New Transfer Seat for the Car

This is a post from Junior's regular blog that shares about our new seat which is definitely and adaption/modification so I wanted to share it here as well.  This is from a few weeks ago so I am including a quick update at the end to share how we like it now that we have been using it longer.

On Friday we had the new seat put in my car for Junior.  He is now about 90 lbs and we had been trying to figure out a better way to get him in the car for outings.  A wheelchair accessible van would be optimal but is not a financially feasible option so we needed to find something that would help and not require us to purchase a new vehicle.

A few months ago an assessment was done and they looked at our current vehicle and Junior's needs and the options available to help.  We discussed that it is not the lifting that is the big issue but the leaning over into the car while lifting my 90 lb boy.  They recommended a rotating transfer seat(called a Bruno Valet seat), something I had heard of but did not think could be put in a small car.  This seat rotates and slides forward so that Junior is for the most part outside the car for transfers.  It removes the need to lean over into the car while lifting him.   He has used it a couple times now and we are learning the ropes and how it works best for him.  The first time we tried it I was concerned because it took some serious maneuvering to get his feet into place during the seat rotation.  Since then I have had a chance to play with things a bit and learn that the seat does not have to be so far forward to rotate out of or into the car.  Yesterday he had an appointment and transfers were much smoother and I was pleased with how it worked for him.  I can now lift him from his chair turn and sit him down on the car seat.   It allows me to be in a proper position to lift and transfer him and my back is oh so much happier now.
Junior was exhausted after his appointment yesterday, as you can see in the pics, but this gives you an idea of how the seat functions.  Once the weather is better I will get some pics/video of it in action.

So thankful for a program like Regional Center which provided funding and gave us this new tool to help Junior live life to the fullest.  We are blessed.

*Update*  3/19/16   We have had a busy few weeks with doctors appointments so Junior's new seat has gotten a great deal of use. Junior is on the short side at 4'8" and I noticed he seemed at a bit of an odd position when in the seat.  When I realized it was from the lumbar support hitting him high I ran to Walmart to see what we could figure out to help.  They had a memory foam seat cushion specifically for the car so I gave it a try.  Just 2 inches of rise to his seat and he looks far better and is now quite happy and comfy in the seat even for our lengthy drives to appointments.  The difference in lifting him is huge, not that he is any lighter but not having to lean into the car to transfer him is such a difference.  I was curious to see if it would really make a difference in things with repeated use and it absolutely has.  I get back from a day out where I have needed to transfer/lift him multiple times and am not completely exhausted.  I have also learned that putting his car harness on while he is in the "out of car" position in the seat is much quicker and easier.  Getting out is less stressful meaning we feel like we can get out more often and enjoy life with Junior. 

Junior enjoying his seat, he has his back brace on which is why he is able to sit so nicely in the seat like that.  Also with him being short we use a head rest from his old car seat which is the blue you see behind his head. 

Way Behind, Junior's Favorite Toys 2016

Wow, it has been a few months since my last post.  Things have been crazy and it has been a very tough winter medically for Junior.  The last couple weeks have been much, much better so we hope the winter time illnesses are over. 

I thought I would share some of Junior's favorite toys/sensory items.  Things that are favorites right now.
Of course at the top of his list would be his Ipad but that is something not new to our list and more a communication device then a toy.

Switch Toys - with his current favorites being his Fart Blaster, talking Minion, nerf dart gun, and disco ball
The fart blaster and talking minion were both given to him by a program called Santa's Little Hackers.  This amazing non profit group gives switch adapted toys to those unable to use toys the typical way.   Visit their Face Book page for more information Santa's Little Hackers
  (the thing hanging above his fart blaster is a switch adapted light saber which he also really enjoys)
 

His switch adapted dart gun, you can find the directions HERE

We purchased this disco light on Amazon and plug it into his powerlink box to make it switch accessible.  HERE is the Amazon link for it and HERE is a post about the Power link.

Junior has lots of toys he loves but I will just post a few of his top favorites and newer ones.
Here he is with his chimes, we hooked his extendable stylus from his ipad to his head so he could play them independently.  We found these on Amazon and I am not terribly pleased with their sturdiness but there were several other options when you search chimes(these were the cheapest so we got what we paid for though the sound is great).
 
He got this awesome R2D2 bubble blower for Christmas and it has been a huge hit.  It makes all the R2D2 sounds, the head moves back and forth and then blows bubbles.  Click HERE to see this toy on Amazon.

Another favorite which he got for Christmas is his Zoomer dog.
We put it in his inflatable sensory tray and set it next to him and he loves watching it run around, roll over, and do lots of other things. It also has light up eyes and barks.  HERE is an amazon link to see more about this toy.

This past week we visited Build A Bear and he got something he has wanted for a very long time. A wheelchair for his tubie monkey.  He loves it and was so excited to get it. 

At the moment Junior also loves all things Star Wars so his mini sensory tray currently has star wars characters on it.  For a post with more about the sensory tray click HERE

His basketball hoop and ramp would also have to go on this list though it is something I have shared about before.  Click HERE for more about the ramp and hoop set up and HERE for a more update version.  In the second version we replaced the pole with a piece of pvc covered in pool noodle and used velcro to secure it to the top of the IV pole. 

 

The loved switch adapted game spinner.  Here it is being used to play the board game Sorry but we use it for many other games and activities as well.  HERE is a post where I talk more about the spinner and where to get it. Here are links to posts we have done about adapted games. 
Cars Tip the Tractors , The Farm Game , Hi Ho Cherry O , Sorry , The Jelly Belly Game  , Trouble , Candy Land  , Chutes and Ladders   , The Toy Story Game   , Angry Birds , Puzzle Board(I guess puzzles sort of fall under the game heading), Smurfs , Cat In The Hat , Memory .  We are always on the hunt for adapted games or ones that we can adapt so if you have found a way to adapt a game we would love to hear about it.  Junior loves games and is very competitive.


Now on to his favorite sensory items.
We have used weighted blankets for many years and wanted one to take out with us.  This is his mini lap size version of his weighted blanket and it has become something that goes with us everywhere and really helps him when he is stressed.


The mini weighted blanket is what you can see folded on his lap in these pics at a doctors appointment. 

Mini Finger maracas, these are perfect for Junior.  The center is soft rubber so he can hold them and anytime he moves they make noise.  HERE is the Amazon link for these

 

Insta snow and water beads continue to be favorite sensory activities along with foam soap 

 

 

Moon sand, another favorite which we have talked about many times. 

 

Also can't forget his giant toy bar turned planetarium which continues to be a favorite spot to relax.
HERE is a post about his planetarium and HERE is a post about how we made the giant toy bar itself. 

  This list could go on and on with both toys and sensory items but this list hits his current favorite items or at least most of them.