SHARKY

SHARKY is our toilet wheelchair, and as such, it makes daily life in the bathroom - including toilet training, using the toilet, and personal hygiene - easier in many ways.

There are many reasons why a special aid may be necessary for training. However, the following situations are particularly important to mention:

• Organic malformations or dysfunctions. These occur primarily in children with physical disabilities. For example, in cases of abnormal development of the bladder or ureters, or associated spastic movement patterns that affect control of the sphincter muscles.
• Insufficient nerve impulse transmission in the nervous system. When the bladder is full, the bladder wall sends a corresponding signal to the brain. If this nerve impulse transmission is disrupted or even completely interrupted, the urge cannot be adequately recognized. This may be due to an organic cause, such as damage to nerve cells. Or there may be a perceptual disorder, meaning the stimulus is not processed properly.
• Insufficient movement. Children with physical disabilities, in particular, often have to sit or lie down for long periods. They move less than healthy children, and bowel movement is often severely restricted as a result. If they are then expected to have a bowel movement while lying down, the children face significant difficulties.
• Lack of communication options. Children with disabilities often cannot express themselves in the same way as healthy children. Consequently, they frequently lack the means to communicate clearly when the need becomes “urgent.”
• Intellectual disability. Children with an intellectual disability often do not seem receptive to targeted toilet training. They have little intrinsic motivation to become potty-trained. An understanding of the topic must first be established.

Toilet training is a crucial aspect of raising both “typical” and “special” children, beginning around the age of 2–3 years. The goal is to promote independence, as this is a crucial factor for living as autonomously as possible - especially regarding toileting, which is a very sensitive aspect of daily life.

SHARKY offers children who lack sufficient core stability the opportunity to build adequate external support through seat adjustments, including a 45° tilt and independent backrest adjustment. This is complemented by additional accessories, such as an upper body support or neoprene straps. Furthermore, a forward-leaning (negatively tilted) seating position with feet firmly planted can relax the pelvic floor muscles and help the child relax. The versatile, adjustable seat unit is complemented by various base frames, such as a mobile and height-adjustable base frame, as well as a tub base or a toilet adapter. This ensures that all essential areas of daily hygiene are optimally covered.