Rifton began in 1977 as an offshoot of Community Playthings, a leading manufacturer of furniture and equipment for early childhood settings. When one of the designers paid a neighborly visit to a Connecticut home for children with disabilities, a therapist asked if they could custom-build a chair for one of their residents. In the next months similar requests trickled in, and before long designers and workers at Community Playthings were dreaming about an entirely different and new line of equipment. And so Rifton Equipment began. Those same early years saw a growing sensitivity in society to people with special needs. Americans increasingly recognized every person’s right to be treated with dignity and respect. At Rifton, they believe people with disabilities deserve their best.

Astris PME are Australia’s market leaders in assistive technology equipment for people of all ages and level of disability. They are dedicated to improving the lives of people by providing high quality products that are designed to promote independent and active lifestyles.