Stroller View Product |
There is nothing quite as rejuvenating as going on a nice walk around the neighborhood with family and friends. Unfortunately, for young people who are living with special needs, this relatively simple pleasure can come with some headaches. Depending on the specific condition, special needs children can have extra difficulty with sensory function, executive function, and fine and gross motor skills. These factors can make things tough for parents or caretakers who are on the go with their kids.
Luckily, there are adaptive products that can actually make a huge difference. Special needs strollers have become quite advanced in recent years. Contrary to pediatric wheelchairs, special needs strollers are typically designed to be a bit larger in order to be a fit for teens and adults. These devices can help caretakers and parents keep their children heading in the right direction in style and comfort.
An adaptive stroller is typically lighter and more portable than a wheelchair. This makes most strollers a great choice for travel situations and well suited for storage in smaller spaces.
 | Thomashilfen EASyS Modular S Special Needs Seating System with Indoor Chassis View Product |
In this day and age, consumer goods are becoming more and more individualized. The same can actually be said for adaptive devices including furniture and mobility aids. There are more options than ever available for children with special needs and the world of seating is no exception.
Modular seating is just a fancy way of saying fully customizable. With a seating system such as the EASyS from Thomashilfen linked below, having fully interchangeable parts is a way of ensuring that the seat can adjust to the needs of every unique user. This means that each piece, from the chassis all the way through the seat padding, can be ordered separately.
For caretakers and parents, having a modular system can negate the need to buy seat after seat as the child grows. Instead, the size of the individual pieces can be upgraded. This saves money in the long run, and the child is able to keep a chair that they love and are familiar with.
 | ThevoTwist Special Needs Activity and Therapy Seating System with A-Chassis View Product |
Studies have shown that specialized adaptive seating can make a major difference and have a meaningful, positive impact on child and family life. So many parts of daily life happen when we are sitting down-- school work, meals, and leisure activities. Traditional chairs or seats, however, do not always offer the support required for children with special needs.
Sometimes this means positional support. School-aged children are often expected to spend most of their day in a seated position. Having tilt-in-space, advanced positioning can help make longer periods of sitting tolerable for users who have physical or mobility limitations.
Similarly, kids with cognitive limitations, such as autistic spectrum disorder, are often more distractible than their peers due to innate hypersensitivity to sensory inputs. Specialized therapy chairs, such as the ThevoTwist listed below, actually offer innovative solutions for hypersensitivity and spatial awareness difficulties. Its Micro-Stimulation technology absorbs the slightest body movements and returns them back to the user. This ‘feedback’ is intended to support spatial awareness and emotional development.
 | ThevoSiiS Therapy Chair by Thomashilfen North America View Product |
Of course, some of the same design features that make pediatric special needs seating solutions attractive are also applicable to adults and bigger kids living with disabilities. For people who are living with spasticity or sensory processing difficulties, a therapy seat can enhance the user’s perception of their own body and help them to get into a balanced position. Specialized seating that provides haptic feedback can help remind a user to adjust to optimal postures.
Therapeutic seating can also address problems with maintaining active upright posture. Prolonged slouched posture has been shown to contribute to breathing disorders and may have similar negative effects on the heart and phrenic nerve. Active upright posture can be difficult to maintain for some people depending on their unique condition, which is why having a specialized chair can make a big difference.
The ThevoSiiS therapy chair from the team at Thomashilfen is a great example of a device designed to help support active healthy positioning. Every part of this chair, from the size and shape of the seat to the impulse sensors on the back support has been carfeully crafted to make it as comfortable and easy as possible to rest.
 | ThevoRelief Pressure Relief Mattress View Product |
For people who are living with conditions that cause body aches or joint pain, just getting a good night’s sleep can be a challenge. However, quality sleep is extremely important for overall health-- especially for growing kids. Conventional mattresses can cause pressure points or increase tension in the body because, unlike some of the specialized seating mentioned above, most mattresses don’t provide positional support. A pressure relief mattress, however, is an adaptive style of bedding that has been intentionally designed to reduce pressure on the body.
Some pressure relief mattresses use air filled ‘pockets’ to support the body, while some use high-tech suspension systems to create a soft and comfortable sleeping surface. Regardless of the mechanism, the goal is to reduce the user’s need to rely on sleep medication. This should also provide some relief to caretakers so that they can get a good rest in their own beds. For conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and cancer treatment recovery a quality pressure relief mattress can make a big difference.
 | Recaro Monza Nova 2 Booster Seat View Product |
Vehicle safety is a top-level concern for parents and caretakers. In general, it is important for every child to have a safe car seat that meets safety standards and fits properly. However, the situation can become more complicated when it comes to children who have physical or cognitive disabilities.
So what sort of features should caretakers be looking out for when it comes to car safety seats? The model listed below from Thomashilfen provides a great example of some of the things to look out for. The type of harness or restraint used is important. In the case of the Recaro Monza Nova 2, incorporating a 5-point safety harness ensures even larger children will be able to benefit from the seat. Additionally, a unique swivel base allows for easier transfer in and out of the car.
Children who are securely fastened are less likely to cause driver distractions that can lead to accidents. National data shows that car seat use reduces the risk for injury in crashes by 71–82%. Adaptive car seats are specially designed to meet advanced positioning needs over traditionally available models.
There is no doubt that raising and taking care of children who have special needs poses unique challenges. However, every child deserves to have an easy way to get around and play, a comfortable place to sit while learning or during meals, and ways to stay safe in a vehicle or anywhere else. The team at Thomashilfen has been designing and manufacturing specialized adaptive technologies for over 50 years. They have worked closely with clinicians, experts, and most importantly families to ensure that their products meet the real needs of real kids.
Take a look at our entire list of Thomashilfen Products today!
Amanda Marten, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Amanda is a certified family nurse practitioner and freelance health writer. With eight years of nursing experience, she has worked in a variety of specialties including urgent care, post-surgical, intensive care, and travel nursing. She is passionate about patient education and strives to make a positive impact on her patients’ well-being.
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