Self-determined through everyday life: assistive devices for children and young people

Getting dressed, eating, getting around – what are normal everyday activities for many can sometimes be challenging for children and young people with disabilities and their guardians. Many companies therefore offer a wide variety of solutions to ensure that self-determination and well-being are accessible to all.

Clothing for children with disabilities should above all be functional and comfortable. The company JOF (Journey of Fien) has therefore made it its business to develop special rompers. "JOF rompers come in many cheerful colors and designs. They ensure that the incontinence material stays in place. They are made of soft bamboo fabric and a fine stretch content, among other things, in children's and adult sizes, also with pant leg and probe openings," explains Ilse van Kralingen, founder of JOF. The bamboo material is high quality, particularly soft, cooling, UV-protective and antibacterial – so very suitable for sensitive skin. "Relieve, of course, we cannot completely, but with JOF we can take some of the worry away," says van Kralingen.

Eating and drinking aids can help children and young people with limited motor skills to eat and drink. For example, specially shaped cutlery, hand loops or special mouthpieces for drinking vessels can help. The company EXXOMOVE is going one step further to enable people with severely limited motor skills to have a more self-determined everyday life and to perform various tasks independently: The robotic arm BATEO® replaces the missing arm function and helps to grasp, hold and move objects.

"Brushing teeth, scratching your head, feeding the dog, drinking independently, opening doors, being perceived as an active person, being able to actively move things – the robotic arm makes it possible and gives users back smart arm mobility – doing everyday things yourself, that's the goal," says Konstanze Hager, CEO of EXXOMOVE.

The carbon robot arm is easy to operate, robust and fits all wheelchairs. It can be operated with the wheelchair controller as well as with an external controller, such as a pair of glasses. Thanks to its patented soft-touch fingers, it can grip and hold both small and large objects. In addition, there is the option to set and recall different movement sequences, such as the drinking mode.

At REHACARE 2023, experienced users who have been using the BATEO since their youth will also be at the booth and will present the robotic arm and its possibilities on site. You can also find the Bateo® and many other everyday aids at FiNifuchs. The information platform presents various options for children and young people and offers support in choosing suitable aids.

Independent mobility and participation in various everyday activities are possible with therapy chairs and wheelchairs for children and young people, because many of these chairs can be individually adapted to the respective needs. Schuchmann GmbH & Co. KG also contributes to making everyday life easier for children and young people with its therapy chairs.

The Madita therapy chair, which grows with the child, is available in four different sizes, for example, and is designed to meet different needs. In addition to a removable back unit or a seat that can be tilted forwards and backwards, Hauke Fistera, master orthopedic technician at Schuchmann, highlights other functions: "With Madita, to promote independence, we can lower the table to the floor and do it all electrically, so that the transfer can happen independently. We have a narrower back, so we have a lot more possibilities to also be active in the upper body, to use the brake or also to move up ourselves when the transfer has happened."

Schuchmann and many other companies show: assistive devices can significantly increase self-determination in everyday life. There are also various options for communication and social participation. Read this article on REHACARE.com to find out how assistive devices can help with hearing, playing and more.

Isabel Günther
(translated by Lena Schmidt)
REHACARE.com