The Standing Dani Wheelstand is a pediatric mobile prone stander for children with special needs. Designed by a parent, the Standing Dani offers children with special needs unparalleled eye-to-eye access to siblings and playmates. The Standing Dani wheelstand is versatile enough to be used at home or in the classroom. Its robust design makes it ideal for use out-of-doors.  The Standing Dani is practical and cost effective. Interchangeable components accommodate the child’s growth. Pushbuttons make for quick component adjustments and simple disassembly for transport.
     To ensure that the appropriate wheelstand model and positioning components are recommended, each child is assessed and preferably pre-fitted in a demo model. The assessment will determine positioning components including proper wheel size and prone board configurations.
We are a leader in pediatric assistive technology with a highly trained staff, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for children with special needs and their families. DavisMade, Inc. was founded in 1985 by Daniel W. Davis and is located in Flint, Michigan, U.S.A. To date, we have assisted over 1,300 children in achieving independent upright mobility.

DavisMade History:    

     After Dani Davis was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of one, Dan, her father, immediately began his quest for answers and direction on how he could assure the highest quality of life for his infant daughter.  After learning the significance of weight bearing through standing from Dani’s physical therapist and the research by experts including Nancy Finney, PT[1], Dan fabricated his first stationary prone stander by the time Dani was four years old.  Although she was standing, mobility was the real issue.  It didn’t take long for Dani to complain she was left standing while her playmates ran off elsewhere to play.  Dan’s reaction was “let’s put it on wheels”.  After two years of trial and error, Dani was rolling.
Through the encouragement of Dani's therapist, Ernestine Smith, PhD, PT, and teachers, Dan’s first functional mobile pediatric prone stander was placed in a classroom.  Soon after, Dr. Smith and Dani’s teachers saw an immediate improvement in her attitude, relationships with peers and very noticeable physical improvements.  Dr. Smith requested more wheelstands for other children.

     In 1984 Dan applied for what would be the first of several U.S. patents.  In 1985 Davis Positioning Systems was founded as a research and development company.  The following year Dan brought together a team from GMI Engineering and Management Institute (now Kettering University) and the University of Michigan-Flint for a joint research project to prove his design and research effective uses of the Standing Dani®. The project was supported by a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant of $37,360 from the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development.
 
     Volunteer engineering students and GMI faculty fabricated seven prototypes for placement in two public schools in the Flint, MI area.  Faculty from the Physical Therapy Department at the University of Michigan-Flint, observed 13 children with cerebral palsy in a controlled study conducted in the classroom setting.

     The study corroborated the effects of standing and self-propelling on improved range of motion of the lower extremity, in addition to the unpredicted overwhelming benefit of increased back extensor strength and improved head control and balance.
The overwhelming conclusion and consensus of this study encouraged Dan Davis to further develop and modify his wheelstand for commercialization.  In 1990, the first Standing Dani® was sold through the newly incorporated Davismade, Inc. 

About Dani

In 1975 Dani Davis was born ten weeks early and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at the age of one year. She began attending early childhood intervention at the age of two years and in the fourth grade was transferred to the same public school as her younger sister. With a little private tutoring, Dani was able to shed the "Special Ed" label, graduating high school with academic honors.

After high school she was driven to overcome the physical challenges of a college campus as well as the social stigma of being in a wheelchair. From an early age, Dani was inspired to become a school teacher. In 2003 Dani graduated on the Dean's list from Western Michigan University with a Bachelors Degree in Special Education, specializing in teaching children with visual impairments.

For the past six years Dani has been teaching in a cross categorical special education class at Flint's Southwestern Academy.  While teaching, Dani earned her Master's Degree in education technology, and graduated in August 05.  She presents in a power wheelchair in the classroom with the assistance of a service dog named Val.  She lives alone and does not drive a car.  Dani is our inspiration and motivation.  She personifies the spirit of self-determination, hard work and independence.  Feel free to visit her personal website at http//:danidavis48420.tripod.com.
 

Copyright © 2005 DavisMade Incorporated, All Rights Reserved.
StandingDani® is a Registered Trademarks of DavisMade Inc.