Crawlers

Designed & built by Liz Degraffenried and Tad Bergen

Four crawling devices for small children with mobility disabilities were built. The crawlers are used to explore an environment through assistance as the crawling motion is learned with support for the child’s trunk.

Children without head control or the ability to roll over can use a crawler to develop mobility skills. The crawler suspends a child in a crawling position. A padded platform supports an adult from above the child to facilitate weight bearing, weight shifting, reaching, and creeping.

• 95% of the materials used were donated by Standers Inc., including a bed tray and bed rails.
• The frame was welded and ground to make it look like one bar and safer to use
• The frame was painted and foam was attached, which acts as a safety precaution
• The AT Lab made the crawler for $22, the alternative is to buy a crawler from a specialty magazine for $633.

Tad attaching the platform.

Tad attaching the harness.

Tad and Liz putting the final touches on the crawlers.

Liz sewing the harnesses.

The finished product, the crawler.