7 IMPORTANT FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING A SENSORY GYM
Purchasing a sensory gym for your therapy clinic, residence, hospital, or school can be a daunting task. We know! Most people will only look at brand-name equipment and think they must be the best without doing any sort of research. As you begin this journey, we encourage you to do your research. If you have any questions about purchasing a sensory gym and want to have honest and direct conversations, we’d welcome the opportunity to provide you with our expertise.
CONSIDER THE REPUTATION OF A SUPPLIER OR MANUFACTURER
With a variety of DIY contractors and various manufacturers in the sensory gym design market, it’s hard to distinguish between genuine and fake products especially with most sales being done online. Therefore, doing your research and narrowing down potential manufacturers is essential before making any purchases. Networking with others who are well versed in therapy equipment or contact a nonprofit such as STAR Institute, the premier research center for sensory processing disorder. As experts in the area of sensory these groups will give you the knowledge you need to know about manufacturers and their equipment.
A good sensory gym designer and manufacturer will be able to offer you a wide variety of designs, and customized options with a focus on a very specific target market. Having a wide variety of options to choose from allows you the customer the flexibility to analyze the proposed sensory gym design, architectural renderings, sensory gym versatility, and the expertise of the designer and manufacturer.
SENSORY GYM QUALITY
Quality is key in the therapy world, especially when your business model depends on it for success and accuracy. ISO certification and warranties determine the ultimate quality of a product. ISO certification is performed by external certification bodies, which are not the company or the manufacturer, and provides independent confirmation of competence. As mentioned earlier, reaching out to a nonprofit can often provide very valuable insight into the quality of the therapy equipment or the manufacturer as they often are engaging in various research studies or even first-hand use.
TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW
Technical knowledge is one aspect you cannot overlook when purchasing any type of sensory equipment. If the supplier’s support technicians cannot provide you with the proper training materials, how can you be assured that the sensory equipment your purchasing can be correctly setup and maintained. The quality of your sensory equipment directly depends on the knowledge of the sensory equipment repair and maintenance technicians. Proper technical expertise leads to having a productive and profitable hospital or clinic with little to no downtime.
FUNCTIONALITY
Quality should be your number one priority when it comes to purchasing any piece of sensory equipment. But is quality sensory equipment really that quality if you have no idea how it functions and everyone says it’s extremely hard to use? Knowing and understanding the equipment’s functionality should be quite easy for the most part and if it’s not then make sure you request training and a manual for future use. We would advise anyone looking into buying any equipment to look over the user manual to make sure the equipment performs to your satisfaction and is understandable.
TESTING AND REVIEWS
The best suppliers or manufacturers are the ones who pride themselves in customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is achieved by the equipment and services meeting the demands and budget of the client. A supplier who is committed to customer satisfaction will even go so far as to recommend banks who deal directly with asset financing so you can be assured your facility is getting the best equipment possible.
Past customers are generally quite eager to post reviews about their experiences, whether positive or negative, with a supplier or manufacturer. Take a moment to research the reviews for the company you are considering doing business with. Great customer service generally leads to positive reviews.
AFTER SALES SERVICE
Regardless of the quality of the sensory equipment, there is always a good probability that a problem will occur within the first 30-90 days. Ranging from a simple adjustment to a major component replacement, the support you receive after purchase and installation will affect your purchase satisfaction. Always get the warranty in writing and fill out and send in any warranty cards that come from the supplier or manufacturer. Response times, clinical support, and emergency numbers to call are the best way to ensure smooth operations.
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Summit Sensory Gyms are specifically designed to help children enjoy guided play that promotes cognitive-behavioral, and social skills and enhances motor development. When combined with other therapies, a sensory gym can amplify results by reinforcing the treatment of sensory disorders. Our sensory gyms continue to increase independence, eases stress in social situations, and raise tolerance to new sensations coming from the body and the environment.
Regardless of whether your child has unique needs, a Summit Sensory gym promotes skill and developmental growth for all ages. Our equipment is designed to provide proprioceptive and vestibular sensory input — swings, trampolines, therapy balls, etc. The use of our sensory gyms will help let your child reach their highest potential in the comfort of their own home. In general, we recommend our clients also incorporate individual therapy services. Certified therapists will help to ensure children feel comfortable and have fun while working on their fine and gross motor development amongst many others.
