Additional Needs
Age Appropriate
by Jodi Shenal
on 26th April, 2024
In Praise of the P-pod
The seat can be moulded to fit the individual child if there are postural implications such as spinal curvature etc., or can be a standard fit.
While not a postural support device it has given Sam a comfortable place to rest and relax… due to his low tone, Sam is very delayed with his motor skills and is very floppy especially when tired; things like sitting on a sofa safely without full support just aren’t possible for him.
When he was dinky, we could sit him on our laps and support his body with our arms/strategically placed cushions… however he is now almost 1m tall and sitting on Mummies lap at least isn’t very comfy anymore!
Enter, the P-Pod. Sam *loves* his p-pod.
He can relax in the seat and go to sleep in there if he so wishes. When he’s had a seizure and aches all over, we pop him gently into his p-pod and tilt it back so he can fall asleep if he needs to.
The waist straps are wide enough to be comfy but keep him safely in the seat so if he seizures whilst in there he’s safe. And it’s light enough to move between rooms as needed.
For me the biggest plus is that it looks so awesome! The covers are lovely bright colours (Sam’s is bright blue), can be personalised, and are easy to remove for washing (unlike SOME of his equipment I might add).
It doesn’t scream ‘Special Needs’ at you like the oxygen cylinders, triton postural support chair and standing frame all do… it just like an incredibly cool beanbag chair :D And we all love it completely.
However, getting the funding for one isn’t necessarily simple.
Sam’s former community Physio dislikes them with a passion as they don’t provide suitable postural support... that is not what they are designed for.
Think of a dining chair – perfectly suited for supporting your posture whilst eating. Now imagine having to sit in that high/rigid back dining chair at ALL TIMES.
Hardly comfy or relaxing are they?!
I agree, Sam needs the firm postural support he gets from his other chair when he is eating, as it keeps him safe and allows him to eat safely… but just because he has additional issues, why should he not be allowed somewhere comfy to just chill out in?
As statutory services are only required to provide one piece of safe sitting equipment for him, they are under no obligation to provide another for the purposes of relaxation.
Fortunately, Sam’s OT agreed that it would be beneficial for him to have a p-pod and supported our application to a charity for help funding it (even though she did get in trouble about it and had to give us written instructions for use to appease PT ;) ).
I honestly think it’s been one of the best piece of kit Sam has ever had – purely because it allows him to just be a little boy and watch cBeebies in comfort. Cx
