Bespoke Transfer surface
Freddie is a young wheelchair user who will be starting at a mainstream secondary school in September. He has outgrown the commercial bath steps he uses at primary school to get himself level with the toilet pan.
The Challenge
Freddie needs to be able to transfer from his wheelchair to the toilet while at school. He can do this if he has a transfer surface at the right height located between his wheelchair and the toilet. The solution has to be solid and large enough to accommodate his growth until he leaves school at 16. A large cutout at the front of the support box accommodates the wheelchair footrest and allows Freddie to get his chair close enough so he can crawl onto the support surface and from there onto the toilet.
The solution
A wooden box was constructed consisting of a timber frame covered with MDF. It has adjustable rubber feet to allow levelling and height adjustment. Handholds on either side make it easier to move. The top is covered with vinyl flooring which provides a cushioned surface which is easily cleaned. The top is bolted to the support framework making it removable so that the covering can be replaced if this should prove necessary.
The benefit
Freddie tried the support surface during a day visit to his new school in July and found it easy to use. This has given him confidence that he will be able to access the toilet when he starts at the school in September and is one less thing to worry about before this big change in his life. Both his parents, and the school were very grateful that the solution was available in time and that it works!
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An absolutely fabulous project with a great outcome. Very skillfully made product with super smooth edges and corners.
Thank you very much, Rebecca!
This toilet aid has been the solution we’ve been looking for for so long. Children don’t usually fit into a ‘standard disability’ bracket meaning that what the team at Remap have done for Freddie could never have been achieved with the standard NHS equipment lists alone. I could not be more thankful to the team for creating this bespoke aid for Freddie to enable him to remain as independent as possible when making his transition to high school.
Thank you so much for your comment, Jo. We really appreciate you taking the time to review this solution and we’re so glad that it is helping Freddie. We all wish him the best of luck at high school!