DavisMade - Home of the Standing Dani

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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 the appropriate wheelstand model and positioning components are recommended, each child is assessed and preferably pre-fitted in a demo model. Assessing the child’s functional level will determine whether the self-propelled or the power driven model is appropriate. The assessment will further determine positioning components such as 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 Burton, Michigan, U.S.A. To date, we have assisted over 1,000 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 four years Dani has been teaching in a cross categorical special education class at Flint's Southwestern Academy. For the last three years, 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 Ringo. 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.

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The DavisMade Staff:

Dan Davis

Dan, the inventor of the Standing Dani® wheelstand, and the President of Davismade, Inc., is a strong advocate for ‘Quality of Life’ when it comes to doing what’s best for our special clients. Apart from ‘running the business’, Dan continues to work directly with our special clients; offering his years of expertise on proper positioning for the best medical and psychological benefit available.

Dan is the recipient of many awards, including ‘Best Product Idea’ (1990-New Enterprise Forum), Accessible Design Award (1992-Cerebral Palsy Association, Inc), and the ‘Inventor’s Council Award’ (Michigan-1993)

However, Dan feels that what best prepared him to achieve in the arena of assistive technology is being the parent of a child with disabilities, and learning first hand the best way to assist children in overcoming the obstacles of life with disability. (Read: Dani’s story)

Dan continues his work in the research and development arena, with improved techniques for user-friendly adaptive standing equipment the main goal. You can email Dan directly at dan@standingdani.com.

Gary Hammond

Gary Hammond has been a professor of mechanical engineering at Kettering University (formerly General Motors Institute) since 1964. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University and an MS from Ohio State University. Before Kettering University he was an officer in the US Air Force, working on the space program at Vanderberg AFB, California, and worked as a dynamics engineer for North American Aviation. Gary has been involved with the Standing Dani from the earliest concepts, to the CAD drawings and now as the primary machinist for custom metal parts for each unit. He even bought a lightly used Haas VF2 Computer Numerical Control (CNC) vertical mill that can be pre-programmed to make 50 different parts for his machine shop.

Gary has specialized in the areas of experimental stress analysis, electronic instrumentation, and sensor development. He is a recognized specialist in the area of instrumentation and sensors and served many years on the GM Instrumentation Subcommittee. He has authored much text material used at Kettering University and within GM on the subject of instrumentation, including sensor and transducer development.

Gary has also been involved in robotics, robotic systems, automated guided vehicles, and flexible automation. He was instrumental in the development of several robotic courses including basics, applications, and integrated manufacturing systems. He was a co-principal investigator of a $100,000 NSF grant to develop a Computer Integrated Manufacturing Lab at Kettering University. He also wrote a textbook entitled "AGVS AT WORK" (Automated Guided Vehicle Systems).

For the past few years, Gary has been involved with various CAD platforms and has taught many Continuing Education Programs teaching CAD. He is also responsible for teaching a design course involving mechatronics for mechanical engineering students where the students take their conceptual designs through the patent process, detailed engineering, manufacturing/building, and finally trouble shooting a proto-type.

Andy Evancho

Andy is one of the ‘original’ Davismade, Inc. employees, and has worn many hats throughout the years. He has recently received his BA in Engineering Science., and is the newest member of the Research and Development Team.

Being the first Davismade, Inc Certified Tech., Andy has fitted several hundred children, specializing in children with unique standing requirements. Andy is the ‘go to’ guy for our newer service specialists, while continuing to service customers nationwide. Andy’s file of special ‘thank you’s’ from the many children he has assisted gives testament to the heartfelt commitment he has to the Davismade, Inc mission-“To afford children with special needs the opportunity to realize their full potential”

Andy looks forward to being a contributing member of the R&D Team’s ongoing projects; while continuing to assist in the development of ongoing company expansion projects. You can email Andy directly at andy@standingdani.com.

Nancy Perry

Nancy has been with Davismade, Inc since 1999, serving as Department Manager of Customer Service and Claims/Billing, and the Asst. Director of Operations. Her background is in business management, customer relations and human resources, as well as serving as President of the Bentley Board of Education for the past 8 years. She has completed many courses of study including Customer Service/Sales, Finance, Claims/Billing, Personnel/Human Resources, and Business Management.

Nancy believes that families with children that have special needs are taxed with the many demands of caring for their special kids, and should have confidence that their provider offer the best in customer support. As a result, Davismade, Inc provides unprecedented support and guidance for every one of the children we are blessed to serve!

Nancy views every child as ‘the company kids’, and is determined to assure that every customer receive the best service possible. You can email Nancy directly at nancy@standingdani.com.

Bonnie Palmer

Bonnie joined the DavisMade, Inc team in 2003. She has had many courses of instruction in Insurance, Claims, and Billing and has worked in this area for many years.

She can also be found in the area of customer service, providing assistance in getting the necessary paperwork coordinated to assure efficient submission of prior authorizations and claims.

Bonnie’s ‘dogged determination’ to get claims approved is a valuable asset to our many little ones in need of assisted mobility and standing. She is a genuinely kind and caring soul, (unless you are an insurance rep mishandling a claim!) and a key member of the DavisMade, Inc family. You can email Bonnie directly at bonnie@standingdani.com.

Todd West

Todd is the newest member of the DavisMade, Inc staff, serving as the Regional Sales/Service for MI/OH/TN (and beyond!) While Todd holds a BA in Arts and Science, he believes that being a Dad for the last twenty years has ‘educated’ him as well!

Todd has also been a coordinator for several youth programs, President of his local school district Booster organization, coached every sport available, and assisted the Parks and Recreation committee for the City of Burton.

Todd’s infectious enthusiasm and natural ease with children have been a valuable addition to the DavisMade, Inc family.
You can email Todd directly at todd@standingdani.com.

Audi

The cuddliest member of the DavisMade, Inc family is Audi!

Audi’s mother wandered the area until she found him a good home; here at the home office! He officially lives with Andy, but is often found spending the night with many of the Davismade, Inc. employees.

He is a good-natured and loving pal to have around, and the smartest dog we have ever met.

Copyright © 2005 DavisMade Incorporated, All Rights Reserved.
StandingDani® and KidsterDani® are Registered Trademarks of DavisMade Inc.

This page was created by Dataguard Technologies for DavisMade Incorporated.
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