Seating Systems as Extrinsic Enablers related to Assistive

Technology Devices and Services

Needs Served By Seating Evaluation for Seating

Three distinct areas of seating intervention have emerged each serving a particular consumer need.Seating for postural

controlSeating for tissue

integritySeating for comfort

Seating for Postural Control

These individuals typically have abnormal muscle tone, muscle weakness, primitive reflexes, or uncoordinated movements that impair their ability to maintain an upright posture in a wheelchair.

Seating for Tissue Integrity

The seating system is designed for individuals in these groups must be flexible that it can accommodate their changing needs. The primary population served by the category of seating interventions for pressure management is individuals with spinal cord injury.

Seating for Comfort

Persons in this category may or may not use a wheelchair on a regular basis and typically have normal or near-normal sensation; however any prolonged sitting causes discomfort from which they are unable to obtain relief.

Evaluating Seating

The process of assessing individuals for the purpose of recommending seating technologies requires a systematic method that includes consideration of many factors.The most important factor to this situation would be Environmental Considerations.

Environmental Considerations

Physical Context – The seating assessment should determine in which environment the seating system will be used. Knowledge of where the seating system will be used helps the ATP determine whether the system will be removed and reinstalled in the mobility device or other devices.