Handicapped bath and shower aids promote self-sufficiency in individuals with disabilities, who might otherwise require assistance from someone else. Handicapped bath and shower aids include shower and bath seats, transfer benches, walk-in-tubs and grab bars. On her website and in her book "Adapt My World," author Joyce Plaxen describes numerous techniques to make bathrooms friendlier to children with physical limitations.
Such basic human needs as bathing or using the toilet can become overwhelming to a child with a disability, but simple fixes can allow them to complete such tasks without the assistance of a caregiver. Even individuals with severe physical disabilities can manage their own personal care routine in a handicapped bath and shower that has been fitted with a few simple adaptations.
Turning a standard bathroom into a handicapped-friendly bath and shower doesn't require spending a great deal of money to remodel an existing bathroom. "Adapt My World" lists dozens of inexpensive and easy ways to adapt the bathroom and every other room of the house in ways that encourage differently-abled children to take charge of their daily living activities. Simple fixes that help shaky hands hold onto slippery bars of soap can make the difference between dependency and self-reliance. Once achieved at home, independence tends to carry over into other areas, as well. A child who can navigate the obstacles as home with confidence is much more likely to participate in activities at school, on the playground and elsewhere.
J. Rose Plaxen began writing "Adapt My World" when she first realized that some strategically placed non-skid bathtub strips enabled her young daughter to sit up in her highchair with little assistance for the very first time. As the parent of a child with disabilities, Plaxen had been disappointed by the lack of resources geared toward raising a child with special needs. So she decided to do something about it. Thus was "Adapt My World: Homemade Adaptations for People with Disabilities" conceived.
"Our world is not accommodating of differently-abled individuals," said Plaxen. "It's up to each individual caretaker to make the child's world truly their own. This book contains common-sense modifications that have an enormous and immediate effect on improving the daily lives of these children."
"Adapt My World" is the first book to put together the myriad hints about how to adapt a "differently-abled" child's environment to his or her needs. They come from therapists, teachers, and experienced parents. The book is organized in "recipe book" format, with lists of ingredients, detailed instructions, and substitutions. There are photographs of the finished products, some of them even in use!
The adaptations described in "Adapt My World" are divided into sections on home, school, and play. Adaptations for the home include chapters on mealtime, bath, and bedroom modifications. The section on play includes chapters addressing modifications for both independent and interactive activities, some of which provide these special children with the rare opportunity to fit in with their friends. Finally, a section on academics includes accommodations developed by teachers and therapists to facilitate study and socialization. Although this book presents a variety of modifications for a number of settings, the common thread running throughout the book is that small changes can make life a lot less challenging for children with disabilities and their parents.
