This week, 160 of HCDE’s physical therapists and physical therapist assistants embedded in Harris County school districts had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the latest furniture and equipment for children with disabilities.

“That’s one of the things I think makes Harris County Department of Education unique,” said Senior Director for School-Based Therapy Services Carie Crabb. “We provide up to 5 continuing education days for all of our therapists to keep them up-to-date on the latest and greatest so that they can take these tools back into the classroom when they are working with their students.”

Representatives from Rifton Equipment, a leading manufacturer of furniture and adaptive equipment like lift walkers, mobile standers, tricycles, and activity chairs designed to teach basic motor skills to those with disabilities, led attendees in a demonstration of certain equipment and its adaptability for unique needs.

“Rifton does such an awesome job of developing and providing equipment in the classrooms that really can help students to optimize their functional abilities and help them to participate as best they can with their peers and be part of their school community,” said Crabb. “That’s huge for them.”

Rifton is a popular vendor among school districts; the goal of the demonstration for the physical therapists is to learn the many features of adaptive and mobility equipment they may encounter in the districts in which they serve.

“We as therapists get very creative and we take a piece of equipment and we may do something completely different than the engineer had in mind, so they are hearing all these great ideas from each other,” said Crabb. A recording of the demonstration is available on TXspot.org, HCDE’s interactive web-based resource for school-based therapists.