What is OTO ?

Designed for people with autism, usable by everyone.

OTO is an innovative chair. It is designed to meet the needs of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It also helps those with anxiety or sensory disorders. It was developed by the French company LABAA, founded by Alexia Audrain, a cabinetmaker and designer, in collaboration with experts, healthcare professionals and people affected

Since 2021, OTO has been used at the Centre d’Excellence Autisme et Troubles du Neurodéveloppement (EXAC-T) at the CHRU in Tours, where it is the subject of clinical studies on its soothing effects. It is also used at the Maison de l’Autisme in Aubervilliers and in other specialist establishments in France and Europe.

Where to find us

Find us at the Maison de l’Autisme in Aubervilliers, France.

10 Rue Waldeck Rochet, Aubervilliers, 93001

How it works

The OTO chair is equipped with inflatable inner walls that exert deep pressure on the body thanks to an integrated air pump. This pressure, which can be controlled via an intuitive remote control, helps reduce anxiety and promotes relaxation. The design of the chair, with its beech wood shell and sensory materials, has been thought out to provide a reassuring, non-stigmatising space

Use and recognition

OTO can be used in a variety of ways: as a hug, before a stimulus, as a reinforcer, in a Snoezelen room or as part of sensory integration work. Since its launch in 2023, more than 150 chairs have been delivered in France and Europe.
It can be used in medical and social establishments (IME, FAM, MAS, SESSAD, ESAT, etc.), as well as in hospitals and private homes. Since 2024, we have been installing wheelchairs as a respite solution to improve accessibility in public buildings such as Paris airports, museums and businesses

Discover three episodes with the Centre of Excellence for Autism, which has been using OTO since the start of the project.

Episode 1: OTO, an innovation co-developed with experts.

Episode 2: A tool for sensory and emotional regulation.

Episode 3: The effects observed in the child psychiatry department at Tours University Hospital.

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  Innovations Awards
  Throughout the process of creating, launching and marketing the OTO chair, we managed to win several awards. We’re proud to have won these awards, and we’d like to thank everyone who believed in our “OTO”… Read more: Innovations Awards
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  Design process
  During my studies as a cabinetmaker and designer. I built the prototype of this chair as part of a final project. The aim was to design and build innovative wooden furniture. This furniture met the… Read more: Design process
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  OTO
  OTO the hugging chair was designed to meet the needs of its users. The shell is in beech wood and different materials have been integrated in a graphical pattern, which is designed to help autistic… Read more: OTO