Explore essential aids and equipment for special needs children in 2020. Discover the must-have tools and resources designed to support and enhance the daily lives of children with special needs.
In today's age, there's an array of specially developed equipment for children with special needs to allow both parent and child to work together, enhancing one another's lives.
As one of many companies who design special needs equipment, we wanted to share a full range of equipment that may help to harmonize routines within the home and to build structure around sleep time and meal times.
Mobility Support For Special Needs Children
If you're concerned about your child's ability to move around, your GP may refer you to a physiotherapist to assess their mobility needs.
As part of the assessment, the physiotherapist will discuss mobility aids that could help your child, such as walking aids, wheelchair for outdoors and adaptive seating for meal times and sensory play time.
Sensory Integration & Exercise Equipment
Children require stimulation and exercise to reduce the chances of muscle wastage while energising the mind with colours, sounds and textures.
Your medical professional may suggest the use of sensory toys that twist, turn and light up. At the same time, a physiotherapist may discuss roll balls, leg pedals, and more to encourage your child's muscles to be active daily.
Sleep Systems For Disabled Children
Disabled children can have sleep problems for a range of physical reasons, such as muscle spasms or breathing difficulties, depending on their particular health problem. Children with some learning disabilities may find it hard to understand why and when they need to sleep.
Your health visitor or community nurse should be able to suggest sleep systems such as weighted blankets, soft cushion pads and thermal regulator covers.
Protective Headgear For Headbanging
Children with autistic spectrum disorders may use headbanging as a way to self soothe or to communicate their needs. It can often be used to express pain or overwhelming feelings as a way to calm themselves with the rhythmic habit. It's not just headbanging at play but also other repetitive patterns such as head rolling, body rocking, biting, and thumb sucking to soothe and calm the mind.
There are several triggers and methods for coping with headbanging, but ultimately head protection will keep your child safe from injury. The majority of head protection is big and bulky. However, Ribcap designed their soft beanie helmet hats to be so comfortable that they can be slept in.
Read more information about protective helmets and headbands, and view our full range of styles and colors.