from the original author of the question about the chair

[Guest guest]

I understood the reference at the CASANA workshop about the chair as a possible

helpful tool for therapeutic use... from that I gathered that the chair is

sometimes used for an active or distracted client. 

I didn't know much about the particular chair or usage until I asked the

question... that being said, my son has hypotonia in his trunk and up through

his facial muscles so maybe that kind of chair is used for clients who are

unable to sit unattended... my son can sit unattended so the chair won't be

ordered! 

Thanks for the info!

[Guest guest]

Hey !

You wrote: " I understood the reference at the CASANA workshop about the chair as

a possible helpful tool for therapeutic use... from that I gathered that the

chair is sometimes used for an active or distracted client. "

Either you misunderstood or that's just horrible that a professional that should

know better would recommend this chair as " a helpful tool... for active or

distracted clients "

Even outside of the story from Tricia I posted -as from this letter:

" The district was directed to stop using the Rifton chair with the belt, tray or

any other type of restricting device, unless adaptive seating is needed pursuant

to the child's individualized education program (IEP) because the child needs

postural or stabilizing support due to an orthopedic impairment. The Rifton

chair with a belt, tray or any type of restraining device must not be used for

cuing, providing a secure area, reminder to sit, or in general, for behavioral

management or sensory integration purposes. The manufacter's website explicitly

states that Rifton equipment is not intended to be used as a behavioral

restraint. This is true for diagnostic situations as well as day-to-day

classroom activities. "

http://dpi.wi.gov/sped/complaints/com07075-att.html

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[Guest guest]

Thanks Janis. I don't believe the issue was the chair itself -I believe what

isn't legal is using the seat belt or other restraint for reasons outside of

physical limitations such as for behavioral or punitive use.

From the Rifton website:

" Some people use straps, trays or supports to restrict a child's movement. This

is a behavioral restraint and may raise ethical and legal issues which you

should check with your particular facility. Rifton Equipment is not intended for

this use. "

http://www.rifton.com/FAQ.html

I mean nobody wants either to have their child in any way tormented or as a

professional end up in court for " unlawful use of restraints " such as in this

case:

http://www.pamd.uscourts.gov/opinions/Caputo/06v01898.pdf

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