THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO APPLY A CHEMICAL FOAMING PROCESS TO DEVELOP LIGHTWEIGHT, INEXPENSIVE SEATING DEVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO APPLY A CHEMICAL FOAMING PROCESS TO DEVELOP LIGHTWEIGHT, INEXPENSIVE SEATING DEVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE ALPHA CRADLE POSTURAL SUPPORT SYSTEM RESULTS IN A CUSTOMIZED MOLD THAT CAN BE USED TO INSURE POSTURAL SUPPORT NECESSARY TO ENABLE CHILDREN TO PERFORM SELF-CARE, COMMUNICATION, AND OTHER FUNCTIONAL SKILLS. THIS PROJECT SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON THE FIELDTESTING OF THESE POSTURAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS. A TOTAL OF 60 SEATING SYSTEMS WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR CHILDREN REPRESENTATIVE OF THREE SIZE GROUPS. THE INITIAL SEATING SYSTEMS WILL BE FABRICATED BY A THERAPIST. AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, THERAPIST, AND OTHER STAFF WILL EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SEATING SYSTEMS ON THE BASIS OF PROVISION OF POSTURAL SUPPORT, DEMONSTRATION OF INCREASED INDEPENDENCE IN SELF-CARE SKILLS, DURABILITY AND SAFETY OF THE PRODUCT, FABRICATION EXPERTISE, AND COST EFFECTIVENESS. DATA WILL BE COLLECTED BY PROFESSIONALS AND, THROUGH QUESTIONNAIRES, FROM PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE CHILD'S CARE. DATA WILL BE SUMMARIZED AND REPORTED IN RELATION TO SPECIFIC PRODUCT QUESTIONS. COMMERCIAL APPLICATION OF THE PRODUCT WILL BE UNDERTAKEN FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF FIELDTESTING. THE RESULTANT PRODUCT WILL BE A LOW-COST, EASY-TO-FABRICATE SEATING SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW INCREASED INDEPENDENCE FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS.