Inclusion For All™

Dedicated to including ALL people with special needs™

The Camp-For-All™ Information Center

The complete resource to help parents and professionals include ALL kids in summer camp

Provided by Camp Robin Hood,158 Limestone Crescent, Downsview, ON M3J 2S4

Lifts and Transfers - Techniques

* The camper with a disability should be encouraged to do as much as possible on his/her own, however, there are times when the camper will need assistance to be lifted or transferred.

* Ask the camper if he/she needs help and ask him/her to direct the type of assistance they require (if possible).

* The camper must feel comfortable and secure and the person assisting in the lift/transfer should ensure that his/her back is protected from injury.

Tips to Remember:

Ask the camper to move him/herself to the edge of his/her seat.

Encourage the camper to lean forward.

Have the camper place his/her arms around your neck to assist with the lift/transfer.

Your standing posture should be relaxed, with one foot in front of the other and slightly apart (to increase surface area).

Hold camper around his/her waist - remember to bend at your knees not with your back.

You may want to rock slightly from foot to foot to give yourself momentum.

Always inform the camper with what you are about to do (e.g. "on the count of 3 we will stand up and transfer onto this chair").

If you have to turn to transfer the camper, make sure you move your feet in small steps in the direction you are turning (instead of twisting) - point one foot in the direction of the turn before lifting.

Keep your back aligned and the camper CLOSE to your body.

Make sure you and the camper are positioned as close as possible to the destination.

When performing a two-person lift discuss the type of lift and the direction in which you wish to move:

-one person should stand behind the camper placing his/her arms under the campers arms and grasping his/her own wrist

-the other person should stand in front of the camper, bending with his/her knees, this person shall place his/her arms under the campers knees and then grasp his/her own wrist

-one of the two persons assisting with the lift should designate him/herself as the leader (to call out 1, 2, 3, lift . . . . .)

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