Funding Rationale
Helps people live their life or makes life better
The use of a weighted blanket improves the lives of people with (but not limited to) Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Sensory Processing Disorder, Restless Leg Syndrome and Insomnia. Using a weighted blanket:
- Enables the user to relax and settle into sleep better at bedtime.
- Increases the quality and amount of sleep by helping the individual settle back into sleep upon waking at night. Increased quality of sleep increases the ability to concentrate and function effectively during waking hours.
- Reduces the number of waking periods in the night, allowing for better sleep.
- Weighted blankets help to calm in times of high stress, anxiety and where de-escalation of behaviour is required.
- Residual calming effects after using a weighted blanket enables users to carry out daily activities, leading to greater independence and confidence in the community.
- Enables the user to self-soothe in times of anxiety or stress, increasing independence at home and in the community.
- Enables users to feel more “grounded” or “present” or focused to carry out daily tasks at home and in the community.
- The use of the weighted blanket is not imposed on the user, giving them greater control and independence around emotional and behavioural regulation.
It is a Disability Support
- Weighted blankets are a useful device in behaviour management and behaviour de-escalation. They provide a calming preventative strategy, which is safer than resorting to physical restraint and isolation.
- Specifically designed for people with high proprioceptive needs
- Unique dense weight profile provides greater proprioceptive pressure input to the body than other weighted blankets on the market. Below indicates the amount of weight in the blankets (gsm indicates grams per square metre)
5kg weighted blanket approx. 5,000 gsm (1m x 1.1m)
7.5kg weighted blanket approx. 5,350 gsm (1m x 1.5m)
10kg weighted blanket approx. 6, 670 gsm (1m x 1.5m)
12kg weighted blanket approx. 6,420 gsm (1.1m x 1.70m)
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Weight is evenly distributed across the blanket.
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All cells are double stitched inside the blanket to prevent unevenness in weight distribution and possible leakage of weight materials. The outer layer is heavy duty stitched for longevity and safety.
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The inner fabric of the blanket is poly-cotton drill which is strong and durable.
Reasonable and Cost Effective
- Weighted blankets have benefits across the day and night. They are a safe device that can used as required by the individual.
- Weighted blankets can be used across multiple settings to provide consistency and enable independence when travelling or on overnight stays in unfamiliar environments.
- Effective to develop and maintain independence, as it enables emotional and sensory self-regulation.
- The costs associated with personal support reduce over time with greater independent use of a weighted blanket to regulate emotions and anxiety levels. Learning about one’s sensory preferences, triggers, and management strategies enables empowerment and control for an individual, making it a socially acceptable and socially sustainable way of enabling users.
- Weighted blankets from Sensory Corner that are weighted with plastic pellets, which are washable and hygienic.
