Shower Seat
By TAD Journal, Vol. 23, No. 1, p. 7Publication Date: Autumn 2003
Article discusses the custom construction of a new seat for a shower chair for a client with spina bifida by volunteers from Technical Aid to the Disabled (TAD) in New South Wales, Australia. A chair was previously mounted on the sidewall of the shower with hinges, which enable it to be folded down when not in use. The chair also has folding legs, which brace against the junction of the shower floor and wall. The device had a wooden seat covered with plastic, which sits at a slight angle so the water runs off it easily. Over time, water penetrated the plastic and the wood gradually warped and rotted, and eventually broke completely. The original supplier was no longer in business, so the client approached TAD for assistance. A volunteer constructed a new seat base out of 12-millimeter high-density polyethylene, with rounded corners to avoid injury. A sheet of closed-cell foam is glued to the seat, which provides a soft, non-slippery surface for the client to sit on. The seat was attached to the original mounting using stainless steel brackets, which will not rust and are strong enough to withstand the force of the client transferring himself onto the seat from his wheelchair.
Published by: Technical Aid to the Disabled (Website:http://www.tadnsw.org.au)
