Life

Making life on the go easier

The lives of one Co Down family have been greatly improved by a new children's portable seat that has been designed and developed by a Northern Ireland company. Jenny Lee spoke to them

EATING around the kitchen table together or going out to a restaurant for a family meal is something many of us take for granted.

But for Johnny and Claire Smyth from Newtownards this wasn't possible until last year, when they were asked to test the Firefly GoTo Seat.

Their eldest son Daniel is an endearing five year old little boy who has an undiagnosed genetic condition, presenting as severe global developmental delay and sensory processing problems.

His disability was noticed as a baby when he wasn't reaching normal developmental milestones such as sitting and making eye contact. Numerous genetic tests have proved negative and Daniel is now one of 5,000 children taking part in a new Irish and British project, Deciphering Developmental Disorders, which aims to find out if using new genetic technologies can help doctors understand why patients get developmental disorders.

Daniel has extremely low muscle tone and needs additional support for feeding or sitting. His home is filled with bulky and extremely expensive specialist equipment and chairs.

Now a relatively simple piece of equipment is making a big difference to the Smyth family. Developed by Lisburn company Leckey, in conjunction with the charity Cerebra, it is a lightweight, portable seat for children needing additional postural support and stability.

It's five-point harness with easily adjustable front buckle gives children maximum postural support across their shoulders, lap and crotch.

Weighing just 1.4kg means that it can easily be carried out and about, making eating at a restaurant or visiting the supermarket simpler and bringing more flexibility to daily life.

Asked to test the prototype of the GoTo Seat last spring, the first time Daniel used it he enjoy eating his Easter lunch at the family dining room table with his parents, brother and grandparents.

Daniel's three-year-old brother Charlie, "dotes on him" and the seat, which straps on to a normal dining room chair, now enables them play and enjoy table top activities together such as playing trains, craft and even helping mum bake.

While Claire and Johnny agree the seat was a revelation in the house, especially for feeding, they say it has "transformed our lives in terms of getting out and about".

Eating out was almost impossible for the Smyth family before the GoTo Seat. "There is very little room for his wheelchair in cafes and restaurants.

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