A new study being done on car seats for children with special needs seeks to address a gap in current Transport Canada guidelines.
The Stan Cassidy Foundation and the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation are contributing $6,000 towards the study.
Krista Fraser, an occupational therapist at the Stan Cassidy Rehabilitation Centre, is spearheading the research.
Fraser says there’s not a lot of resources on car seats for families or therapists.
“Kids who need an occupational therapist typically have a need that they want to be able to participate in a meaningful activity that makes up their day,” she said.
“Transportation is one of those activities that families and children with disabilities have to think about every time they leave the house.”
Currently, Transport Canada requires car seats for all children under the age of 12.
It allows the use of customized car seats in special cases, but Fraser says there is a lack of manufactured equipment that meets Canadian safety standards.
“I think one of the biggest problems we run into is that our kids with special needs outweigh and outgrow the current seats that are available on the market,” she said.
The study will be done using children who are patients at the Stan Cassidy Rehabilitation Centre. Fraser says she hopes to evaluate 25 to 50 children by September.
It is anticipated the study could help standardize federal safety and manufacturing laws, along with establishing best practices for healthcare professionals.
The study’s results will be shared at national and international forums.
