Seating and Mobility Center
The Seating and Mobility Center is the part of the Assistive Technology Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta that evaluates children from birth to age 21 for custom wheelchairs, seating systems and equipment. We assess equipment for the best function to make your child as independent as possible, ultimately improving their quality of life. We understand the importance of mobility in development and that motor, cognitive and sensory impairments do not necessarily prevent a child from having some control over his movement and environment.
Children are not small adults; they require equipment that is age appropriate. Pediatric seating is a specialty area and children need to be evaluated by specialists who:
- Understand normal and abnormal development.
- Are current with changes in technology and options available.
Services
Evaluation of your child’s current equipment and recommendations for changes or modifications.
- Evaluation for custom seating systems and wheelchairs for your child.
- Preparation of medical necessity certification to justify recommended equipment for your child.
- Evaluation for power mobility including alternative access to the traditional joystick method of driving a power wheelchair. This includes switches that can be activated by the head or other body parts. This opens the possibility of power mobility to children who do not have the motor control or strength to use a joystick.
- Mobility systems training for your child and other people involved in his care.
- Custom seating and positioning systems for a severely deformed and difficult to position child.
- Computerized “pressure mapping” to determine optimal seat or back cushion prescriptions for a child with pressure sores, pain or at high risk for skin breakdown.
Benefits
Many children and adolescents with cerebral palsy, spina bifida and other neurological and physical disorders require adaptive seating to improve or facilitate functional skills such as:
- mobility
- communication
- socialization
- daily living activities
- recreation and sports
A specialized seating system may also reduce the incidence of medical complications such as orthopaedic deformities, skin breakdown and respiratory complications. It may also improve communication, feeding and swallowing.
When your child is referred to the Seating and Mobility Center, an evaluation is completed by a therapist who specializes in pediatric seating. Our staff makes recommendations according to the needs and goals of your child and family and discusses options and alternatives. Once a joint decision has been made in selecting the most appropriate and functional seating system, the team works closely with outpatient and school therapists and, at the parent’s request, case coordinators and insurance companies to arrange for prompt delivery and training in the use of the specific system.
The transdisciplinary team approach at Children’s Seating and Mobility Center makes use of the training and experience of a physical therapist, the rehabilitation technology supplier and the parents.
There are weekly Seating and Mobility Clinics at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.