Creating access to independent living through mobility solutions and vehicle adaptations can't start early enough. Through long-term support, children can get the chance to grow to become adults who move independently.
When it comes to empowering individuals to live on their terms, accessible means of transportation are crucial. The importance of supporting families and caregivers from the start of a person's life cannot be overstated either. There are a variety of vehicle adaptation products designed to make a difference in the lives of people with varying mobility. The sooner support is given, the more positive the long-term effects can be.
How to avoid heavy lifting and back pain
Despite the wide range of existing mobility solutions, many potential users, for instance, parents, are unaware of the available options. Although there are many adaptation products to choose from, there is often a lack of knowledge about them.
BraunAbility offers numerous products that have been designed to empower disabled individuals from a young age. This includes providing support for everyone who participates in daily transportation procedures: parents, relatives, and caregivers.
Vehicle adaptations to grow up with
Disabilities often require children to be lifted in and out of vehicles, making family car travels both time-intensive and physically demanding. Niklas Rhodin, the father of nine-year-old wheelchair user Lina, wants to encourage parents to invest in adapting their cars as early as possible. He says:
“It is worth it in the long run. Everything gets more challenging with the growing height and weight of a child. This has become obvious for us and our backs.”
Converting the family van with the electronic swivel seat and seat lift Turny® Evo has made it much easier for him and his wife to drop off and pick up their daughter Lina at school, a very important place in the little girl’s social life. This daily task is now easier, faster, and less strenuous.
Ergonomic wheelchair transfers
Daniel Ericsson, father of wheelchair user Alfred, explains:
“It had already become too heavy for us parents, even in the case of shorter drives.”
Products like the Turny® series and the Carony® system provide practical solutions to make lifting easier or to avoid manual lifting as much as possible. The Carony® allows a child to be seated in a specially designed wheelchair that smoothly transforms into a car seat. It also comes with optional features like side supports, a stability belt, and child-specific accessories.
By using these everyday accessibility tools, you can safely and ergonomically transfer someone from a wheelchair to a car seat. The swiveling and lifting car seat Turny® Evo allows the parents to place their child in the car already outside the vehicle. The system handles the heavy lifting, while easily rotating the seat and its user into the car.
Daniel and his family got used to inconvenient and hurting movements between their home and car. Assisting their growing son over time, simultaneously also the need for support increased. The Carony® and Turny® product series have been vital for them to drive and travel freely.
Customisable child car seats
For children and young people with physical challenges, standard car seats may not provide the needed support. Adaptable seats offer the option to accommodate changing needs. BraunAbility's Caroseat® Flex, for example, gives a high degree of adaptability, which makes it a long-term mobility solution. The seat ensures comfort in various seating positions.
It features a flexible design for changing ages and sizes, with adjustable seat depth, head- and armrest, seat cushion, plus optional extra support.
Additional support options help further individualise the seat's comfort for users of varying heights and needs, both children and adults.
Accessible and affordable mobility solutions
Practical products like stabilising belts offer a more affordable alternative to complex mobility adaptations but can still make a big difference in individual independence. These products provide valuable support and safety, making them accessible to more families.
Posture belts, such as the Careva, are accessible to a wider range of users while ensuring proper seating positions and protection. Seatbelt positioners, like the Bestvest, protect at a lower cost.
Making a difference in mobility – now and in the future
It's essential to make sure that children can travel safely and securely, especially those with movability challenges or functional variations. From adaptive car seats and posture belts to advanced transfer systems, products like these can empower children and families to live on their own terms.
With customisable solutions that address the needs of people of all ages, we help children make their way confidently. That is why it is important to promote accessibility and inclusion throughout life, to grant everyone access to independent mobility.