Case Study: How a New Wheelchair Helped a Sixth Grader Belong Fully at School

CEREBRAL PALSY   |   SCHOOL INTEGRATION   |   POSTURAL SUPPORT   |   PEER ENGAGEMENT

Clinical Snapshot
Client Presentation		Device Configuration
Diagnosis:	Cerebral Palsy (affects muscle movement, balance, and posture)	Product:	Cub Wheelchair
GMFCS Level:	5	Key Focus:	Stable, upright seating at classroom desk height
Tone & Spasticity:	Extension pattern (strong outward/straightening pattern)	Accessories Used:	Tray, All Terrain wheel, full PSD set
Age / Setting:	12 years old; sixth-grade, mainstream classroom	Setup Time:	2 hours

The Clinical Challenge: Staying Upright, Staying Included

Luka is a sixth-grade student who attends school alongside his twin brother. Before receiving his Cub wheelchair, simply sitting for long periods at a school desk required significant effort. Classrooms are built around average furniture heights, and Luka's chair often left him unable to sit level with his classmates. Moving between the classroom, the school yard, and the resource center also took more time, effort, and assistance than it did for his peers.

The Intervention: A Wheelchair Configured for the Classroom

Luka's new Cub wheelchair was set up to hold him in a stable, upright, well-supported position for the full school day, with seating configured to bring him level with his classmates' desk height and to support easier movement through the building.

Sibling Perspective

Luka's twin brother shared that it's now much easier for the two of them to head outside together at recess , turning what used to take extra effort into simple, shared brother time.

Clinical Features & Functional Benefits

Clinical Challenge: Fatigue and discomfort from unsupported sitting during the school day  →  Cub Feature: Stable, supportive upright seating configuration  →  Functional Outcome: Luka's energy goes toward learning and engaging, not toward staying balanced

Clinical Challenge: Sitting lower than classmates at desk height  →  Cub Feature: Seating properly configured to classroom desk height  →  Functional Outcome: Luka sits level with his peers, reinforcing his sense of belonging in the classroom

Clinical Challenge: Difficulty moving between the classroom, school yard, and resource center  →  Cub Feature: Improved maneuverability of the Cub base  →  Functional Outcome: Luka moves through the school with greater ease, including joining recess games with his twin brother

Who This Configuration Helps

School-age children with cerebral palsy or similar conditions who need stable, properly-aligned seating to participate fully in a mainstream classroom , from desk work to recess.