Equipment

• Most children with AS require special supportive seating, especially when young, eg. a corner seat for using on the floor (to play or eat in – keeps legs extended/stretched).

• A wooden TripTrap/Evolution chair with straps is suitable to use at the table.

• Height adjustable bucket chair with straps and armrests as they get older

• If your child is over 4.5 years old and not toilet trained, you may be eligible to receive free nappies. Speak to your GP, paediatrician or occupational therapist and ask them to provide you with a referral to the District Health Board Continence Clinic. The nappies will be sent directly to your home in bulk.

• Incontinence products – eenee swimmers (NZ): StayDry

• Bibs/clothing protectors: see Brolly Sheets

• Special oval-shaped bowls/plates,some with suction pads at the base, are available.

• Utensils with bigger handle-grips,can be helpful to teach self-feeding skills.

• A variety of cups with different lips/spouts/sucking attachments are generally trialed until the right fit is found for each child.

• Extra assistance can be required for toileting, such as a raised foam seat, padded backrest with support-strap, a footstool for support and side rails for security and balance.

• A bath lift is important and useful when seizures are prevalent, or during recovery and rehab after orthotic operations.

• Commodes are very useful for both toileting and showering when the child has difficulty with walking and standing unaided. It is also a very practical piece of equipment to have on hand after orthotic operations, during recovery and rehab.

• Safe beds: Safety at night is a top priority for children with Angelman syndrome, and to ensure that the parents can get some rest, too. Because children with AS require very little sleep as well as 24/7 supervision, it is essential to ensure they will be safe in the night while the family is sleeping

• Enclosed beds work well for many, though some children cope fine on a normal bed, too.

• A portable safety-sleeper is great when the child is young. As they grow, something more substantial may be necessary to ensure their safety at night, eg. the Safe-surround plus bed. Beds can be provided by your community OT. 

• When a child has epilepsy issues, many parents use monitors to hear and see their child if they wake up at night due to seizures 

• Weighted blankets: These use a method called Deep Pressure Stimulation. The weight from the blanket encourages the body to switch from fight or flight, to rest and digest, bringing a sense of calm to the mind and body. They are used for those living with sleep deprivation, stress, anxiety, autism, insomnia, ADHD and PTSD. Read more here 

• Many young children with AS initially take longer to learn to walk due to balance and low-muscle tone and some may need assistance eg. a wheelchair and/or walking frame, throughout their life. Most do eventually learn to walk – some as late as in their teens.

• Those who have orthopaedic operations to assist with their gait, may need rehab equipment after operations, such as a walking frame.

• Some require custom designed splints that are to be worn regularly for best results.​

• Bracing: TheraSuit® / TheraSuit Method® 

• SDO Suits: The Sensory Dynamic Orthosis (SDO) is a made to measure Lycra Garment (Class 1) medical device, designed and produced to the finest detail. It provides dynamic compression to increase sensory and proprioceptive feedback as well as provide musculoskeletal support. Read more...

• There is a Facebook group for parents whose child has gait / orthopaedic / orthotic / scoliosis / skeletal complications. See Orthopedic issues related to Angelman Syndrome

Adaptive Bikes are great to encourage cyclic leg movements, exercise, and a social outdoor hobby. There are many variations on adaptive trikes. See: Freedom Cycles, and Trikes