Powerchairs for young teens

This sounds like its budget linked. Its unlikely that the NHS chair cant be tailored to fit him now. More likely they don’t want to spend the money on the custom fit. NHS Chair services are narrow minded in ability. They only want to cater for a fixed solution which isnt right for more active ability. Making your son too fixed in chair will reduce his mobility ie way he transfers now.

What is his NHS chair? Am I right the NHS probably discouraged flip up arms for easy side transfers?

Have you contacted Permobil?

Seating is a very personal choice and linked you the persona activity outcomes. OT should be working with you to find a middle ground. Its very important for your son to maintain his active upper body ability as in just 3 years he may possibly want to learn to drive and the right seating solution is so important.

Ask the tech at Permobil if another brand of seat system can be added. I just got a chair and the back rest was too curved. I changed it to another brands cushion which is flat rather than a curved straight jacket.

the Aviva must be on sale for NHS. friend of mine just got one and his looks too small. one size seems to be fits all.

As usual I suspect bulk buying is used as a method of bringing down costs. Very welcome of course but one size does not fit all, and in this case, literally. I really do hope that your forthcoming meeting will find a solution for you. Please do let us know. I wonder if this one size fits all is a breach of “duty of care” in not respecting patients as people and not numbers?

Mike

I wonder if OT have any advice. Clearly a change is needed, and they and you have recognised this. They have the resources to answer this question I would have thought. AAre the ones available to OT a limited selection because of budget constraints?
Mike

So many love songs, so little love.

I find it confusing that they gave him odd arms on chair. Surly matching flip up arms should have been given. Cant always guarantee which side you will need to transfer in a public loo. I get off left side. my chair is turned and I transfer loo left side so the right arm must then be lifted up.

Buzz words:- its often about phrasing.

Ethan needs this size and chair functions to prevent risk and vulnerability. This … would enhance his independence and quality of life. This…. reduces and restricts his ability to self or assisted transfer.

The fixed restrictive seating will deteriorate his core control more as he is too confined and restricted. He needs to be able to self support and mobiles in chair while he can to promote this core ability longer.

You as his parent dont feel that the Aviva is the correct chair for needs as its an adult chair and proportionally incorrect to his frame. Ask for testimony how they came to assess and supply this specific chair.

Both Invacare and Sunrise medical do small adult and teen chairs but will be less battery than an adult chair. Both this companies have very good seating solutions that can be adapted as years go on.