The client wishes to use her toilet (with integral wash and dry function) without transferring from her wheeled commode, but the wash water escapes through the gap between toilet and commode, and the toilet does not detect the presense of the client when seated (because of her raised seating position). An insert was created that closes the gap and ensures the toilet detects the client’s presence.
The footplate of the pedal power Duet Wheelchair tandem bike had snapped in half, so required a new reinforcement to be useable again.
The client, a 7 year old child, has cerebral palsy and is unable to walk, talk and has poor vision. One of his carers wanted a special folding chair to fit into a small room, which would provide the correct body support. Modifying a standard baby bouncer type chair was tried without success. A special chair was designed and made from wood.
Following on from the Giant Scrabble Board, we were asked to provide a matching Rummikub game
A common problem when providing wheelchair access to a uPVC door is getting over the often quite high threshold. The usual solution of a sheet aluminium bridge has to be removed to allow the door to close which is hard for a lone wheelchair user. This light weight infill strip can be removed with a standard pick-up stick.
A day centre wanted a Giant Scrabble board that could be used by members of all abilities.
The board was 1.5m square and was constructed with a metal sandwich so that magnetic tiles would stick to it, this was mounted on a wall.
Each tile was 85mm square, has raised, tactile, characters and with a handle that can be gripped using a grabber.
The tiles and positioning corners were 3D printed.
The client uses an AI app on her iPad to read documents. Unfortunately the iPad has to be held very still when capturing the image and she was struggling with this (ad so did I when I tried it out). Her OT contacted us as asked if we could make a stand to hold the iPad and an A4 sized document so that she can have it read to her.
The client needed a workshop stool that would provide support to his badly damaged pelvis and back to allow him to return to work in comfort. Working with him and his OT we devised the right amount of support, stability and mobility by modifying an existing commercially available stool.
Some people with e.g. cerebral palsy are unable to use physical controllers such as buttons and joysticks but are still able to make intentional hand movements. HandShake uses a pair of BBC Micro:bits to enable triggers to be sent to switchable communication software to enable speech to be composed. A trigger is sent to the communications device when the participant moves a hand above an adjustable threshold of acceleration.
The client plays a guitar and is also visually impaired and a friend had discovered a modified guitar tuner on the internet that had an audible indication using an Arduino micro-controller to interpret the indicators and send sequences of sounds to an earpiece, he asked us to make a similar device.
North Lincolnshire council run activity sessions at various “wellbeing hubs” around the county. One of the activities is archery and although they had a bow stand made by Remap some years ago for wheelchair use they asked for another one suitable for use both in a chair and standing.
For many high-tech assistive communication (AAC) users, it is difficult to see when they are composing a message. Two examples are eye gaze users and switch users, where it may not be clear when they are actively preparing speech.
We implemented a system that visually indicates when communication software is being used. This enables a more natural interaction and encourages good communication practice; giving adequate time for composition and respecting personal space. The visual feedback reassures others in the conversation that the AAC user is actively involved.
A wall mounted adaptation to allow a height impaired person to operate a standard light switch from lower down, without the need for rewiring or use of “smart” lighting.
The client uses a shower chair to move through his home and needed a head rest mounting on it.
The client’s two children are both wheelchair users and to improve the family’s freedom during a trip to the USA (as well as at home), a modification was needed to allow both children to be pushed by a single parent.
The client has very limited movement in his arms and hands but can move his head accurately. He used to enjoy reading so to allow him to read independently again a device that let him control an e-reader with his head was needed.
