Alternate Seating

Alternate seating, also known as adaptive seating or flexible seating, encompasses furniture solutions designed to support learning, mealtimes and daily activities in various settings, including homes, schools, and kindergartens.

At School

In a classroom environment alternate seating looks to promote a more engaging, comfortable and ultimately more effective learning environment offering several benefits for student interaction, focus and overall well-being. While whole-classroom alternate seating strategies can boost student comfort and focus, leading to more engagement and learning, specific adaptive seating options can cater to the unique needs of individual students.

Personalised adaptive seating involves a more targeted assessment of an individual’s requirements, working closely with the individual, their occupational therapists, family, carer and at times other specialists. The adaptive seating is tailored to offer precise support needed for optimal comfort, stability, and participation in classroom activities. This tailored approach is crucial for students who require specific accommodations to access learning effectively and goes beyond the benefits that a general flexible seating environment might offer.

This not only helps promote positive learning behaviours for the individual, it also enhances classroom management, reduces distractions and provides a more inclusive environment that enhances participation, helping the entire classroom with social development, encouraging understanding, acceptance and forming friendships.

At Home

In the home environment adaptive seating helps with posture, comfort, and enables positioning for mealtimes, encourages the development of motor skills, reducing the need for assistance and empowers further independence and participation.

A tailored seating solution provides increased postural support and comfort and helps promote an optimal environment for engagement in daily activities with greater ease and stability. With an increased experience of control and stability, there is less reliance on assistance for day-to-day tasks and activities. The improved physical foundation provides potential for the development of essential motor skills. Fostering a stronger sense of independence and promoting increased participation and personal development and well-being in the home and learning environments.

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