That's Not an Accessible Bathtub!

You're right! But it is for me!

In spite of more than one Physical Therapist recommending that we set up a bathtub that Katherine could transfer to independently - we didn't. In fact, we wholeheartedly refused this advice for a couple of reasons...

1. Right now Katherine is very active for a 14 year old with somewhat severe cerebral palsy. We cannot guarantee that she will always be as strong as she is now, and maintain her current ability to transfer. 

2. Even if I knew that she would always be as strong and capable as she is today, Katherine would not be able to transfer from one seat to another - let alone to a slippery bathtub without her shoes and foot braces on. 

3. Attempting to lift (or even help transfer) a slippery, wet girl who is 2/3 of my own weight out of a bathtub seems like a very easy way for both of us to get hurt. 

In the past, we have tried a couple of different bath chairs that set in the bathtub. One of them would raise up and down to help with the transfers - still quite difficult with a wet girl. One of the things we noticed with those chairs was that Katherine tended to float up off of them. This was particularly problematic with the one I'm supposed to raise up before I got her out. It seemed that no matter how many velcro straps I used, her bottom was not going to stay on that seat.

So, when we started on this project one of the first things we shopped for was a bathtub. When I saw this one, I knew it was right. Because it comes up under your knees, it keeps your bottom down! Ingenious. 

I also fell in love with it because it's beautiful of course! But also because I will always be helping her bathe, the narrow edges make it easier for me to reach her. We chose to raise the tub up off the ground onto a pedestal to save me from bending over as well. 

Katherine loves to soak in the tub, and now she can do that without hurting either of us!