things we have found Valuable to Karter's Quality of life

A proper standing frame is essential for all sorts of reasons including bone density, hip surveillance, GI health, respiratory health, and much more. Click to learn more!

Karter uses a hybrid communication system consisting of high and low tech Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) supports.   We refer to his device as his "talker."  There are many companies that offer this type of technology, so ask your speech-language pathologist! Karter uses Zuvo Eyespeak through Talk to Me T Grid 3 by Smartbox.  Karter has both intellectual and visual impairments, and he has learned to use this type of system!  Communication will always be key to his independence!

We use our special tomato chair as a portable seating option.  It's wipable, supportive, comfortable, and attaches to any type of chair.  We have both the stationary and mobile bases.  The play tray allows him to work on fine motor and independent play activities, and has wheels so can easily be moved. Every child is different, but Karter prefers this mobile seat over any other!

We use the splashy chair to include Karter in outdoor play!  It's wipeable and folds easily, so you can bring it with you on the go. The 5 point harness is supportive, and lots of ways to customize the support.  We use it for water play often!

As Karter as gotten older and bigger, our need for a supportive seating system increased.  This hi-lo activity chair is his main seat inside.  The height can be altered so he can be at the level of his siblings, or high enough for adult caretakers to more easily assist.  The removable tray allows you to wheel up to other surfaces (i.e. counter/table).  Karter's is the Mygo by Leckey, but there are many other brands and companies.  Your PT/OT can help find the right fit for your child!

Most kids that are unable to walk use a gait trainer.  The gait trainer Karter has is the Rifton Pacer.  We are lucky enough to attach ours to the Trexo Robotics technology. It is the only technology that exists that allows Karter to experience walking with a typical motor pattern without any assistance from adults.  The benefits are many! See our mission project for more details, but learn more here, too!

By age 3 Karter grew out of his medical stroller, and needed a "big boy" wheelchair.  We worked with his PT to decide upon the right supports.  For him, a butterfly harness with contour seat was important.  We have the Zippy Iris, and the fly away lateral supports and tray are our favorite features! We use a wheelchair mount so his eye gaze device can be accessible to him on the go.  It also has a tilt feature!

Karter is unable to sit up on his own, so bathing requires a seat.  We have the otter bath seat, and it comes with a detachable base so you can use the chair in a bathtub or shower.  We recently modified our home to have a walk-in shower, and it's made this routine so much more efficient and safe! We like that there is a chest and waste straps (as opposed to a harness) so we can more easily clean him.  

Let's face it.  The world isn't accessible, and wheelchairs are not made to be all terrain.  When our other children have activities at parks with surfaces that aren't smooth, a jogging stroller is very helpful.  We have the special tomato jogger and love it! It is lightweight and folds easy for transport. 

Biking is one of Karter's favorite things to do! We love our adaptive trike by Freedom Concepts.  It comes with a butterfly harness and adjustable handlebar.  They even did a custom #kourageouskarter design for us! There are many other types of adaptive bikes, but check ours out here!

This is a product by Firefly that allows the caregiver to wear a harness attached to a vest to facilitate and support standing/stepping.  It comes in a variety of sizes, so you can still use it as your child gets bigger! I'll be honest, it's much harder now that he is almost 50 lbs.  But it's a great tool for sure!

This adaptive seat is functional, kid-friendly, and fun! Unlike most seating systems that look intimidating, this one appeals to everyone!  It comes with all sorts of accessories and custom supports, including tray, all terrain wheels, and storage. It's great for books, movies, and toys!

I always get asked about this one, so I thought I'd include it here!  Karter is an "input" kid, and swinging is a great leisure activity that allows for position change and vestibular input.  Ours is from SpecialNeedsToys, but there are all kinds available! I like this one because it's a full-support swing with chest harness.  I linked ours here.

Vibration plates can be an excellent tool to add to your already great home PT regime.  Karter tolerates range of motion stretching, head control, trunk control, and weight bearing exercises so much better with this tool.  We have the Galileo Vibration plate.  It has a lot of research behind it!  Click picture to read more on their site.

We use a variety of therapy swings as a tool for our at-home therapy regime.  We use the platform swing almost daily for prone, sitting, and or standing.  We also have the taco and pommel swings.  We work with our therapists to determine the best ways to use them!  Our products are from SouthPaw, and you can view their swings by clicking above.

Karter has very limited fine motor control, and has yet to be able to hold or grasp items with control.  These adaptive, silicone tools allow him to use a variety of objects more independently.  We especially love them for coloring and painting!

We are a therapy-driven family, and these benches are great for all sorts of exercises involving sitting, standing, and weight-bearing on all extremities! Kaye also makes tilting benches, which are also a great tool to add to your home-therapy regime!

We have leg and arm immobilizers, but these are great because you can adjust the level of support through use of plastic inserts! There are five levels of support, so you can adjust how much you do based on your child's varying needs. Some day Karter needs more support than others, so this is a great tool!