technical-aid-disabled-tad
Results: 422
Bingo Disks With Large Numbers
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with low vision to call bingo games. The numbers on the existing bingo number disks were too small to be read by an individual with low vision. A set of disks were cut from thick plywood using a jigsaw. The disk were painted and large numbers were placed on the disks using Letraset. A bar was placed at the bottom of numbers that could be confused with other numbers that look the same from the top and the bottom. The disks were then sealed with m
Fishing Rod Holder For Wheelchair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to fish. A purchased rod mount was used to make a lightweight rod holder which clamps to the footplate strut of a wheelchair. The holder is made from 19 millimeter chrome-plated steel curtain rods. A horizontal arm passes from the footplate strut on the right side, a vertical arm to the appropriate height, and then a smaller horizontal arm coming toward the user's body. The connection between the arms are machined from 25 milli
Holder To Attach Camera To A Wheelchair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to take photographs. The holder is made from 19 millimeter chrome-plated steel curtain rods and clamps to the wheelchair footplate strut. It has a horizontal arm which passes from the footplate strut under the user's right leg and a vertical arm that comes up on the user's right side. The arm is long enough to put the camera at eye level. The camera is mounted on a horizontal arm that pivots from the vertical arm. The mounting
Chair Brake
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with a motor neuron disability to transfer safely to and from a wheeled office chair with the aid of a caregiver. The office chair has a swivel seat and a standard five-leg star base with casters. During transfers the seat could swivel or the chair move. To stop the chair from moving, a standard spring-loaded doorstop with a metal pin and a rubber stopper on the end was bolted to a leg on each side of the base. The caregiver can push down on th
Dialysis Machine Alarm
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with renal failure and a hearing disability to recognize and respond to an alarm when overnight dialysis treatment is disrupted. An individual with renal failure who is hard of hearing needed to be able to recognize and respond to an alarm if treatment was disrupted due to accidental disconnection of tubing or blocking of tubing. The audible alarm on the machine was of a frequency that the user could not hear. Four metal blocks were used to rai
Accessible Shelves For Freezer
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with upper extremity weakness to access the shelves of an upright freezer. The freezer enabled the user to shop for food less frequently by storing large amounts; however, the user was unable to lift items from the back of fixed shelves or reach the back of the higher ones, limiting his ability to utilize the freezer capacity. The need was for shelves that slide out individually on rollers. Replacement shelves were created by heating and bendin
Enlarged Symbols On Calculator
DO IT YOURSELF PURPOSE: To enable an individual with low vision to read the key legends on a talking calculator. The user, who has macular degeneration, desired to read the legends on calculator keys in addition to having the audible feedback from the calculator. The existing numbers were painted over in black and new larger numbers were painted on in white. The new numbers were then covered in clear varnish to inhibit wearing off. TITLE: Calculator Keys. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol 23 no 2,
Device To Assist In Reaching Stove Knob
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with mobility and upper extremity disabilities to safey access the knobs located on a panel above and behind the burners of a stove. A device was created using a piece of standard PVC pipe with a stopper at one end and a thread at the other end which fits precisely over the splines on the stove knobs. To make the thread, a piece of brass was machined on a lathe to match the knob profile. Twenty-four splines to match the knob were then machined
Leg Support For Wheelchair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with a fused knee to use a wheelchair. The legrest extends straight out from the wheelchair seat, supporting the legs while leaving the foot free. A support frame was created from square steel tubing and mounted on the right front frame of the chair and under the seat. A horizontal piece comes out from the wheelchair frame and attaches to a vertical piece that supports the horizontal leg support. The support itself is made from half a section o
Guide Wire For Garden
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with lower extremity amputation to safely work in a small garden. The individual had a lower extremity amputation and uses a cane, walker, scooter, or wheelchair for mobility; however none of these devices proved suitable for use in gardening. The wheelchair and scooter were too high, and when concentrating on a task, the individual would often move away from a cane or walker and then have difficulty going back to it. A guide wire system was cre
Stepladder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with arm weakness following a fracture to reach storage boxes on a bedroom cupboard shelf. The stool needed to be small enough for use in a small bedroom, light enough to be moved as needed, and have a means of supporting the box taken from the cupboard. A two-step stool was built of 12 millimeter hoop pine plywood. The lower step has a routed slot on each side and slides out like a drawer along dowels, enabling it to be tucked away when not i
Adjustable Rails And Backrest For Toilet
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable individuals with a variety of disabilities to use a toilet. The rails were made from discarded hospital bedheads and mounted to the existing metal wall clamps. The backrest was made from the pad of a telephone table and mounted to a piece of wood connected to two wooden clamps that fit over the rails. A T-nut on either side enables the backrest to slide backward and forward along the rails for adjustment to meet individual needs. A chest strap provides addit
Hearing Test Box For Use With Young Children
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable the hearing of very young children to be tested for range and degree of hearing loss. Designed to test children from seven months to three years of age, the test box is used in Visual Reinforcement Audiometry. This testing method involves teaching the child to turn his/her head when a special sound is heard and reinforcing this by showing a moving toy or puppet in a lighted window. Because the child enjoys the toy show, he/she will turn his/her head even if
Wheelchair Camera Mount
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to take digital photographs. The user required a mount that would hold the camera very steady, but still allow her to use a tripod and to have the mount moved from a powered wheelchair to a manual wheelchair as required. A holder was designed with a stainless steel vertical arm mounted on the right front caster of each chair. For additional stability, the manual chair had an additional bracing clamped to the frame at wheel and
Bowling Support
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To provide an individual with balance disabilities support while bowling. This support has a plywood base to which are bolted two upright lengths of steel water pipe.Two bends connect at the top to create an inverted U, which serves as a handgrip. The support is designed to be light enough to be moved as needed. DIMENSIONS: The base is 100 x 50 centimeters and the handgrip is 86 centimeters high. The upright pipes are 33.7 millimeters in diameter. TITLE: Bowling Along.
Wheelchair For Beach
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with a mobility disability to visit the beach. A simple frame was welded of 19 millimeter stainless steel tubing with a 1.6 millimeter wall thickness. A bar at the front acts as a footrest. The chair is also equipped with a lever brake. The seat and back are made of Breezeway open webbing and are laced to the frame. Extended handles provide additional leverage for the person pushing the chair, compensating for the four fixed wheels of the type u
Large Print Group Crossword Puzzle
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable seniors and those with low vision to participate in group crossword activities. A 10 squares across x 10 squares down was drawn on a magnetic white board and the grid outlined with fine masking tape. A magneticsheet was cut into squares that matched the size of the squares on the grid; the magnetic squares are used to cover unneeded squares to create a grid to match the crossword puzzle being done. DIMENSIONS: The board is 1 meter x 900 centimeters. COLOR: Th
Long-Handled Fork
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to do digging tasks in the garden. The fork has a long wooden handle and the tines were machined on a lathe to be curved slightly to reduce resistance and tapered to turn easily in the ground. A strip of gauze was wrapped around the handle to protect the user's hand. TITLE: Fred's Garden. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol 21 no 4, Summer 2001: p. 17. PAGES (including cover): 2 2001.
Plant Stem Clamp
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia and use of one hand to cut plant stems. The user has a spring-operated clamp worn on a rubberized rope around his neck. The clamp is used to steady the weed or plant stem, which can then be cut. TITLE: Fred's Garden. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol 21 no 4, Summer 2001: p. 17. PAGES (including cover): 2 2001.
Over-The-Lap Bookrest
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with low vision to support reading material at the needed height for reading. The user would use pillows on her lap to elevate reading material when away from a book or table, but this solution did not provide sufficient stability. A specially-designed height-adjustable platform was created. A plywood platform padded with firm foam and covered with vinyl was mounted on a frame made of lightweight aluminum. The frame has two L-shaped supports con
Replacement Shower Seat
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with spina bifida to shower independently. An existing shower seat had been custom built and mounted to the side wall of the shower at a slight angle to promote damage. The unit had a wooden seat covered with plastic, but over time water had penetrated the wood, causing it to rot and eventually break. A new seat base was made from 12 millimeter high-density polyethylene with rounded corners. Glued to the base was a sheet of closed-cell foam to
Customized Headpointer
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with cerebral palsy to use a headwand to operate a computer without interfering with her hearing aid. Her existing commercially-available headpointer was made of rigid plastic and could not be modified. A metal headpointer was attached to a soft leather flyer's helmet which protected the hearing aid. Perforated inserts were added to the helmet over the ears, enabling the user to use the headpointer and the hearing aid simultaneously. TITLE: Cu
Reception Aids
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with use of one hand to perform office tasks. A multi-function board made of nine-millimeter plywood to enable the user to open envelopes, remove envelope contents, fold papers, staple papers, and stuff envelopes. The board has a flat piece that rests on a desk or table and is slightly larger than A4 size. A slot placed at a ninety-degree angle to the flat piece rests against the edge of the table; if needed, the user can lean against the slot
Oxygen Cylinder Sling
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with emphysema who uses a walker with a seat to transport an oxygen cylinder. Made of Breezeway fabric, the sling hangs under the seat of the walker and attaches to the rails on which the seat rests when in the lowered position. The base of the sling is the same length as the cylinder and deep end covers prevent the cylinder from sliding out. One side of the sling was made in three pieces to provide room for the seat clips on the front rail. A
Walking Frame Adjustments
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with short stature to be assisted while using a walker. The walker consists of a fixed frame with a U-shaped base. Angled vertical uprights support arm troughs and handgrips. Four small casters provide mobility. The walker enables the user to carry out daily living activities as long as a caregiver guided the walker in the right direction. However, because the user was of short stature, the caregiver was required to bend over to provide this as
Armrest To Assist With Standing
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with arthritis to rise to a standing position from a seat without armrests. This device was designed to be portable for use with a variety of armless chairs and church pews. The frame with a U-shaped base was made of 20 millimeter steel tubing and steel tubing armrests were attached to the base. The front arms or prongs of the base have wide flat strips that provide a stable surface for the user as she pushes on the armrests to stand. A seat an
Bracket To Hold Power Packs For Wheelchairs
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a controller for a power assist for a manual wheelchair to be attached to wheelchair push handles. The power assist units are suspended under the wheelchair seat and the controllers are attached to the wheelchair push handles with the included full-circle Bakelite clamp for access by caregivers.When the clamp did not fit over the rubber handgrips, a split metal clamp was designed. The top lock was macined of aluminum and threaded for bolts. The bottom was ma
Toilet Armrest
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with balance and walking disabilities to independently use the toilet. A commercially-available frame was too high and too wide for the user who was a woman of short stature. The frame was adapted by lowering the arms by cutting a 50 millimeter piece from each vertical section. The width was reduced by cutting 60 millimeters from the horizontal bar which was then rewelded. The bars were then refinished with powder coating. TITLE: Toilet Armrest
Custom Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To accommodate a child's disabilities to improve upper body range of motion and overall independence. The chair was built to the style of a supplied model. Features include a slightly reclined back, side panels, a drop-away pommel at the front of the seat plate, provision for fitting a pelvic positioning belt, and a footplate with footcups. TITLE: Successful Projects in Brief: Chair for Boy in Special School. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol 23 no 1, Autumn 2003: p.19
Tools To Open Outdoor Childproof Gate
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with multiple sclerosis to open childproof gates to wetlands and shopping districts. The gates were required by law for safety have a pin mounted on the top of the gatepost. The pin has to be lifted as the gate is opened, operations which are not manageable for an individual using a wheelchair. The first step was to create a device to assist in lifting the button for the pin. A barbecue fork was adapted for this purpose by forming a sausage-sha
Notepad Holder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with use of one hand to perform office tasks. This notepad holder is designed to "While You Were Out" pad in place for writing. The device consists of a plywood base with a three millimeter piece added to the front to create a slot to hold the cardboard backing of the pad. Non-slip material on the back of the plywood base keeps the unit from sliping while the user is writing. TITLE: Reception Aids. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol 23 no 1, Autum
Adapted Potty Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child with global developmental delays to use the toilet unaided. An existing Goanna potty chair was adapted to fit over the toilets in a school setting. Four lengths of 30-millimeter tubing with rubber stoppers in the bottom were fitted over the chair's existing legs. The extensions have two separate height settings. To enable the child to use the seat independently, a set of two wide steps were built. The framework was made of 19-millimeter stainless ste
Modified Bicycle
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable a child with severe physical disabilities to experience bicycle riding. Designed for a child who is unable to walk or sit upright unaided, this cycle was created by modifying a standard child's two-wheeler. The first adaptation was to add a tow bar to the bike frame at the handle bars.The tow bar is equipped with a hand brake to aid in slowing the bike when going downhill. The existing seat was replaced by a larger one that provides greater stability; the sea
Folding Dressing Stick
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child with upper extremity disabilities to perform dressing tasks. The dressing stick is made of lightweight aluminum bar with a brass center pivot to allow the device to fold in half. A piece of aluminum at one end was formed to make two hooks, one for pushing and one for pulling. DIMENSIONS: 450 millimeters long when open and 280 millimeters long when folded. TITLE: Best Dressed. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 21 no. 3, Spring 2001: p.13. PAGES (includi
Bed Raiser
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable caregivers to assist individuals in and out of bed without bending. A boxed frame of plywood and chipboard was nade to elevate a wood-frame bed. The lengthwise edges were recessed toward the center of the bed enabling the caregiver to to get as close to the bed as possible. Detachable sidepieces slot into the bed frame to prevent the individual from falling out of bed. The sidepieces fit at the end of the bed when not in use. DIMENSIONS: The unit raises the
Adapted Squirrel Stander
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child with cerebral palsy and a chronic lung disease to stand. This stander has a plywood base and radiata pine uprights and a fabric back. The base is adjustable so the frame tilts up to 10 degrees backward. The standard is equipped with a wooden tay with a small lip and Velcro strips in the center to hold toys in place. The tray can be attached as needed at any height using Cowdrey shelf brackets. The fabric back is made of Brezeway, fabric used for outd
Adapted Classroom Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child with neurological disabilities to participate in the classroom. This chair began with the standard classroom chair. Side supports were created from metal plates and fixed to a bracket underneath the seat. Covered rectangular foam wedges were later fitted inside the supports to hold the child in position and prevent the child's knees from splaying outward. Glides were also placed on the legs of the chair to make it easier to move on carpeted floors. T
Adapted School Desk
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child with neurological disabilities to participate in the classroom. This adaptation was based on a standard student desk with a torso cutout. The existing cutout was enlarged and the existing desk was sanded and revarnished. TITLE: School Desk and Chair. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 21 no. 3, Spring 2001: p.16. PAGES (including cover): 2 2001.
Chair Which Provides Support
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child to play in a sandbox. A large plastic bucket in which pickles were delivered to a fast food restaurant was washed numerous times to remove the pickle odor and was then cut to form a seat with a high back and sides. The front half was cut away in the shape of a "W," with the front indentations supporting and positioning the child's legs. The cut edges were covered with rubber padding and the seat was fixed to a circular wooden base for stability. A fo
Adjustable Chair And Table
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a small child with neurological disabilities to have a stable play area. Made of white pine plywood and coated in clear polyurethane, the table is height adjustable and has a torso cutout, enabling the child to move closer to the table and support himself/herself with his/her elbows while performing tasks with the hands. The chair is also made of white pine plywood coated with clear polyurethane and features a backrest, seat to floor height adjustability, an
Classroom Chair Footstool
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child with neurological disabilities to participate in the classroom. This footstool has a plywood platform containing holes in one of the long edges through which the legs of the chair can be inserted. This holds the chair and the footstool together, reduces the chance of knocking the stool over, and keeps the chair and the stool in optimal position. The stool legs can be cut down in the future for continued use as the child grows. TITLE: School Desk and
Lift Button Depressor
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual in a wheelchair to reach elevator buttons. Made from lightweight telescoping aluminum tubing, this wand has a plastic grip and collapses when not in use. The device can be carried in a holster on the wheelchair or in a purse or storage pack. DIMENSIONS: The extended length is 850 millimeters and folded the device is 390 millimeters long. TITLE: Tried and Tested. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 12 no. 1, Autumn 2001: p. 18. PAGES (including cover
Head Pointer
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with spinal cord injury to perform a variety of tasks. The headpiece for this pointer is adapted from a safety helmet liner and is adjustable to fit a variety of head sizes. The device features additional padding at the forehead for comfort and an adjustable chin strap. The aluminum pointer can be fitted with an end clamp to hold a variety of attachments for different tasks. DIMENSIONS: The pointer is 360 millimeters long. TITLE: Tried and Teste
Paper Holder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with use of only one hand to cut paper with scissors. The device enables the paper to be elevated and positioned for cutting and consists of a cylindrical wooden base with a magnet embeded in it and a steel plate lid with a raised handle. The paper is held between the lid and the magnet for cutting and the paper can be maneuvered while in the holder. TITLE: Tried and Tested. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 12 no. 1, Autumn 2001: p. 18. PAGES (in
Device To Enable An Individual To Feed Himself
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with neurological disabilities to eat independently. This chair has an armrest for the user's right arm made from U-shaped PVC half-pipe.The armrest is attached to an outer sleeve that moves up and down a central steel post attached to the chair platform. A cast-iron window weight acts as a counter weight to render the user's arm weightless. A foot pedal connected to a system of pulleys and levers underneath the chair platform raises the user's
Block To Raise Arm Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with rheumatoid arthritis to use an arm chair. This project involved building a wooden frame to elevate the chair while not causing the user's legs to dangle or interfering with the built-in footrest. The frame has a land set into the inside for the chair legs to rest on. The rim of the frame holds the chair securely in place and ensures that the chair cannot fall off the frame when the user moves. DIMENSIONS: 90 millimeters high with the land
Modified Swimming Pool Ladder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with rheumatoid arthritis to enter and exit an above-ground pool. The pool came with a four-step molded plastic ladder, which was only slightly angled into the pool. The user required a ladder with a greater angle and rungs spaced more closely together to minimize putting weight on the knees. A second identical ladder was combined with the first by cutting and removing sections through both sides of the ladder in between each rung. The rungs wer
Scooter Control Cover
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with mobility disabilities to use a scooter outdoors in inclement weather. Made of Lexan, the cover is shaped to fit over the scooter controls without getting in the way. Initially, the cover was attached with Velcro strips glued to the back of the handlebar mount and the cover itself. However, the Velcro did not hold the cover in place when the user reached under to insert the key. The Velcro was replaced with cable ties laced through small ho
Walker / Traymobile
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with mobility disabilities to have walking assistance whille carrying needed items. A four-legged wooden frame was constructed, with corner posts set at a height to enable the user to hold on to them. The front legs have casters. The frame is equipped with two carrying trays, each with a lip on all four sides to keep items from falling off. The lower tray is set in from the edge of the frame to provide space for the user's legs. DIMENSIONS: The
Rocking Chair With Concealed Rocking Mechanism
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable individuals with dementia to benefit from rocking while not risking injury if they disassemble the mechanism. The chair was constructed by attaching the upper part of a standard hospital Geri chair to a tubular steel base that moves the chair back and forth. The mechanism to move the chair was enclosed in order to prevent people from getting their feet caught in it. The seat of the chair is bolted to a square frame that has rods attached to the bottom. The ro
Stabilizer For Commode Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable people who have lateral balance disabilities safely use a commode chair. Two small rubber-tipped triangular arms are bolted to the bottom of the chair's steel frame and have small casters attached on the outside bottom edge. The arms swing out to a 45-degree angle, at which they stabilize the chair and prevent it from tipping sideways or backward. When the arms are folded in, the wheels are in place to tilt the chair back and roll it along. The arms are held
Tray For Wheelchair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable individuals with mobility disabilities to shop and carry items. Designed for use on a variety of wheelchairs, the tray was fashioned of PVC with a lip at the front made of aluminum angle to prevent items from falling off. The tray attaches to the wheelchair with Velcro for attachment and removal. TITLE: In the Basket. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 21 no. 2, Winter 2001: p. 17. PAGES (including cover): 2 2001.
Basket For Wheelchair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable individuals with mobility disabilities to shop and carry items. Designed for use on a variety of wheelchairs, the adaptation consists of a commercially-available plastic-coated wire basket that fits against the back of the chair between the rear wheels. The basket is secured to the chair with octopus straps to enable removal when not in use but keeping the basket from swinging when on the chair. TITLE: In the Basket. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 21 no. 2,
Lowered Clothesline
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual who uses a wheelchair to hang laundry outdoors. The existing clothesline hoist was adapted by bolting two aluminum strips to the existing arms. Two lengths of clothesline were threaded through holes drilled in the bottom of the strips. This created two lines reachable from wheelchair height. DIMENSIONS: The new clotheslines are 500 millimeters lower than the existing lines. TITLE: No More Washing Day Blues. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 21 no
Wheelchair Push Handle Extensions For Tall Person
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a tall caregiver to safely push a wheelchair. Designed to work with a variety of wheelchairs and to be removable for use on multiple chairs, a set of tubular steel extension arms with handgrips at the top was fashioned. The extensions are adjustable and hook to the chair frame at the bottom. The height of the handles can be adjusted using wing nuts on the verical uprights and the width between the handlebars is adjustable using a wing nut on the horizontal b
Raised Height Shower Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a caregiver to provide bathing assistance without bending. An existing shower chair was adapted by extending the stainless steel frame under the seat. Equipped with casters, the chair legs were extended outwar approximately 100 millimeters and given additional bracing for stability and strength at the increased height. DIMENSIONS: The seat height was raised 250 millimeters. TITLE: Shower Chair Raised. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 21 no. 2, Winter 2001:
Scooter Armrest Extensions
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To assist an individual with mobility disabilities in transferring from a scooter. The existing scooter armrests were altered so they can be moved forward to provide a point of support in front of the user during transfers and moved back at other times. The armrests are mounted on hollow square tubing, into which long slots, rather than single holes, were cut. The arms slide along the slot into the forward position for standing transfers and backward for standard use
Wheelchair Footplate Adaptation
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To assist an individual with mobility disabilities in transferring from a wheelchair. The wheelchair had a one-piece footplate that folded up during transfers and down to provide foot support. However, the user was unable to change the position of the plate as needed. The existing footplate was removed and replaced with hinged dual footplates. The new footplates were made from sheet aluminum cut to shape, with large overlaps joined with epoxy resin and pop-rivited for
Computer Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide mobile seating at a computer for an obese individual with mobility and other disabilities. The chair is mad of 35 millimeter square steel tube with gusseted legs and four casters. The chair also features angled back uprights and curved back cross bars to provide optimum support. At the front of each arm are soclets for mounting a keyboard and mouse tray. The seat, armrests, and backrest have plywood bases with foam padding.The backrest pads are split in two
Tailgate Lifter
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with mobility and neurological disabilities to open a lift-up station wagon tailgate to access a scooter lift. A spring-loaded arm was mounted inside the tailgate on the same side as the scooter lift. The arm assists in pushing the door open during the first thirty centimeters of opening before the vehicle's built-in gas struts took over. A roller on the end of the arm rolls against the tailgate as it rises. The plastic door lining was reinforc
Wheelchair Bumper Bar
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To protect walls and furniture from being damaged by a wheelchair when the user has his/her legs straight out. With the user's legs straight out, the space taken up was large and made it difficult to avoid bumping into walls and furniture. To protect both the user's feet and surroundings, a frame that sits upright at the end of the chair was constructed of PVC tubing. The frame was covered in cellular foam and a strip of outdoor furniture fabric was laced around the f
Shower Chair Rails
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with mobility disabilities to independently enter and exit a shower stall. Two lengths of steel were mounted between the front hob and a bracket screwed into the back wall of the shower stall. A frame to support the chair was mounted on rollers in the the steel with three stop positions. A release mechanism enables the user to choose which stop position is used. One stop is outside the shower, the second enables the user to place only the hands
Kitchen Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with mobility disabilities to reach counters and perform kitchen tasks. A specially adapted office chair, the seat is rasied above standard height and casters provide mobility; the chair is also equipped with a foot bar for support. The seat has a plywood base with foam padding and is covered in vinyl. The armrest brackets were extended and the armrest upholstered to match. The backrest has a gentle curve for support and is angled five degrees
Extra-Strong Bed
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To prevent children and adults with cognitive disabilities and poor impulse control from throwing the bed. The bed frame was made of heavy square steel tubing and has six legs. A plywood platform was cut to fit and bolted to the frame. Loktite was put into the threads to make it dificult to unbolt the platform from the frame. The platform edges were smoothed and the platform was sealed with clear varnish. The bed was then bolted to the home's concrete slab floor using
Lipstick Inspection Workstation
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with repetitive strain injury to continue lipstick inspection work. This work station is designed to reduce shoulder strain, take weight off the arms, and minimize movement while permitting the task of inspecting lipsticks to continue. The work station has a wood base covered with a non-slip grip liner. Two wheelchair armrests rest on the base, forming a sloping triangle, with a foam pad at each end. A series of blocks and wing nuts allow the h
Device To Tilt Wheelchair Backwards
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To tilt the wheelchair backwards during hair washing and perming. Once the sink water discharge point was lowered by a plumber, a platform was constructed to tilt the wheelchair backwards. The hinged platform was made of steel angle and 12 millimeter plywood and is raised and lowered using a standard scissor car jack. A belt of the type used to secure wheelchairs for vehicle transport is bolted to the higher end of the platform. A removable ramp at the lower end provi
Ramp To Tilt Wheelchair To Comfortable Eating Position
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair with tilt-in-space seating to eat independently. The user's disability prevents upright sitting, so a low-level ramp was constructed to raise the wheelchair's rear wheels. Seventeen millimeter lightweight plywood was used to construct the sloping portion of the ramp, and five slats of 50 x 25 millimeter wood were used to fashion a gutter to hold the rear wheels in place. The same type of wood was used t
Tray For Aligning Documents
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with use of one hand to staple and clip documents. An A-4 sized document tray with edges on three sides was fabricated from rectangular aluminum sheet. A cutout in the top left corner enables the user to staple or paper clip the document. The tray can also be used to rubbber band groups of documents. The rubber band is hooked over the right corner of the tray and then hooked over the left side. The papers and the rubber band are lifted off the
Device For Removing Staples
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with use of one hand to remove staples. A steel tube with a curved piece of steel at one end sits between the user's thumb and index finger, with projecting rods further down. When the user curls his/her fingers around the rods and pulls them up, two steel jaws at the bottom of the tube are activated to slide under the staple and pull it out of the paper as the edges of the tube descend to hold the paper in place. TITLE: Office Assistance. JOU
Modifications To Trolley
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with use of one hand to steer a trolley (cart) used for document delivery. An existing cart had four swivel wheels, making steering with one hand difficult. Two of the existing wheels were replaced with non-swivel ones. The adaptation required making small forks to fit the new wheels into the existing wheel mounts. In addition, the cart handle was raised using steel tubing and steel strap clamps. DIMENSIONS: The new handle is 950 millimeters hi
Computer Work Station For Quadriplegic
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to operate a computer. This desk was deigned to accommodate an individual with C5 quadriplegia whose wheelchair seating necessitated his sitting with his legs outstretched. A desktop was suspended from a ceiling beam to eliminate legs that would interfere with the wheelchair. A track ball mouse was mounted on a flexible stand fitted to a clamp on the desk, which held it both vertically and rigid so it could be operated with a
Jig To Hold Peg Parts For Assembly
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable individuals with cognitive disabilities to assemble pegs for hanging clothing. This jig clamps to a bench and has slots to hold the two sides of the peg in position. With the sides stabilized, the spring section can be placed over them. TITLE: Making Work Easy. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 12 no. 1, Autumn 2001: p. 12-13. PAGES (including cover): 3 2001.
Guide For Inserting Magazines Into Envelopes
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable individuals with cognitive disabilities to insert magazines in envelopes. This Guide features a metal plate with raised sides that enable the user to align the magazine with the envelope and slide it in. The Guide clamps to a bench or counter and is reversible for right- or left-handed use. TITLE: Making Work Easy. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 12 no. 1, Autumn 2001: p. 12-13. PAGES (including cover): 3 2001.
Balloon Packet Winder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable individuals with cognitive disabilities to package balloons. This device tightly winds packets of balloons for placement is show bags, give-aways, etc. The device has spindles which hold the bag and a wooden board with a spring underneath which holds the packets against the spindle. On the prototype model, the spindles were turned by hand using wooden rollers on each side. A later model, however, will replace the rollers with a treadle. The spindles will be
Video Reel De-Spooler
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable individuals with cognitive disabilities to de-spool video reels for recycling. The devices consists of a holder with slots for four reels, with rollers made from typewriter platens underneath. A small motor turns the rollers which rotate the reels, causing the tape to come off the reels and fall into a garbage bag. The light belts driving the rollers provide enough force to turn the reels, but not enough to damage anything else that touches them. TITLE: Maki
Tool For Undoing Video Reel Containers
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable individuals with cognitive disabilities to open video reel cartons. This small tool undoes the tabs of the cartons that have to be reversed for recycling. The tool is a metal blade with small teeth at either end which can be hooked under the folded carton tabs to undo them without damaging the carton. The tool is equipped with a wide wooden handle to accommodate users with limited manual dexterity. TITLE: Making Work Easy. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 12
Over-Bed Computer Work Station
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to work from bed or from a wheelchair. This unit consists of a two-layer table on metal legs equipped with casters for mobility. The table is at the appropriate height to enable it to be wheeled over the user's bed. The upper layer or section of the table can be rotated similarly to a lazy susan, while the lower section is fixed. Under the lower section is a small motor with a shaft which rotates the upper layer on rollers bet
Reading Stand For Bed
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to read in bed. This device is attached to saddle-style mountings which rest on the bed rails. The holder can be moved closer to or farther from the user by sliding it along the rails. Tri-stud adjustments on either side permit up and down adjustment. The lectern surface is mounted on a 19 millimeter stainless steel frame, and the angle can be adjusted using a tri-stud clamp at the back. Movable elastic bands tied around the le
Foot Support For Wheelchair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with a fused knee to have leg support in a wheelchair without creating pressure beyond the ankle. This device replicates a home footstool with the length reduced so only the ankle comes in contact with it. The unit attaches to the existing front rigging of the wheelchair and can be removed when not in use. TITLE: Wheeling Easy. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 12 no. 1, Autumn 2001: p. 16. PAGES (including cover): 2 2001.
Activity Center For Entertainment And Stimulation
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To provide entertainment and stimulation for an aeronautical engineer with poor concentration and hemiplegia as a result of a stroke. The board consists of a wooden base with genuine aeronautical parts, gleaned from the reject bin at Quantas Airlines, fixed to it. Placed at an angle, the board provides manipulatives to take apart and put together for relevant, recognizable stimulation and entertainment. TITLE: Fiddle Board. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 12 no. 1, Aut
Clock Puzzle
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To provide entertainment and stimulation for an aeronautical engineer with poor concentration and hemiplegia as a result of a stroke. This wooden puzzle is a clock face cut into a jigsaw puzzle. Putting it together in the correct numerical order assists the user in learning to think about time and numbers and to relearn time telling skills. TITLE: Fiddle Board. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 12 no. 1, Autumn 2001: p. 16-17. PAGES (including cover): 3 2001.
Device To Operate Spray Cans
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with arthritis to operate spray cans. This device slips over the top of the can and is secured with an aluminum band and tightened with a wing nut. A handle is attached to one side of the band, and a separate trigger mechanism is atrtached at 90 degrees to the handle. The trigger mechanism requires minimal pressure to release the spray. To TITLE: Kill Them Flies. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Vol. 12 no. 1, Autumn 2001: p. 17. PAGES (including cov
Tad Tilt-In-Space Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable a child to have her position changed without leaving the chair. This standard child's tilt-in-space chair, designed by Technical Aids for the Disabled (TAD), Australia, was customized to meet the specific needs of an 18-month old child with Aircardi syndrome with little head and trunk control. Made of plywood, this chair adjusts from upright to 55 degrees of tilt to enable the child to sit upright for eating, drinking, etc. while providing relief from the eff
Stroller Handle Extension
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable an individual with short arms and no opposable thumbs to transport a child in a stroller. A commercially-available stroller was adapted by adding a handle extension made of a steel tube covered with softer padded tuving. The extension is mounted to the existing handle with spring-loaded swivel clips, which lock it in place while still allowing it to be turned down when the stroller is loaded into a car. An additional section which goes behind the user's back
Tad Toilet Step And Rail
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable a child with small stature or balance disabilities to access the toilet with little or no assistance. This safety rail is designed to fit in front of and around a child-sized toilet and consists of a slightly raised platform with grab bars and a frame that extends along both sides and behind the toilet. It can assist with accessing the toilet, provide lateralsupport while seated or standing, and assist with rising from a seated position. The rail is made of t
Shower Rail
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable a child with balance disabilities to steady him/herself in the shower. Designed to be completely removable and to provide balance assistance only, this grab bar is made of PVC pipe attached to commercial strength suction cups of the type used by glaziers to carry large panes of glass. PVC pipe uprights are fitted into the handgrips of the suction cups and joined to the horizontal bar with PVC joints. DIMENSIONS: The pipe is 31 millimeters in diameter. The grab
Desk And Television Cabinet
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To prevent children and adults with cognitive disabilities and poor impulse control from throwing the desk and television. Made of laminate for durability and ease of maintenance, this wall-mounted corner desk features a return on one side and a television cabinet bolted to the corner section. Wide support legs extend to the floor at either end and in the center. Loxson bolts anchor the desk to the wall and the cabinet to the desk. The cabinet is divided into two secti
Reinforced Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To prevent children with cognitive disabilities and poor impulse control from rocking or throwing the chair. The chair frame was made from tubular steel and fitted with a steel seat and back. The backrest was slightly angled and curved for comfort. The legs were welded to steel plates which were bolted to metal floor plate with Tekscrews, creating a firm, immovable base. The chair was also equipped with a lap belt. TITLE: Reinforced Chair. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF
Lever Door Handle Extension
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable an individual with upper extremity disabilities to open a residential fire door with an automatic closer. A lever made of lightweight aluminum tubing with rubber tips at each end was attached to the existing small lever handle with two hose clamps. This enabled the user to grasp the handle with both hands to turn it and use body weight to pull the door open. DIMENSIONS: The aluminum tube is 20 centimeters long. TITLE: Opening Gambit. JOURNAL: TAD Journal.
Washing Machine Knob Turner
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable an individual with upper extremity disabilities to set and turn on the washing machine. A piece of transparen Lexan was cut into a rectangle and the center was cut-out, creating a frame-style device. The device fits over the knob and is held in place with a hose clamp. This enables the user to turn the knob while still being able to read the printed settings around it. DIMENSIONS: The Lexan is 19 millimeters thick. TITLE: Opening Gambit. JOURNAL: TAD Journa
Modified Tad Jar Opener
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable an individual with upper extremity disabilities to open screwtop jars. A standard TAD belly clamp was modified to fit rounded counter edges and made deeper at the front. A Baby Boa Constrictor Opener, which has a self-clamping rubber strap to grasp the lid completed the unit. The user stands in front of the belly clamp, holding it in place with his/her body. The jar is placed in the triangular point of the unit. With the jar secure, the strap is placed around
Walker Carrier
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable an individual with mobility disabilities to carry a walker on a wheelchair. Designed for a wheelchair with two horizontal push bars on the back, the carrier is comprised of two sets of hooks that fit over the bars. Using extruded aluminum bars, two shorter hooks and two longer hooks were created by placing the aliminum bar in a vice and bending it to a 90-degree angle and then hammering out two pairs of curved shapes. The longer pair of hooks fit over the top
Bird Cage Walk
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable an individual who uses a wheelchair to transport a bird cage and related supplies. This wooden cart, or trolley, has a flat top shelf above a cupboard with handled doors, a push hadle at one end, and four casters with tires, rwo of which lock. The top shelf accommodates the bird cage and the cupboard provides storage for bird food, newspapers, and additional supplies. A clear lacquer finish enables easy cleaning. DIMENSIONS (WxLxH): 500 x 780 x 680 millimeters
Custom-Designed Shower Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable caregiver -assisted showering of an adult with severe multiple disabilities. This individual is unable to sit independently and cannot use a conventional shower chair due to scoliosis and hip positioning issues. The chair was built with the narrowest possible width to accommodate maneuvering in narrow areas of the home. This chair has a 22 millimeter zinc-dipped, powder-coated steel tube frame with triangular struts for added durability and stability. Caster w
Electric Blanket Control
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to control the temperature of an electric blanket. This project was designed to enable the user to regulate the temperature of the blanket within a narrow predetermined range. A commercially-available electric blanket was purchased and a commercial thermostat was added to the blanket's existing controls. The thermostat sits in a separate plastic box with a dial control for the temperature. Using the original transformer box, t
Cell Phone And Mini Keyboard Extension Holder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with use of only one arm to dial a cell phone and type on its mini keyboard extension. A holder in the shape of the phone and its extension was cut out of plywood, with an additional strip of wood at the sides and bottom to hold the phone in place. A strap with a pull-tight Velcro fastener was attached to the holder. The strap wraps around the user's arm and when the arm rests on a table or other surface, the phone and keyboard are steady for us
Eyedrop Dispenser
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with arthritis and other upper extremity disabilities to administer eye drops. Two pieces of PVC tubing were cut to fit the user's hands and joined with hinges. Between the hinges, a slot was fitted to grip the eye drop container and two knobs touched the sides of the container. When pumped, the knobs squeeze the container and deliver the medication. The device also aids in removing the top of the container. The container is placed in the slot
Supine Standing Frame
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted standing frame for a child with migrating partial epilepsy in infancy (MPEI) to allow for therapeutic standing. The child had outgrown her Lazy Squirrel Frame that she used for home and at pre-school. The new adaptation allows the child to stand up and hold her own weight upright which is good for her muscles and enables her to engage more actively with others. The adjustable padded supports and straps on the frame support
Modified Stair Climber
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted modification to a stair climber for an individual who uses a wheelchair. The individual attends a mediation class that requires him to get up a flight of 20 steps. Previously he used a commercially available stair climber that clamped onto his wheelchair and lifted him up the stairs. This adaptation was working well until the user got a new wheelchair which was not compatible with the stair climber. The new wheelchair has a
Bathing Frame
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted bathing frame for a child with hyptonia, epilepsy, and paralysis. A parent with a child with disability was having difficulty lifting her child out of the bath and was having back problems as a result. The child was very difficult to lift out of the bath as his limbs are very floppy and he cannot hold his own head. A new bath support design was based on an original bath created for another person, making the frame construct
Adaptive Cricket Bat
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted cricket bat for motorized wheelchair users to use in to play an adaptive cricket game. This adaptation of the game was developed by the Recreation Service at Northcott in Austrailia. A physiotherapist at Northcott contacted TADNSW to find out if it would be possible to create a cricket bat for individuals who use a wheelchair and have no upper body strength. The bat needed to be adapted and useable to attach to all the vari
Powered Armchair Modification
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted armchair for an adult with Charcot Marie Tooth Disease, a disease similar to Muscular Dystrophy, which causes muscle weakness and foot drop, making it difficult to walk. The individual had used a powered lounge chair to watch television. The chair had a remote control which tilted the chair at an angle that would lift the individual forward and hold him into an almost standing position to help him transfer to his walker and
Access Platform And Rail
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted access platform and rail for a child with cerebral palsy to allow her to access an interactive white board at her learning program. A young student with cerebral palsy participates in a learning program that is projected onto an interactive whiteboard. The children are then encouraged to choose answers on the whiteboard. Due to her cerebral palsy, the young girl's muscles are tight and tense making fine and gross motor take
Cane Holder For Walking Frames
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted walker modification that allows an individual with balance, mobility and walking disabilities to easily carry and store a walking stick or cane to their walker. An elderly gentleman uses his walker with seat for extra support and the chair portion when he needs to rest. When shopping in some of the more crowded shops at the mall, the gentleman realized that being able to park his walker outside the store and use his cane fo
One Handed Brake For Walking Frames
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted walker brake system for individuals who are unable to use both hands to brake a walker. An individual with multiple sclerosis utilizes a walker but he was increasingly unable to have the strength to use both hand brakes to stop/slow his walker down. The result was the walker would pull to one side and leave the individual prone to falling. A therapist at the MS Society referred this individual to TAD where a brake-splitter
Lounge Modification
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a lounge modification for seniors and individuals with mobility disabilities to make it easier to get up from a lounger (i.e. couch) that is low to the ground. This adaptation was created for a woman who found it increasingly difficult to stand up after sitting on her couch due to increase muscle weakness in her upper legs. The couch was set very low to the floor so extra strength was required to rise up to a standing position. A TAD volunt
Support Fixture For Powered Wheelchair
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a support fixture for a powered wheelchair for a woman with a progressive neurological disorder to travel independently away from the hospital with all her required medical pumps and support devices. This young woman is dependent on getting her food and medications through pumps attached to her powered wheelchair by a customized bracket. As her medical needs have increased she needed three additional pumps to meet her needs, but the bulk an
Adapted Wing Chun Training Dummy
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create custom adapted martial arts training dummy for an individual with cerebral palsy. A young man with cerebral palsy has an affinity for martial arts, learning all about Taekwondo from a young age but the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun really captured his imagination. Wing Chun is a form of self-defense and promotes awareness of the body. Students are encouraged to practice with a wooden training dummy to improve their form. As a result of h
Loom Modification
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted loom for an individual with Parkinson’s disease to practice weaving. When this individual was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, she decided that she would try all the things she ever wanted in life including learning how to weave. She taught herself how to weave, bought increasingly bigger looms, and began making clothing for local medieval reenactors. Her diagnosis creates a lot of stiffness which was causing her pain wh
Guitar Modification
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adaptation for a guitar for an individual with left side hemiplegia in arm and leg due to stroke. An individual was a self-taught and lover of playing the guitar experienced a stroke that resulted in a left side hemiplegia in his arm and leg making the muscles on this side of his body weak. He had to learn how to walk again which he does with a cane. This also meant, he was no longer able to play the guitar because of the weakness
Modified Bicycle Handlebar
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted bicycle handlebar for a child whose left arm is shorter than her right. The difference in length between the arms made bike riding uncomfortable for the little girl since she could not quite reach the handlebar. The TAD volunteer measured the bike and the distance between the girl's hand and handlebar, and fitted the bike with a handlebar extension. The extension was made from steel tubing and sized to meet the girl's left
Bath Bench
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted bath bench for a young woman with cerebral palsy. The young 15-year-old girl's family moved into a house that did not have a walk-in shower but rather a large spa bath, which made access very difficult for her. Maintaining her privacy and independence while showering or bathing was very important to her. A TAD volunteer assessed the bathing area and created a custom design that used a bath bench. The bench that straddled bo
Lazy Squirrel Standing Frame With Headrest
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted Lazy Squirrel Standing Frame with a headrest for a child with lissencephaly. Lissencephaly is a rare brain malformation that results in the child being unable to stand or hold himself upright. As a result of this condition, the child spent a lot of time sitting or lying down. The child needed a headrest to cradle his head while he stands in the frame. Two TAD volunteers worked on an adapted design based on the original La
Modified Dining Chair
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted dining chair for a young woman with Dravet syndrome, an intellectual disability and epilepsy. Her seizures are severe and hard to control. When the young woman was younger she use to sit at the kitchen table using a high chair but as she got older, she outgrew the high chair and now needed a new way to sit comfortably at the dinner table. Upon initial evaluation, the assessment team tried a TAD Michelle Tilt-in-Space Supp
Custom Swing
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted swing for a child with muscular dystrophy (MD). The child wanted to play on the swing set in his backyard, but he had difficulty maintaining his posture and staying upright and balanced. After an initial evaluation, two TAD volunteers created a design for a swing that would suit the child and fit the families’ swing set. The design incorporated a tilt in swing seat that allowed gravity to support the child’s upper body when
Modified Bike
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a modified bike for a child with Hypomelanosis of Ito syndrome. A 6-year-old had a congenital dislocation of the left hip which caused stiffness in his hip and one leg to be slightly shorter than the other. While out shopping, the child and his mother saw a bike that was nearly the right size for the child but required modifications for him to keep his left foot on the pedal. TAD volunteers converted the bike from a free wheel to a fixed wh
Rear Steer Bike Modification
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted rear steering modification for a bicycle for a child with autism and global developmental delay. The child and her mother often go for walks around the local neighborhood and the mother thought it would be nice for the child to ride a bike on these outings. The child has limited balance and gross motor skills, but the mother still would need to give the child extra support as she grows. The child was assessed and then given
Tad Customized Toilet Step And Rail
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable a child with small stature or balance disabilities to access the toilet with little or no assistance. This combination step and safety rail is designed to fit in front of and on both sides of a standard toilet. It consists of a two steps with grab bars and a frame that extends along both sides and behind the toilet. It can assist with accessing the toilet, provide lateral support while seated or standing, and assist with rising from a seated position. The rai
Child's Bed With 3-Piece Hinged Safety Rails
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To protect and restrain small children while they sleep in a comfortable environment which allows them free movement and visibility of their surroundings. The bed, which is designed to be placed with one side against a wall, has a fabric-enclosed foam pad mounted on the side that is placed against the wall and high head- and baseboards. On the side opposite the wall, there are three interconnected sections of slats that can be opened from the outside with the forward se
Anchored Joystick And Button Computer Control Input Interface
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To provide a child with cerebral palsey with a stable interface to control a computer. A commercially available joystick and large button is used in place of a mouse and keyboard to control a computer. A metal plate and screwed stud is attached to the bottom of the base of the joystick. A hole is drilled in the child's desk, and the stud is screwed into a second plate on the underside of the desk. A nut holds the assembly in place while the joystick is in use. The butto
Kitchen Drawer Lock
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To secure kitchen drawers to prevent a child with a developmental disability from opening them. The locking device consists of a handle on the outside of the drawer cabinet attached to a horizontal lever mounted on the top inside wall of the cabinet. The horizontal lever is attached to a vertical latching bar that fits into a corresponding slot in the wedge-shaped pieces mounted on the drawers themselves. When the handle on the outside is turned, the horizontal lever l
Dining Chair Securing System
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To prevent chairs around a dining table from being moved by a child with developmental disabilities. The system involves three straps, two at each end of the rectangular table and one in the center. The end straps are bolted to the table legs at either side and run across the table and through the side arms of each chair. The middle strap runs across the surface of the table and around the other side of the chairs. Unbuckling one side strap and the center strap frees th
Reinforced Kitchen Gate
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To prevent an older child with learning disabilities from entering the kitchen unsupervised. An existing lattice gate that was not strong enough to deter a 7-year-old boy can be reinforced. The Gate was mounted on solid wood boards firmly screwed into both sides of the doorway. The lattice was renforced by a wooden bar mounted on a hinge on the same side of doorway to which the lattice collapses. The bar folds down onto the top of the closed gate and fastens to the oppo
Support Frame For Bath Insert
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To support a bathtub insert at a height that is comfortable for the parents when bathing a child with cerebral palsy. The frame is constructed of 20- millimeter stainless steel tubing welded into a rectangular frame with legs at all four couners and in the center of each of the longer sides. Rubber feet at the bottom of each leg provide traction for the frame. The frame can stand in a bathtub, and the bathtub insert can be filled by a hose attached to the tap below or a
Hand Rails For Treadmill
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To provide support for a child with spina bifida during execise on a treadmill with handrails that are too high for the child. Two commercially available adjustable handrails are mounted on wooden blocks by resting them in round notches cut out of the blocks. The rails are held in place by brass straps, and the foot of each rail is encased in rubber to prevent slippage. The two mounted rails are placed on either side of the treadmill. The blocks are clamped to the side
Child's Standing Frame For Shower
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable a child with spina bifida to stand in the shower. The standing frame is square-shaped with one end open. The child supports herself on the sides or the closed end of the frame. The frame is constructed of one-inch PVC tubing with rubber suction cups on the bottom of each of the four legs. There is additional bracing across the top of the closed side. DIMENSIONS: The frame's approximate height is 65 centimeters (cm). TITLE: Sara Walks! JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF
Runged Tabletop
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To provide children unable to stand without support with a table incorporating grips that provide support when standing or sitting. The rectangular tabletop is fitted to the base of a height-adjustable table and is made from a single piece of 12-millimeter (mm) plywood. On each lengthwise half of the tabletop, two sets of 37-centimeter (cm) long slots are cut using a router. These "rungs" are two cm wide on one half and three cm wide on the other to accommodate differen
Child's Bath Chair With Front Support
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To provide a child with developmental disabilities and a tracheotomy with support on all sides to prevent falls in the bath. The frame of the chair is constructed of heavy-duty PVC tubing joined with solvent bonding cement. The standard bath chair has parallel horizontal tubing sections as its base with a mesh seat stretched between them. Parallel vertical supports rise from the center of the base legs and U-shaped tubing sections padded with neoprene are attached to th
Stroller With Drip Feeder Attached
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To enable a child with mobility and eating disabilities to be taken out of the house for longer periods of time. A drip feeder (consisting of a bag with liquid nutrients, a battery-powered electric pump, and flexible plastic tubing between the bag, pump and child) is mounted on a child's stroller. The pump is mounted on a wood post attached to the center of a metal base bolted to across the back of the stroller frame. The diameter of the post is identical to that of the
Portable Changing Table For Older Children
CUSTOM ADAPTATIONPURPOSE: To provide a changing table for children ages 5 to 9 with incontinence who are too big for a regular changing table. The table base is a rectangular piece of medium-density fiberboard, 145 centimeters (cm) X 75 cm. Four pieces 19 millimeter (mm) plywood, 12 cm high, are attached to the edges of the table base to form a box into which a vinyl covered 70 mm foam mattress is placed. Collapsible legs, 85 cm high, are attached to the bottom of the table base. 10 cm leg exten
Easel
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To create an easel to enable an individual with quadriplegia to engage in creative painting. Made of plywood, the easel consists of a base that sits on a table and a board that is hinged to the front of the base, and a wheel on to which the painting is mounted. The wheel allows the painting to be rotated on the board. The two-piece base consists of a fixed piece at the bottom and a sliding piece above, with Teflon disks in between to ensure the top piece moves easily.
Wheelchair Tray For Sewing Machine
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a wheelchair user to operate a sewing machine from her wheelchair. The tray was made of plywood with a lip on the front three sides to prevent thread and other items from rolling off. The tray fits into the mount of the existing wheelchair tray, but also rests on the wheelchair arms which bear most of the weight of the machine. The attachment of the existing mount stops the tray from tipping forward with the weight of the machine. The tray was designed to f
Adapted Sewing Machine Controller
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to operate a sewing machine. A plywood box was built to house the sewing machine foot pedal. Built into the box was a hinged flap and an inflatable blood pressure cuff attached to a plastic tube. The existing spring on the foot pedal was replaced by a weaker spring that is just strong enough to allow the pedal to return to the off position. When the user blows into the tube, she inflates the blood pressure cuff which presses on
Super Jogger
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide outdoor mobility for a teenager with cerebral palsy. The teenager had outgrown the child’s jogging stroller she had used outdoors for hiking and rugged terrain. The existing three-wheeled jogging stroller was redesigned and rebuilt to accommodate her. To bring the center of gravity more over the wheels, the wheels were moved in relation to the chassis and the frame rebuilt. The original aluminum tubing was reused and extended where necessary. To widen the s
Portable Seat For Archery
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To create a portable seat to assist an individual with cerebral palsy who competes in international archery competitions. The seat meets international requirements such as not having the legs dig into the ground and occupying only the amount of specified in the rules. The three-legged chair stands independently and enables the user to have his feet on the ground. The legs are made from powder-coated 19 millimeter steel tubing and meet at a central point under the seat
Tennis Aid
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with use of only one arm to throw a tennis ball up to strike it with the racquet. A strip of Velcro was cut to the appropriate length to strap around the user’s disabled arm. A piece of electrical conduit was cut to form a cup and attached to the Velcro with a Lexan plate. The user places the tennis ball in the cup and raises his foreshortened left arm to throw the ball up. He then uses the right hand to serve. TITLE: One-handed Tennis. JOURNAL
Bicycle Steering Bracket
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child with a foreshortened arm without a hand to steer a bicycle. Made from a piece of sheet steel, the bracket prevents the user’s arm from sliding off the handlebar. The sheet steel was cut to size and curved, and wetsuit fabric was glued to both sides. The bracket was attached to the handlebar with two screws. TITLE: One-handed Tennis. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 24, Number 4, Summer 2004: p. 14-15. PAGES: 3 (including cover).
Tabletop Bowling Game
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To provide recreation and therapy for seniors and individuals with coordination and mobility disabilities. Based on a no-longer available Australian game called Bobs, the unit consists of a three-sided frame built from nine millimeter plywood. The frame is divided into nine lanes with an arched opening at the front. Above the lanes is an arched board bearing the numerical value for each lane in stick on-numbers. Players roll a large bearing up the table and through the
Foot-Operated Rhythm Device
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To provide recreation and lower extremity therapy for seniors and individuals with coordination and mobility disabilities. The device enables the user to tap a rhythm with his/her foot along with music. A base, angled to support a raised foot, was cut from plywood. Another piece of plywood was cut into the shape of a foot and metal shoe protectors, commonly used to protect the toe and heel of shoes, were fastened to the underside of the plywood foot in the toe and heel
Game Board
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide recreation and therapy for seniors and individuals with coordination and mobility disabilities. The board is designed for a game called Draughts and can be adapted for use playing Noughts and Crosses. A base was cut from three millimeter craft board and another piece the same size was cut for the top. Sixty-four ten millimeter holes were cut in the top piece. The board was finished in a checkerboard pattern, alternating black and varnished natural wood squa
Caregiver Call Signal
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with severe phyical disabilities to summon a caregiver. This device was created using a doorbell chime with a remote control. The chime unit is carried by the caregiver and the remote is used by the individual summoning assistance. Because the individual did not have enough finger strength to press the button on the remote, a socket with a long cord was attached to the remote and connected to a large, soft button that was accessibl
Easel For Wheelchair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with severe phyical disabilities to paint. The easel has a crossbar that restson the arms of a wheelchair with an arm in the center that points away from the user; a clamp at the end of the arm holds the vertical mount for the easel, which extends between the user's legs. The vertical mount supports a vertical rail equipped with two horizontal carriers that hold the painting in place. Another arm, mounted on the left, is equipped w
Drink Holder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with severe phyical disabilities to carry beverages. A chrome-plated curtain rod was used to make a vertical tube system that fits into brackets installed on a wheelchair. A horizontal crossbar supports a plastic container which, in turn, holds a cup or glass that the user can access with a straw. TITLE: Easels, Calling Systems and More. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 24, Number 4, Summer 2004: P. 16-17. PAGES: 3 (including cove
Large Easel
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with severe phyical disabilities to access canvasas of various sizes for painting. Made of square steel tubing, the frame is designed to enable the user to access any part of a large painting from one position. The frame is equipped with a central board on which the painting is mounted with brackets at the bottom to hold the painting and a bracket at the top that adjusts up and down in a slot on the board using a knurled nut. The b
Camera Holder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with quadriplegia to hold and operate a digital camera. Made of steel, this mount is equipped with two foam-covered handles, one above the other. The user places the top handle in his/her palm and the bottom handle holds the hand in position, supports the back of the wrist, and can be rested on a stable surface as needed. The handles are attached to a frame that screws into the tripod mount on the bottom of the digital camera. The
Wheelchair Pedal Exerciser
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with low-level paraplegia to exercise his/her legs. The individual had a set of exercise pedals but needed a means of attaching them to a wheelchair. The pedals needed to be 325 millimeters above the floor and 370 millimeters forward from the top of the wheelchair footplate sockets. A steel tube frame was welded with swan hooks that fit into the wheelchair footplate sockets and a crossbar on which the pedals were mounted. A forward
Recorder Holder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for a child with cerebral palsy to play the recorder. A two-part holder was creared using clear acrylic. The first part of the holder was a column of two-millimeter wide acrylic disks joined by a thin strip of acrylic. Each disk has a hole in the center, varying slightly in size to adjust for the instrument's tapered shape, creating frets about eight millimeters in diameter to guide the player's fingers. The finger guide was nounted on a stand with
Washing Machine Aid
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with lupus causing limited hand strength to operate her washing machine. The cycle setting dial on the washing machine has a raised center and indentations onn either side, and the user was unable to grasp it to turn it to the desired setting. A simple turning aid was created using waterproofed wood. A block of wood was cut and two wooden prongs made from dowels were screwed and glued into the bottom of the block. All edges were ro
Awning Aid
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with limited strength to raise and lower awnings on the windows of a home. The western windows of the home were fitted with two-meter wide canvas awnings with steel fittings. The block-and-tackle system for raising and lowering the awnings was created using three-strand nylon anchor rope and stainless steel pulleys, all purchased from a boat shop. The lower pulley is fastened securely to an eyelet mounted on the brick wall of the h
Chair With Glides
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual who has had a stroke to move under a dining table after sitting on a chair. A glide was attached to the bottom of each leg of a standard dining room chair. This enabled the chair to slide more easily on the carpet while keeping the chair stable when the user sat down on it. TITLE: Post Stroke Assistance. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 25, Number 2, Winter 2005: P. 10-11. PAGES: 3 (including cover).
Stable Recliner Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To stabilize a recliner equipped with casters and elevate it for easier sitting and rising. The chair's casters caused it to move when the user leaned against it while sitting down. A wooden frame was made to fit under the chair and stained to match the upholstery. The frame included insets to hold the casters and helped to elevate the chair. DIMENSIONS: The frame is 110 millimeters high and elevates the chair by 75 millimeters. TITLE: Post Stroke Assistance. JOURNAL
Wheelchair Bag
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for a caregiver to carry items while pushing a wheelchair. A customized vinyl bag was made and held open and supported by a galvanized wire frame sewn into the top edge. A flap top and a return around the front and side edges protect the contents from the weather. Handles on each side of the center of the bag provide a means of carrying the bag away from the chair. Small straps made of the same material as the bag loop around the push handles of the
Wheelchair Commode Adaptations
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To make a caster commode chair more usable for an individual with quadriplegia. The commode pan was set so high under the seat that the user came in contact with the pan. In addition, because of the pan's position, it tended to tip while being removed for emptying. A second set of aluminum chanels was installed below the original ones, and the wire frame supporting the pan, which was elongated to prevent spilling, slides into the new chanels. TITLE: Double Satisfacti
Portable Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a chair with a seat high enough for a user with mobility disabilities and upper extremity weakness to rise from that the user could transport to doctor appointment and other outings. A folding aluminum director's chair was purchased and aluminum tubing in the same dimensions as that of the chair frame was used to create extensions for the chair's legs. Internasl sleeves were inserted in the tubing and epoxy glue and pins were used to ensure strength. Alumin
Step Aid
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide an individual with post-polio syndrome with a means of negotiating shallow outdoor steps at the gate to enter the home. This step aid consists of an angled polystyrene block attached to a tubular handle that finishes in a crutch ferrule. The block creates an intermediate step between the ground and the top of the step being negotiated. The angled design accommodates unevenness in the footpath. A lock was added to the device to enable the user to secure the
Gate Latch
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To lock the entry gate to a yard in position to provide support for an individual with post-polio syndrome as she negotiated the entry steps. A brace was made to hold the gate open at a 45-degree angle. The brace consists of a metal stay bar attached to a ring fitted into the side brick wall at one end and a short piece bent at a right anfle at the other end. The bent piece fits into a slot drilled into the back of the gate's top bar to lock the gate in position. When
Laptop Support
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide an individual with neurological disabilities with limited arm motion a means of comfortably accessing a laptop computer. This support is designed to enable the user to bring her wheelchair into position and then lower the support so that the computer is in her lap at the necessary angle. A rectangular plywood base with two vertical pieces at either side was designed to clamp to a table. Another plywood board with standard drawer runners at either side was
Shower Access Platform
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide access to a shower stall for an individual with mobility disabilities. The shower of the home was too small to allow a shower chair to be maneuvered and the base of the shower was recessed into the floor, making it difficult to pull the chair out of the shower. The solution was to develop a platform or false floor made of marine plywood. The platform was square with one corner cut out to fit around a small ledge in the shower. The plywood was treated with a
Forearm Crutches
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide heavy-duty forearm crutches for an active individual with a lower leg amputation. The user was not able to find crutches that were strong enough and still provided the appropriate handgrip. The solution was for her hysband to custom-build crutches using the base purchased in Australia, custom-made arm cuffs, and handgrips purchased from Holland. When the pin holding the arm cuffs in place began to wear, the arm cuffs loosened. Over time the user also develo
Padded Armrest For Walker
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for a person with arthritis of the kees to support her weight on her forearms while standing with a walker. The individual used a lightweight aluminum walker with front wheels and rear glides. A padded armrest with a torso cutout and upright hadgrips was built and installed on the top front crossbar and existing handgrips. The rest consists of a plywood base with a torso cutout covered in a layer of foam and topped with soft vinyl. The upright hand
Shower Chair Adaptations
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To adapt a commercially-available shower commode chair to meet the safety needs of an individual with multiple sclerosis. Because the individual has spasms and tremors and has difficulty controlling his movements, he required assistance to remain upright and safe in the shower. To protect the individual's back from the metal bar across the back of the chair. A pad of closed-cell foam was attached to the back of the chair with straps made of seat belt webbing and finis
Travel Vest
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To identify a travelor with vision disabilities as being disabled while negotiating public transportation. A standard mesh safety vest was purchase and a label reading "Diabled Passenger" was created using a permanent marker. The label was sewn to the vest. TITLE: Travelling Vest. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 25, Number 1, Autumn 2005: P. 9. PAGES: 2 (including cover
Powered Person-Lifter
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for a caregiver to lift an individual with multiple sclerosis from the floor after a fall. This lift has a frame made of welded rectangular hollow steel and a three-sided base which is closed at the rear of the device and open at the front. Casters were installed on the two closed corners and on the two open ends, with the casters on the open ends set outside the frame to leave room for the lift seat to move. The rear casters are equipped with brake
Walker Adaptations
--- CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To adapt a standard walker for more efficient use outdoors. A larger lower inverted-U shaped crossbar was added to the front of the walker and large double casters with tires were attached to this bar to ensure proper tracking, while still maintaining the push-down braking action. In addition, the angle and position of the handgrips were adjusted by cutting a piece of steel that slides into the existing handle and drilling a hole in the new piece to hold it in p
Wheeled Chair Base
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To adapt a positioning chair for an individual with cerebral palsy to provide mobility. A base plate made of 12 millimeter (mm) plywood with a rounded cutout to accommodate the user's legs for foot propulsion was created. The original chair legs were shortened and the angles were fastened with horizontal bolts screwed to the base. Braked casters with polyurethane tires were attached to the underside of the base. In a final step, armressts similar to those found on off
Mobile Dining Table
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with multiple sclerosis to transport meals and eat comfotably in a small apartment. A rolling table was built from melamine coated wood that fit comfortably in the space between the living room and the kitchen. The table has two shelves beneath the eating surface, one accessible from both sides and the other from the kitchen side only. Designed to be easy to clean and move, the table is equipped with four double-wheeled furniture c
Telephone Shelf
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To create an accessible area for telephone use for an individual with multiple sclerosis. A double wall-mounted shelf was built, with the top shelf accommodating the telephone on a rotating base. A second shelf provides storage for a telephone directory, mail, and other items. The shelf is a right angle to the user's work area, enabling the phone to be answered from her work chair and eliminating the need to walk to answer the phone. TITLE: Customised Furniture. JOURN
Cd Rom Loading Tool
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with cerebral palsy to load and unload a CD-ROM disc from a computer. A suction cup was fixed to one end of a section of plastic tubing. Using the tube as a handle, the user presses the suction cup onto the CD while it is still in its case. Lifts the disk from the case, and guides it into the CD-ROM drive of the computer. Once the disk is in the drive, the user gently presses down on the CD while pulling up on the tube handle to remove the too
Usb Port Adaptation
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with cerebral palsy to insert a memory stick into the USB port of a computer. The USB port has a lead which extends from the back of the computer. A wooden block that clamps together with a tri nut was devised to hold the socket at the correct angle and position to make it accessible to the user. An additional block of wood was added to the bottom to provide stability. With the socket in position, the user can insert the memory key. TITLE: Co
Standing Frame Modifications
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To repair a stander for an individual with cerebral palsy. Two of the four locking casters on the stander had broken and the tires had hardened with age, putting the unit in danger of moving as it was placed in a horizontal position for transfers. The existing casters were replaced with new ones. In addition, the nuts for the quarter-inch tri-screws used to adjust the unit had worn out. The nuts were drilled out of the frame and tapped out to accept larger tri-screws,
Modification To Quick-Release Wheelchair Wheels
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To prevent quick-release wheelchair wheels from being inadvertently released. The push rims on the quick-release wheels had been removed because the chair user could not propel the chair independently. Doing so, however, exposed the buttons which released the wheels, creating the danger of an inadvertent release if the wheels were bumped while going through doors. The quick-release feature was locked by machining sleeves to fit over the buttons and gluing them in pla
Phone Holder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with motor neuron disease to talk on the telephone in privacy. Because the individual no longer has use of his arms, the device needed to be adaptable to both a standard cordless phone and a cell phone. The holder is equipped with a gooseneck arm and clamps to the push handle of a wheelchair. Attached to the gooseneck arm is a plastic spring clamp with jaws lined with vinyl. A caregiver dials the number being called and places the phone in the
Flow Guide
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a man with motor neuron disease to urinate in privacy. Designed for use with a commode chair, this device consists of a vertical length of 50-millimeter PVC pipe with a PVC elbow at the top. A flexible, waterproof gooseneck made of Locline (used for applying coolant when machining metals), extends from the back of the PVC elbow. At the bottom of the gooseneck is a stainless steel tube which fits into a corresponding tube attached to the bottom front of the c
Powered Kitchen Stool
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with short stature and paralysis of the legs to access counters and the stovetop for cooking. Because the user lacked mobility, she had used a standard kitchen stool fitted with casters, but that proved unsafe. A custom stool was created with a frame of welded rectangular hollow steel. The stool was equipped with an electrolinear actuator that raises and lowers the seat. The actuator is an electric motor with a worm reducer that drives a vertic
Dressing Stool
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual who has had both a stroke and a hip replacement to put on a shoe and an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) independently. A footstool was built of nine-millimeter plywood with an upright piece attached to a base piece at a 90-degree angle and both pieces attached to legs at approximately a 30-degree angle. The back piece was equipped with a stop that outlines the shape of the user’s shoe. A strap holds the shoe in position. The user places the shoe, wit
Bed Rail Padding
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To prevent an individual who has Huntington’s disease from injuring herself on the rails of her hospital bed. Made of wood, the rails posed a danger to the individual as she thrashes in her sleep and because she got her arms and legs trapped between the rails. The rails were removed and covered with two layers of foam rubber tubing. The rails were then covered with velour fabric by sliding the rails into pockets on the fabric panels. The rails were then reattached to
Cane Tip For Sand
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual who has had a stroke to walk in on the beach with a cane. The user found walking on the beach difficult because the cane tip sank into the sand. The solution was to use a cane tip of the type used by lawn bowlers. This tip consists of a standard rubber cane tip fixed to a wide circle of plastic, enabling the tip to stay on top of the sand. TITLE: Beach Advice. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 25, Number 4, Summer 2005. PAGES: 7. Number of page
Swim Booties For Ankle Foot Orthosis (Afo)
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual who has had a stroke to wear her ankle foot orthosis while swimming. The solution was to purchase a pair of wetsuit booties used in scuba diving to hold the AFO in place in the absence of a shoe. TITLE: Beach Advice. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 25, Number 4, Summer 2005. PAGES: 6. Number of pages: 2 (including cover).
Modifications To A Toy Pedal Tractor
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child who has cerebral palsy to use a toy ride-on tractor. The child was able to pedal the tractor with guidance from a family member, but needed assistance with keeping his feet on the pedals and additional seated support. The existing seat on the tractor was replaced with a molded Sebel seat, raised from the seat platform to enable the child to comfortably reach the pedals. The seat was equipped with a pelvic seat belt with an easy-to-operate buckle. The
Bicycle Modifications
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child who has cerebral palsy to use a toy ride-on tractor. The child was able to pedal the tractor with guidance from a family member, but needed assistance with keeping his feet on the pedals and additional seated support. The existing seat on the tractor was replaced with a molded Sebel seat, raised from the seat platform to enable the child to comfortably reach the pedals. The seat was equipped with a pelvic seat belt with an easy-to-operate buckle. The
Custom-Built Child's Bed
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a safe bed for a child with cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, and vision and hearing impairments at a comfortable height for care givers. The standard-sized twin bed has a raised base and heavy-duty pine posts that support fixed rails on three sides. The rails on the fourth side slide up and down, with the weight taken on counterbalanced springs similar to those on a window sash. The rail is held in the raised position with bolts and a covered cat
Bed Access Stairs
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide safe access to a custom-built bed for a child with cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, and vision and hearing impairments at a comfortable height for care givers. The Custom-built Child’s Bed (see also separate entry) is a standard-sized twin bed with a high wooden storage base designed to keep the child safe while providing a comfortable height for caregivers. To provide access to the bed for the child, a set of access stairs was built in two parts
Kangaroo Corner Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide supported seating for a child with cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, and hearing and vision impairments. Made of wood, this low-to-the-floor chair and table set enables the child to sit with correct, supported posture with her legs straight out in front of her to stretch the hamstrings. The set is adjustable and can be used for eating, reading, or play. TITLE: Playing and Growing. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 25, Number 4, Summer 2005. PAGES:
Toy Shopping Cart
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, and vision and hearing impairments with a safe play and walking aid. The handlebar of the cart was extended up and back toward the child and the rear wheels were fixed and extended back to prevent tipping when the child leaned her weight on the handlebar. A board covered with colorful stickers was attached to the front of the cart to minimize damage from inadvertent bumping. TITLE: Playing and Growing
Water Table Adaptations
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide access to a water play table for a child with cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, and vision and hearing impairments while using a therapeutic incline box. The plastic table had a metal stand with casters, but as the child grew, it no longer provided the correct height and position. To resolve the problem, the legs were extended and adjustability was added to accommodate future growth. To increase stability, the casters were removed from one end. DI
Modifications To A Bicycle
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child with cerebral palsy, developmental disabilities, and vision and hearing impairments to ride a two-wheeled bike. The commercially-purchased bike was equipped with a high-riser bar at the back of the wide seat. A padded backrest was attached to the bar. The rear wheel was fixed and stabilizer wheels on sprung outrigger brackets were added. PVC plastic foot cups with straps were added to the pedals to keep the rider’s foot in position. TITLE: Playing an
Adapted Classroom Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide safe classroom seating with sufficient postural support for a young adult with Down syndrome. An existing Namco Seat Rite School chair was adapted by adding 20 millimeter steel tubing shaped as an inverted U to the top of the backrest to increase the back height. The chair was stabilized to prevent tipping backward by adding a second set of rear legs at the same angle as the existing legs and bracing them by connecting the pairs with metal strips. Also adde
Adapted Dining Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide seating with sufficient postural support to enable a young adult with Down syndrome to eat at a dining table. An existing dining room chair was adapted for this purpose by adding seat inserts. The padded back and seat inserts were built from 12-millimeter plywood and covered with fabric-covered foam. The seat insert was attached to the chair seat using screws and the back insert was attached with webbing straps, two around the back of the chair and one unde
Seat Insert For Sailboat
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide safe, supported seating while sailing independently for an individual with cerebral palsy. The individual had purchased a fiberglass seat, but it did not provide sufficient support for her upper body. A contoured seat insert was created using foam and covered in fabric. The insert is attached to the fiberglass seat with Velcro. To provide additional support for her shoulders and prevent her from slipping forward or sideways, foam-padded wooden tabs were af
Joystick Controller For Sailboat
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with cerebral palsy to sail independently. The sailboat is equipped with two battery-powered motors to operate the rudder and the mainsheet, which is attached to the boom. A basic joystick was adapted to control these operations by replacing the existing internal spring with a stronger one and extending the handle to six inches long. A wooden base attaches to the floor of the boat with Velcro. The wooden control box at the base of
Seat Shell Adaptations
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide proper positioning for a child with multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy and lung disease. The family owned a Medifab seat and insert that was used in the car and provided appropriate positioning and support. However, they found it inconvenient to transfer the seat from the car to the house each time it was needed. The solution was to create another shell for the seat insert using an existing Medifab mobile base frame that was not being used. The
Adapted Battery-Powered Tricycle
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy and lung disease, with a means of independent mobility. In consultation with the child’s therapists, a battery-powered Wind Rider tricycle was purchased and custom-modified to the child’s needs. First the existing foot switch was replaced with a hand switch. A control was also added that enables family members to regulate the maximum speed of the bike and limit the rate of acceleration. The socket
Bath Seat
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide proper positioning for a child with multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy and lung disease while bathing. This "Fogarty" style seat has a molded plastic seat mounted in a frame made of plastic pipe. It is equipped with a pelvic belt and a T-bar to hold the child in place. TITLE: All in the Family. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 25, Number 4, Summer 2005. PAGES: 12-14. Number of pages: 4 (including cover).
Bed Lifter
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable the existing bed of a young teen with cerebral palsy to be raised and lowered vertically to provide comfortable access for caregivers. The bed was an antique mahogany four-poster bed, which the young man liked, but which was of fixed height, making it difficult for caregivers to attend to his needs. A lifter was designed and built that would independently elevate the mattress and its base. The device was designed to fit beneath the bed and to lift the mattre
One Hand Camera
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual who has had a stroke and lost use of one arm to operate the zoom lens of a camera while holding the camera in position to look through the viewfinder. The solution was to make a nylon gear with serrations that match those on the zoom lens, and two ball bearings to enable it to move freely. This is held in position against the zoom by a brass plate formed to clear the camera’s other functions and fixed to the tripod mount on the bottom of the ca
Device To Measure Pincer Grip
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a therapist to measure the pincer grip of individuals with quadriplegia in order to devise a way to increase muscle tension. The device consists of a very sensitive force transducer, which can measure the skightest of grips, connected to a digital display. The device was made using a small commercial load cell attached to a six millimeter aluminum strip. When the cell was squeezed against the strip, it provided a reading of force in grams on a connected digi
Motorised Wheelchair Mover
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a recreational therapist who had a back injury to move clients who used wheelchairs around the facility. Because of the back injury, the therapist was unable to push wheelchairs or lift heavy objects. To build the unit, the motor, gearbox, elctronics, and rear wheels of a second-hand scooter were used in conjunction with a chasis built of square hollow section steel. The unit has a platform at the front on which the wheelchair, with its user, is loaded. The
Adjustable Sun Lamp Stand
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with rheumatoid arthritis to access and position a sun lamp used to treat her arthritis. A stand was made from a wheeled table base with a hole drilled in the center. A piece of metal pipe is inserted in the opening. A holder for the lamp was made from two pieces of plywood bolted together with a gap between them. The metal arms of the lamp's existing base fit into the gap, holding it securely, but allowing it to be removed as needed. The holde
Heater Control Aid
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with rheumatoid arthritis to operate the controls of a space heater. The heater is operated by turning a small rotatiting knob. A wooden tool with a handle and a rectangular hole in the center was fashioned. The user places the hole over the knob and operates it by pushing the tool to one side or the other. TITLE: Independence at Home. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 26, Number 2, July 2006: p. 8-9. PAGES: 3 (including cover).
Push Button Heater Control Aid
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with rheumatoid arthritis to operate the lighting controls of a space heater. In order to light the space heater, two recessed buttons needed to be depressed simultaneously and held for several seconds. A tool was fashioned from the handles cut from a stroller. A wooden block with a slightly rounded end was glued into each handle. The user blaces the rounded blocks against the buttons while grasping the handles and using her body weight to pres
Bedside Computer Stand
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with spinal cord injury to utilize a computer from a bed. The base of the stand is a standard overbed table on a wheeled base. A box of varnished plywood on a caster base was added to the table. The box was equipped with a central shelf, creating three surfaces on which to store computer equipment and other items. The original table surface was attached to the side of the box and is height adjustable using a trinut. The surface also rotates so
Extra-Long Reacher
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with spinal cord injury to reach items at the foot of the bed. The handle was cut off an existing reacher with U-shaped gripping jaws. A piece of aluminum tubing was added to extend the length of the reacher and a wire extension was soldered to the wire that activates the jaws when the trigger is squeezed. TITLE: Bedside Computer Stand. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 26, Number 2, July 2006: p. 10-11. PAGES: 3 (including cover).
Rummy Stand
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable seniors and individuals with fine motor disabilities or arthritis to play a rummy tile game. The tiles of the Rummy-O game were large enough to handle, but the holders that displayed and supported a hand of tiles proved unstable and the legs tended to fall off or collapse. New holders were fashioned of wood and a triangular support was fastened to the back of each holder to support it at an angle. The holders were painted and a piece of PVC plastic was attac
Jig For Emptying A Leg Bag
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with multiple sclerosis to empty a leg bag independently. The user, who lives alone, has limited hand strength and was unable to empty her leg without calling for assistance. Although she was able to lift the bag from its carrier on her wheelchair, the valve at the top of the bag was stiff and difficult to open. Using a plastic cutting board as a base, a mount was created from two plastic blocks with a rectangular hole to hold the bag valve. A
Shower Commode Chair Stabilizer
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with multiple sclerosis to transfer safely to and from a shower commode chair. During transfers at the toilet, the chair tended to move sideways. The rear casters were replaced with braked casters and a mechanism was created to secure the chair to the wall when needed. A wooden plate was secured to the studs in the tiled wall and an L-shaped steel piece with semi-circular atachments was hinged to the plate. The steel piece locks over the lower
Bedrail Adaptations
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with multiple sclerosis to raise and lower side rais on a home hospital-style bed independently. The rails were mounted toward the head of the bed and folded toward the foot of the bed, making it impossible for the user to raise or lower them while in bed. The rails were reversed and re-mounted toward the foot of the bed, enabling them to be opened from the top by the user. TITLE: Bathroom Assistance. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 26, Numbe
Mattress Straps
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To prevent a plastic-covered mattress from sliding off a home hospital-style bed. The hospital bed has a plastic-covered mattress on top of the main mattress. The plastic cover caused the mattress to slide off the bed while the user was in bed. Long belts were made out of seat belt webbing and buckles were attached to each end. The belts were then bolted to the underside of the bed. When buckled over the mattress, the belts hold the mattress in place and prevent it fr
Wheelchair Control Cover
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To protect powered wheelchair controls from rain. A sleve was fashioned from clear plastic that slides over the wheelchair joystick controller, protecting the buttons an gauges and most of the joystick. A fole in the sleeve provides access to the joystic to enable the chair to be operated. TITLE: Bathroom Assistance. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 26, Number 2, July 2006: p. 12-13. PAGES: 3 (including cover).
Independent Feeder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with Guillain Barre Syndrome to eat independently. TITLE: Eating Independently. Made primarily of stainless stee, this unit has a rectangular base frame that fits into an existing tube on the user's wheelchair and supports a standard wooden dinner tray. On the right side of the frame is a vertical post with two 90-degree bends in it that is fixed in position with a trinut, creating a mount for the feeding device and a drink container. The mount
Computer Desk Modifications
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with spinal cord injury to use his computer from his wheelchair. A purchased self-assembly desk was modified to accommodate a powered wheelchair. Two 100-millimeter-high panels were added to the bottom sides of the desk to increase the height and enable the user to get his feet under the desk. A plywood panel was added across the back to strengthen it and the shelf below the desk top was removed. A U-shaped notch was cut in the keyboard surface
Portable Bariatric Commode Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual to rise from a toilet when visiting friends or traveling. A folding frame was made from 22-millimeter steel tubing and finished with epoxy enamel. The side legs are attached to the back with standard hinges, which allow them to fold onto the back. The frame has armrests and a backrest. The legs have non-slip caps for stability. The seat is made of a single sheet of 14-millimeter plywood with a central hole that fits over the toilet bowl just ab
Chair Support For Recliner
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide support for an individual with Parkinson's disease who leans to the right when fatigued. A Henley Twin Electic Recliner was custom-made to the user's measurements. Once the chair was complete, it was modified by adding thoracic fins to maintain the body in an upright position. The fins were mounted on brackets spaced 300 millimeters apart on a steel tube frame. The right-hand bracket, the side on which the user primarily needed support, could be moved up an
Dining Chair With Torso Support
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide support while eating for an individual with Parkinson's disease who leans to the right when fatigued. The dining chair was created from a standard office chair with a high back and a central metal back post. Because the chair was intended only for use over short periods, a single thoracic fin was added to adapt the chair, rather than the usual pair of fins. A plywood mounting plate was fixed to the right armrest and the back of the seat with metal brackets.
Hair Washing Visor
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To keep shampoo out of they eyes of a child with intellectual disabilities who has difficulty understanding instructions to close her eyes or hold a wash cloth over them. A full-circle visor was made of clear plastic. A hole in the center fits over the child's and elastic lace around the opening ensures a secure fit. Hat wire was sewn into the outside edge of the plastic to keep the brim stiff. TITLE: Happy Hair Wash. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 26, Number 3, Oc
Walker Modifications
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child with cerebral palsy to use a reverse walker by pushing it in front of him. The walker was designed to be pulled behind the user. However, because of lack of arm strength and difficulty with balance and hip control, the child was unable to use it. Consequently, it was necessary to allow the wheels to travel in the opposite direction by changing the action of the walker by reversing the position of the clutch which acted as an anti-rollback mechanism.
Positioning Table
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide proper positioning for a child with neurological disabilities. This table is designed to provide the child with proper postural positioning while allowing the child to concentrate on eating, playing, or educational activities while at the table. The table was made of plywood to dimensions specified by the child's therapist and provides space for two children. The table is height adjustable and has a torso cutout at one end to provide the child with close ac
Positioning Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide proper positioning for a child with neurological disabilities. An existing Sebel Hobnob Junior Chair was modified to meet the child's specific needs. A height-adjustable footrest that slides out from under the seat was added. The chair was also equipped with glides on the legs for easier movement, and ant-tips were added to the rear legs. For more precise support, a removable lateral plywood insert was added to the seat. The insert was removable when the ch
Wheelchair Push Handle Extensions
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a tall parent to push a child's wheelchair. The existing push handles were sawed off a wheelchair and new ferrules were fixed inside the exposed tubes with Loc-tite. Two new longer L-shaped handles were made of metal and one end of each was afixed in the new ferrules. The handles were finished by painting them red to match the rest of the chair and attaching bicycle-style rubber handgrips. TITLE: Bicycle and Beyond. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 26, Num
Kitchen Enclosure
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To prevent a child with developmental delays from entering a kitchen without supervision. The child's home had an open-plan kitchen which required a means of keeping the child out when unsupervised. A fence was constructed of pine with vertical bars spaced according to safety specifications to prevent entrapment. A horizontal bar across the top finished the fence. The fence is equipped on one side with a gate with a magnetic latch. One gate post was mounted on the bea
Special Bicycle Modifications
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with neurological disabilities the opportunity to ride a bicycle. A standard child's bicycle was outfitted with an eight-inch seat, large footcups, a fixed rear wheel, rear outrigger stabilizer wheels, a high riser bar, a pelvic belt, trunk stabilzer fins with mesh straps, and a tow bar mounted to the front handlebar. In addition, a brace was fixed beneath the pedal-mounted footcups. The brace wraps around the child's calf to hold his foot in the pr
Communication Aid
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a young woman with cerebral palsy and devwlopmental delays with a means of communicating. A small clock-style communicator that could be attached to the user's wheelchair was created. The device has a ferrous metal face, which accepts magnetic pictures, and an aluminum back. The scanning communicator is equipped with LED indicators which are controlled by a micro-controller which is programmed to move the LED light around the face and a timer set a slow spe
Tilt-In-Space Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with global developmental delays and low muscle tone with appropriate seating and positioning. The chair is made of lightweight plywood and is angle-adjustable from upright to 45 degrees reclining using trinuts. This enables the user to sit upright for as long as can be tolerated and then recline as needed. The chair is equipped with a tray clamped to metal slides, making it adjustable in height and tilt, and enabling it to follow the angle of the c
Standing Frame
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with global developmental delays and low muscle tone with forward-leaning support while standing. This prone stander enables the child to be upright and to develop a tolerance for weight-bearing. Built to a therapist's specifications, the stander provides forward-leaning support and can be adjusted from upright to 30 degrees from vertical. The unit has a square tube steel frame, a wooden trunk support and footplate, fabric-covered foam padding, ches
Todd Bath Seat
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with global developmental delays and low muscle tone with appropriate seating and positioning for bathing. The chair is made of PVC pressure pipe and fittings, with a seat and back of outdoor fabric. The seat is also equipped with a webbing pelvic strap and crotch strap. The base frame is fitted with suction cups for security and stability. The seat back is fixed at 90 degrees to the seat and the entire seat unit can be reclined from 32 to 50 degree
Bed Enclosure
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with developmental disabilities with a safe sleeping environment and keep her from climbing out. The slatted base of the bed sat below the edge of te side rails. Runners were fitted to the inside of the side rails and the slatted base was raised to sit on the runners. The enclosure has independent support legs and can be unscrewed and removed if necessary. The enclosure has a wooden frame with two latched gates on each side. Sturdy, tranluscent whit
Modified Kindergarten Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with multiple disabilities with appropriate seating. Three wooden kindergarten chairs were modified to meet the needs of specific children. Seat and back inserts, measured for each child, were added to the standard chairs and bolted on using metal brackets. A pelvic belt and a crotch strap were added to assist with positioning. TITLE: Supporting Early Intervention. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 26, Number 3, October 2006. PAGES: 16-17. Number o
Floor Sitter
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with multiple disabilities with floor-level seating and positioning. The legs were cut off commercial plastic children's chairs and the edges smoothed. Four wooden holding blocks were glued to the underside of the chair and the chair was mounted to a hoop pine plywood base by screwing through the base into the holding blocks. An adjustable pelvic belt was fitted to the chair, using stainless steel bolts to attach it to the base. A slot was cut in th
Cut-Out Table And Foot Support
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with multiple disabilities with a work and play surface. Using an existing round table as a base, a removable square tabletop with a cut out in the center of each side was designed to be clamped on. Made of 18-millimeter (mm) thick MDF, the corners of the top were rounded and wooden cleats were fitted under each of the four sides. The cleats are turned and locked with T-bolts to secure the square top to the table. A platform of 9-millimeter plywood
Chair Raisers
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with multiple disabilities with access to an elevated cut-out table. The cruciform-shaped risers were made of 9-millimeter plywood and have vertical housings at each corner. The housings accommodate the full depth of the chair legs, but pine inserts were also made which can be dropped into the housing to further elevate the chair for taller children. DIMENSIONS: The vertical housings are 180 millimeters high. TITLE: Supporting Early Intervention. JO
Weighted Block Trolley
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with walking or balance disabilities with a block cart to push. Since commercially-available block carts did not provide the necessary stability, a custom cart was built. The unit has a large block-storage area, a height-adjustable wooden handle, two front casters, and large-diameter rear wheels. The handle adjusts using tri nuts. A concealed lower compartment holds two bricks to provide weight for stability. DIMENSIONS: The rear wheels are 132 mil
Squirrel Stander Adapted For Use At Easel
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a children at an early intervention center to stand at an easel. This stander has a plywood base and radiata pine uprights and a fabric back. The base is adjustable so the frame tilts up to 10 degrees backward. The fabric back is made of Brezeway, fabric used for outdoor furniture, for strength, ventilation, and softness. A torso strap and a strap to stabilize each leg are also made of Breezeway doubled over and fastened with Velcro in the back of the frame.
Mobile Preschool Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with spina bifida with both access to very low preschool tables and personal mobility. A standard wheelchair was too high to be used at the tables, so a low-level wheeled chair was built. A Sebel Mini Hobnob chair, similar to those used by the other children in the classroom, was set on wheels virtually at ground level. Made of square steel tube, the frame to which the chair was attached, has large front wheels for self-propulsion and smaller rear c
Puppet Box
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with multiple disabilities with access to hearing testing. This box is used with children who are unable to understand instructions to signify when they hear certain sounds or are physically unable to do so. Instead, the child is taught to turn his/her head when a certain sound is heard, an instruction that is reinforced by lighting a puppet in the box. The box is painted with blackboard paint for a matte finish that does not reflect light. A black
Tricycle For Child With Short Stature
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a child with short stature with a tricycle. The project began with a standard child's 12-inch bicycle. To create the required frame size, the frame sections were cut apart and the seat tube was shortened. The pieces were then realigned and welded back together. The pedal crank was shortened and new holes were drilled to mount the pedals. A custom-made tricycle adapter was made to replace the single rear wheel with two wheels, widely spaced. Smaller handleb
Exercise Bike Modifications
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with multiple sclerosis to use an exercise bike. The individual purchased a commercially-available exercise bike that enabled him to slide from his wheelchair directly on to the unit's seat. With frequent use, the cycle wore out and required adaptation, strengthening, and repair. Adaptations included upgrading the bearings, increasing resistance to provide greater exercise, and adapting the pedals to keep the user's feet from slipping off. The
Baby Carrier
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with a muscular disability resulting in limited strength to carry her infant. Lightweight plywood was used to build a carrying box sized so the base fit on the steps of the individual's home. The box is equipped with small rear wheels on the base, a long U-shaped handle made of copper tubing, and straps to hold the baby in the proper position. With the baby secured in the box at the bottom of the steps, the user steps up one step and rolls the
Grasping Aid For Paddle
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with only an index finger and a thumb on her right hand to paddle a dragon boat. The aid has gone through several iterations, Initiallythe design consisted of a T-shaped piece of wetsuit fabric. The bar of the T wrapped around the wrist and was secured with Velcro. The leg of the T wrapped over the hand and the paddle and then was secured to the wristband, also with Velcro. However, when the material became wet, it stretched and came off. The n
Knife Grip
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to cut food. The design process for the grip began with a cardboard template that fit around a gand. A slot to hold the knife was then added to the design. The grip was then cut from three-millimeter thick PVC and the slot was made to fit an existing steak knife that had been adapted by cutting off the handle just above the blade. TITLE: Knife Grip. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 26, Number 4, January 2007: p. 12. PAGES: 2
Cycle Rack
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual who uses a hand-propelled cycle wheelchair to transport it to cycling trails. A solution was developed that enables the individual to load the cycle, one end at a time, from his wheelchair onto a rack attached to a hitch on the back of his car. A short tubular bracket was attached transversely to the frame of the cycle at the center of gravity. A carrier pin was mounted to project horizontally from the hitch bracket; the pin engages with the tu
Adapted Crib
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with spinal cord injury to care for her infant as independently as possible. A standard wooden crib with drop sides was adapted. First, extensions were added to the legs to provide clearance for the wheelchair to roll under the crib. The extensions were secured with screws so that thee can be removed if necessary. Next the front drop side was removed and cut in half to provide two center opening gates. After the front corner posts were reinforc
Recumbent Tricycle
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with spastic quadriplegia and vision and intellectual disabilities to cycle for exercise. The basic structure of the three-wheeled cycle was created using the front half of a 12-inch bicycle and the back half of a 16-inch bicycle. The single back wheel was replaced with two wheels on an additional frame made of steel pipe. The seat was made from a full-size Namco plastic seat shell mounted to the new cycle frame. Pressing a small lever under th
Computer Desk Modifications
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with spinal cord injury to use a computer desk. With the purchase of a new wheelchair, the individual found that his existing desk was too high for comfortable use. Since the desk legs were mounted on square wooden blocks,the optimal height was determined and 50 millimeters was cut off the bottom of each block. TITLE: Helpful Adaptations. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 26, Number 4, January 2007: p. 18. PAGES: 2 (including cover).
Adaptor For Pool Lift
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with spinal cord injury to transfer to a pool. An existing pool lift required an adaptor in order to use a spreader from an indoor lift. The spreader supports the transfer sling used to lower the individual into the pool. The adaptor was made from stainless steel wire and two thimbles purchased from a ship's chandlery. The wire was looped around the thimbles and long-handled tongs were used to crimp a metal loop around each pair of wires. TITL
Cutting Board For Graphic Arts
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with scleroderma to cut mats, foam board, fabric, and other materials used in graphic arts. The board consists of a plastic cutting mat mounted on a wooden board with a spring-loaded metal strip across the top and down the left side. The user slides the material to be cut under the strips and tightens them using an attached tri-nut. This holds the material in place and enables the user to cut it without danger of cutting her fingers. TITLE: Cut
Riveter Stand
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with Down Syndrome to operate a riveter. The concertina-style riveter was held with one hand while steadying a sign to be riveted. A stand was built to bear the weight of the riveter while holding it upright, The stand has a square steel base covered in thick plywood on which the sign to be riveted rests. An L-shaped steel is fastened to the base. The riveter is suspended form the top of the L on multi-strand stainless steel cable, with counter
Lift Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with dermatomyositis to use a chair. Because the individual was unable to get out of a chair independently, she often had to stand for long periods. Commercially-available lift chairs did not placer in the position she needed in order to stand. The custom-made chair started with a padded, vinyl-covered executive-style office chair which removed from its star-shaped wheeled base. The chair was bolted to a rectangular base tig welded together fro
Telephone Stand
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to access his home telephone. An existing overbed stand was adapted using the wall-mount bracket that came with the telephone. The bracket was mounted to the stand and the phone base attached to the bracket. The base is upside down, facing the user while he is lying on the bed. Consequently, the handset could not be placed in the base when not in use or for charging. A separate metal clip was attached to the stand to hold the
Carrying Aids For Wheelchair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with quadriplegia to keep essential items at hand while in his wheelchair. Three carrying aids were made and attached the left arm of the wheelchair. The first was a carrying pouch for a cell phone. Made of metal, the pouch is lined with vinyl to protect the phone from damage. The second was a small, flat metal tray to carry the remote control for operating the front door. Also added to the arm was a pocket made of vinyl to carry the hadset for
Modified Dining Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual who uses a walker and has upper extremity weakness to transfer safely to a dining chair for meals. The individual required a chair that enabled her to sit and then swivel into position and lock the seat in position for eating. A standard office chair with a five-legged star base was purchased. To ensure the chair would be safe and stable during transfers, the existing casters were removed and replaced with rubber feet. Because the left armrest
Custom Dining Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with short stature to sit comfortably while dining. A custom-designed wooden chair was built. The seat height is the standard 45 centimeters from the floor; however, the seat depth is shallower than is standard to enable her to sit comfortably and be supported by the chair back. The chair has a lacquered finish and an upholstered seat. A small matching wooden stool was also built, which the individual can use to step up to get on to the chair a
Modified Desk Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with short stature to sit comfortably at her desk. A commercially-available swiveling desk chair was purchased and virtually rebuilt. The seat was removed from its existing base and mounted on a custom-built parallelogram-shaped base which was attached to a screwjack to raise and lower the chair height while keeping the seat horizontal. The screwjack was powered by a 50-watt direct-current (DC) motor. This enabled the user to sit on the chair a
Walking Frame
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with balance and muscle disabilities to replace her old walker with one built to the same specifications. The individual had used the same walker for 24 years and it had been damaged. Working with a therapist, a number of commercially-available alternatives were tried over several years, but a satisfactory replacement was not found. A custom-made walker was built using the specifications of the original unit. The walker has a welded steel frame
Over-Chair Table
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with Parkinson's disease to engage in a variety of activities while seated in his recliner. The customized table has a large plywood base that fits under the chair and is held in place by the weight of the chair. The chair's castors slot into small holes in the base, holding both the chair and the table completely stable. A post with a spring-loaded carriage that moves up and down from a gym set was mounted to the base. The table support was br
Modifications To Walking Frame
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with polymyositis to independently rise from a seated position. The individual had an existing four-wheeled rollator-style walker with a seat, but the seat was too low for him to be able to pull himself to a standing position. The existing seat was removed from the walker and a new seat plate was made of 12-millimeter plywood. Attached to the seat plate was a thicker foam rubber cushion covered in Mereton fabric. The new seat plate was then att
Stand For Tty
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with cerebral palsy with a speech disability to communicate using a TTY. When the unit sat flat on a table, the user was unable to reach the keyboard. Initially, she used a telephone book and a pair of towels to prop the device at the extremely precise angle she required. A simple angled stand was then constructed of melamine-coated MDF. However, the angle of the stand proved to be too shallow to meet the user's needs. The stand was adapted by
Modified Stool
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with muscle weakness and balance disabilities to work safely in the kitchen. A stable shower stool with a large, molded plastic seat was modified for use in the kitchen. To increase the height, the lower sections of the legs, which have height-adjustment holes and rubber feet, were removed, as were the spring clips in the upper legs. The legs were then extended with a stub insert tube. New holes were drilled in the extensions for the spring cli
Elevated Crib
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with a spinal cord injury to care for her baby. A standard wooden crib with a drop front was purchased and adapted. First the legs were exended using matching wood to provide the necessary wheelchair clearance. The drop front was then removed and cut in half to form two gates. Once the front corner posts were reinforced with steel brackets, the gates were attached with swinging bar hinges. The gates stay open until they self-close after an init
Elevating Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with muscular dystrophy to rise from a chair independently. The user required a chair that would raise him almost to a standing position and enable him to wiggle off the seat while adjusting the height as needed. A commercially-available swiveling, reclining armchair was purchased and mounted on a castored steel base equipped with a motor, gearbox, and power screw. A square metal tube frame was added to the base to support the chair, retaining
Chair With Double Seat
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with neurological disabilities to sit upright. Because of severe pain, the only comfortable position for the individual is with his legs completely curled up. A chair with essentially with a two-layer seat was developed. The upper section supports the user's buttocks and the lower section supports the legs in a curled position. The seat layers are mounted on a base made of one-inch square tubular steel. Castors at one end allow the chair to be
Walking Frame Modification
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with balance disabiolities and only one hand to use a walker. A commercially-available wheeled walker with a seat was purchased and adapted. First, the existing wheels were replaced with larger ones to make it easier to traverse bumpy surfaces. Next, the walker was fitted with a stainless steel cross bar between the existing handles. To add the cross bar, the rubber handgrip on the left side was removed and an aluminum swivel block was fitted o
Tool To Open Gate
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual with post-polio syndrome who uses a wheelchair to open the childproof gates in a retirement village. A tool was constructed of a long piece of aluminum tube and a piece of aluminum sheet. A bicycle handgrip was added to one end of the tube and a shaped piece of aluminum sheet was rivited to the other end. The aluminum sheet has a U-shaped cutout that fits around the lock pin and enables the user to lift the pin. TITLE: Retirement Projects. JOUR
Scooter Footrest
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a footrest on a scooter for an individual with severe arthritis. Because the individual was unable to bend his legs, he could not use the existing scooter floor/footrest. Instead, he rested his feet on the mudguards. However, this posed a problem when traveling downhill; because the rider could not brace himself, he would slide forward. To solve the problem, a new footrest was constructed of square metal tubing and attached to the front of the scooter, enab
Knob For Gas Connector
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual to connect a portable gas heater in different rooms. The bayonet fitting for the portable heater required that the knob be pushed and turned simultaneously. A new, larger knob was fabricated with a scalloped edge rather than a knurled edge. TITLE: Retirement Projects. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 27, Number 2, August 2007: p. 14-15. PAGES: 3 (including cover).
Memory Board Game
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a group memory improvement activity at a day center for seniors. The center had requested a large, lightweigheight board game that could be mounted on a whiteboard stand and removed when not in use. The game requires players to choose two numbers from the array on the board, and if the pictures on the reverse match, the player keeps the pair. The winner is the player with the greatest number of pairs. To make the board, a piece of Masonite was cut to size a
Mounting System For Walking Stick
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable an individual who uses both a cane and a walker to transport the cane on the walker. A plastic cup was fastened to the lower part of the frame with a screw-tightened hose clamp to hold the tip of the cane. The top of the cane rests in a hook attached to the upper frame with another screw-tightened hose clamp. A hole in the bottom of the plastic cup enables dirt or debris picked up by the cane tip to be cleaned out. TITLE: Walking Stick Carrier. JOURNAL: TAD
Mobile Base For Sleep System
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide mobility for a Dreama Sleep System used by a child with leukodystrophy and severe scoliosis. For comfort and to slow the development of the scoliosis, the child spends most of his time lying on his side. However, doing so in the bed meant he was isolated from household activities. To make the bed mobile, a frame was constructed of square tubular steel with a plywood base attached to the underside. Attaching the base to the underside of the frame enabled th
Customized Four-Wheel Bike
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide mobility for a child with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy. Although the child has a wheelchair, it proved difficult to maneuver in the house and did not provide any lower extremity exercise. It was discovered that a four-wheeled bike without pedals worked well for him, allowing him to propel the bike with his feet. However, commercially-available models were not strong enough for daily mobility use, so a custom model was built. The forks and handlebar
Device To Flush Toilet
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a teenage girl with short stature to independently flush a toilet with a push-button flush mechanism. A long lever was fashioned that enables the user to operate both the full- and half-flush buttons. The device consists of a horizontal stainless steel rod housed in a stainless steel casing. At one end, the rod is fitted with a long, flat handle which the user is able to push. The other end of the rod is bent into a vertical position and the point, which is
Access Steps For Bathtub
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a teenage girl with short stature to independently enter and exit a bathtub. A stainless steel rail was installed along the side of the tub that extended five millimeters out from it. A three-step ladder was made of stainless steel tubing that clips to the rail for stability. The ladder also slides along the rail if needed. A trough of plastic downspout pipe clips over the tub to protect the tub edge from the ladder. Stair treads for the ladder were made of
Sink Access Stairs
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a teenage girl with short stature to independently access a bathroom sink. A three-step ladder was made of stainless steel tubing. Bent into a D shape, the side rails of the ladder act as handrails for the user. Stair treads for the ladder were made of waterproof plywood coated with polyurethane and painted with non-slip tread deck paint. Crutch caps were fitted to the ends of the legs. TITLE: Bathroom Access. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 27, Number 3,
Koala Corner Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide seating and positioning for a child with microcephaly, epilepsy, and developmental disabilities. Made to dimensions specified by a therapist, this unit includes a chair with a footrest and a table that enable the child to be seated in a posturally and functionally correct position for learning, eating and playing. Made of plywood, the unit has a pedestal seat with a winged back for shoulder protraction. The seat and back panels are equipped with fabric-cove
Small Wooden Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide seating to encourage development of trunk control for children with balance or lower extremity disabilities or other physical disabilities. Made of plywood, these chairs have a low back and armrests and enable children to sit with their feet flat on the floor. The chairs are well-braced for added strength. TITLE: Happy Seating. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 27, Number 3, October 2007: p. 9-12. PAGES: 5. (including cover).
Supine Stander
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide standing ability for a child unable to stand unaided. Made of plywood, the unit is hinged at the bottom to enable the unit to be tilted as needed. A sliding metal rod at the back holds the frame in place. The stander is equipped with a tray that moves with the stander to keep it parallel to the ground. Semi-circular aluminum brackets under the tray pivot on the tray support bar for the necessary movement. The stander is also equipped with two pairs of padde
Lateral Rocking Horse
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide balance practice for children with balance and neurological disabilities. Built of plywood, this rocker has a seat with a footrest, a front safety bar, and horse-shaped sides. The unit is mounted on lateral rockers that rotate approximately 25 degrees from vertical on either side. TITLE: Happy Seating. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 27, Number 3, October 2007: p. 9-11. PAGES: 4. (including cover).
Chair And Ladder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide practice in moving from sitting to standing. A plywood stool was mounted to a plywood base. In front of the stool, also on the base, is mounted a plywood ladder with hardwood rungs. The ladder is braced with barckets attached to the ladder and the base on the side away from the user. The user grasps the rungs of the ladder to pull himself to a standing position. DIMENSIONS: The ladder is 850 millimeters (mm) high. The rungs are 70 mm apart. TITLE: Happy Sea
Lunge Table
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means of strengthening thigh muscles for children with lower extremity disabilities. The child stands in front of the table with one foot forward and one foot back in the walking position. An object of interest to the child is placed on the table in front of the child, requiring him/her to lunge to reach it. The wooden table is equipped with sliding legs for height adjustability, and the legs lock to a base plate to prevent the table from being knocked ov
Mobility Stool
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide mobility for a parent or therapist while assisting a child with balance and walking skills. Designed to keep the parent or therapist at the right height near floor level for assisting a young child, the stool has a square plywood base equipped with furniture casters, wooden doweling legs to attach the seat to the base, and a plywood seat. TITLE: Keeping Active. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 27, Number 3, October 2007: p. 12-13. PAGES: 3. (including cov
Treatment Ladder
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means of helping a child with cerebral palsy to stand independently, to practice dressing while standing, and to provide an aid to practice moving from sitting to standing. The ladder has two pine uprights, each attached to a stable ski-shaped base. Five rungs made of 19 millimeter (mm) dowels are mounted to an inner upright that is height-adjustable using a tri-nut. DIMENSIONS: The height adjusts from 100 to 400 mm above the floor. TITLE: Keeping Active.
Stool For Koala Corner Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child with cerebral palsy to us a corner chair with his legs extended in front of him. Since the Koala Chair (see separate entry) was designed for sitting with the knees bemt, an extension stool was built. Made of 10 millimeter (mm) plywood, the stool is basically a box with a top that is height adjustable using a tri-nut. The stool latches to the base of the chair and is padded with fabric-covered foam attached to the stool with Velcro. DIMENSIONS: The fo
Portable Stand For Hospital Computer
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a child in a hospital to use a computer while sitting or lying in bed or from a wheelchair. TITLE: Hospital Computer Stand. The concept for the stand was based on a cantilevered hospital bed table modified to accommodate the weight of the computer components while still being easily adjustable. Square metal tubing was used to make a stand for the table; the stand included a lockable metal box with two sheet metal doors at one end. The box houses a lockable g
Bed Surround
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To prevent a child with intellectual, communication, mobility, and vision disabilities from leaving the bed unattended during the night. An enclosure for the bed was built using eight plywood panels covered in fabric-covered foam. Each panel is equipped with two metal handles on the back to enable the child's parents to remove one or more when assisting the child in and out of bed or when changing sheets. Three panels fit down each side and the bed has a U-shaped pane
Modified Bunk Bed
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To enable a teenage girl with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones) to safely use a bunk bed. In order to create needed space in a shared bedroom, two single beds were joined as bunk beds. However, there was concern that the limited head room on the bottom bunk would result in the child with osteogenesis imperfecta accidently injuring herself. Similarly, the upper bunk posed risks due to falls or other injury while climbing up. Also, the top bunk would limit access
Reinforced Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide seating for a child with multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities, who rocked when seated. The chair needed to be strong enough to be difficult to rock and to be able to withstand any rocking motion generated while providing the needed positioning for eating and other activities. The chair base and frame were made of solid Tasmanian oak, with joints that are both screwed and glued. The seat, back, and base covering were
Model Stand
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with cerebral palsy to work on resin models. Because of reduced motor skills and strength in his right hand, the user required a means holding cast resin model pieces in place while he combined or painted them using his stronger hand. A custom stand was created with a heavy steel base containing holes for two vertical steel posts which clamp into place. Each post is equipped with a clamp holder at the top. A number of clamps were p
Model Stand 2
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a means for an individual with cerebral palsy to work on resin models. Because of reduced motor skills and strength in his right hand, the user required a means holding cast resin model pieces in place while he combined or painted them using his stronger hand. A custom stand was created with a heavy steel base containing holes for two vertical steel posts which clamp into place. Each post is equipped with a horizontal arm with a clamp holder at the end. The
Freestanding Shower Support Railing
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide shower support for people with mobility and balance disabilities who do not or cannot have rails installed in the bathroom for the toilet or shower. Freestanding rails are adapted for use in the shower to provide support and an overall feeling of safety. Freestanding rails used as a toilet rail system are adapted by using 25 millimeter (mm) stainless steel tubing to add new rails at 1065 mm above the floor. Non-slip foam tubing is glued to the upper rails,
Customized Table
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized table with a top level for a laptop computer and a lower slide-out lockable tray for a keyboard for persons with visual impairments, diabetes, and mobility disabilities who use a manual wheelchair. The table top and tray are made from plywood with pine surrounds, and the legs are solid maple. The legs have lockable casters so the table can be easily moved and stored when not in use. The tray slides back and forth in slots on either side, and i
Powered Elevated Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION -- PURPOSE: To provide a customized lifting chair for an individual with mobility disabilities that can be easily moved throughout a residential setting, including going through doorways. The chair has a U-shaped base made of rectangular hollow steel with a vertical post at the back, and large casters on the front ends of the U and smaller ones at the back. There are also larger bike-type wheels on either side which can be used to propel the chair if necessary. Additionally, th
Ladder To Assist Getting Out Of Bath
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized bracket and ladder system for use in getting in and out of the bath unaided for a person with mobility disabilities. A bracket is mounted on a stainless steel plate, and a fixed stainless steel tube is welded onto the plate. A smaller diameter inner tube with a 500 millimeter (mm) long piece of tube is welded at 90 degrees, creating an L-shape that sits in the outer tube and rotates from flush against the wall to 90 degrees from the wall. Hangi
Walker Brake System
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized braking system to a walking frame for use by a person with spina bifida, necrosis, and thrombosis. The walker was adapted by attaching a pair of locking bicycle hand-brake levers to the handlebars of the walking frame. The hand-brake cables are connected to the L-shaped brake friction bars to engage for both sets of rear wheels. The bars have a spring return so that the brakes can be easily applied and released when used on a steep slope such a
Device To Flush Toilet
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized toilet flushing device for use by person with osteoarthritis. The adapted mechanism is designed to operate the two flush buttons easily. A mainly stainless steel frame, with three supports holds the frame in place just above the two flush buttons. The three supports are a commercial suction cup which fastens to the tiled wall behind the toilet, and two vertical legs made of small-diameter pipe, that sit on the porcelain of the cistern. Two hori
Crutch Carrier
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized crutch carrier for a scooter used by person with post-polio syndrome. This device is created by cutting two 30 centimeter lengths of PVC tubing that are large enough in diameter to accommodate the lower part of the crutches while holding them firmly in position. Two tube clips are used to hold each piece of tubing in place, and are screwed through into the frame of the scooter seat back. TITLE: Carrying Crutches. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volu
Step Block Modification
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized step block to provide stability, and allow a person with cerebral palsy to step up unaided. Twenty millimeter (mm) steel tubing is used to form a U-shaped frame that goes around the three sides of the step block. The frame has four uprights that descend to each of the four corners of the step. Holes are drilled into the corners of the step block, and the frame is fitted with metal saddles which are bolted through the underside. The frame is pai
Power Cord Containment Device
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized device to keep power cord out of wheelchair wheels for person with quadriplegia. Initial recommendations were that circuits be fitted with an Earth Leakage Protection circuit breaker (ELPCB) or Residual Current Device (RCD) in all cases where main power cables are involved in an occupational setting. With this in mind, 25 millimeter (mm) square aluminum tubing was used to make a 1,200 mm pole. The pole fits loosely into a 40 mm square alumi
Traditional Cord Phone Modification
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a modified phone receiver for a traditional cord phone accessible from an individual’s bed side for a person with quadriplegia. A traditional cord phone was adapted to be answered by a flick of a lever for individuals who can’t pick up the receiver or use traditional corded phones. This device is no longer necessary since the individual now uses a cordless phone. TITLE: Bedside Facilities. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 28, Number 2, July 2008, p. 12-13.
Mobility Device For General Home Use
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a mobility device that would allow for movement through a family residence (with many obstacles), and be used as a shower chair for person with severe physical disabilities. A mobile chair was created with a plastic seat mounted on a steel chassis with three 250- millimeter (mm) wheels out of alignment. The wheels each have their own running track and their own axle alignment. The chassis is made from a steel bar shaped to suit the three-wheeled design. The
Sturdy Heavy Load Bedside Table
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a sturdy, heavy load table accessible from an individual’s bedside for a person with quadriplegia. The table has a U-shaped base and post made from square steel, with 3-inch castors on the four points of the U. Attached to the top of the post is a rectangular square steel frame on which rests a wooden table top with a lip to stop items from falling off. The wooden top has two handles on one side so that an individual can move it easily. The table is useful
Bedside Computer Stand And Monitor Positioning System
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To position a computer screen to be easily seen from a bed, hold the monitor and printer, and store other computer-related equipment such as cables and CDs) for an individual with quadriplegia. Laminated MDF was used to make a stand, which has a base with locking castors, a range of drawers for storage at the bottom and shelves above them, one with larger space to hold the monitor. There is also a pull-out shelf above the drawers for a keyboard and can be used when i
Bedside Computer Monitor Magnifier
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a screen magnifier to make a computer monitor more easily viewable from the bedside for a person with quadriplegia. A permanent mount was created and added on to an existing computer stand and bedside table, enabling the individual to move the magnifier in and out to get the correct degree of magnification or flip it out of the way when closer to the screen while in a wheelchair. TITLE: Bedside Facilities. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 28, Number 2, Jul
Weighted Block Trolley
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To provide a customized weighted block trolley for a child with Rett Syndrome and for children with standing and walking difficulties. The stable, counterweight trolley is made of timber and plywood, with a handlebar which can be adjusted using a tri-nut as the child grows. The device has rear wheels mounted at the side, and castors at the front which make it easy to steer. A counterweight is created by a paving brick installed under the front of the tray. The tray pro
Support Chair Adaptation Of The Koala Corner Chair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized, stable seating and positioning device for a child with cerebral palsy. This device was adapted from a previous adaptation “The Koala.” The Koala is a pedestal seat with a winged back, and is generally used with a seat cushion and pelvic belt. It comes with a large adjustable-height table, which has lipped edges to stop objects from falling off, and latches into position behind the back edges of the seat. The version used by the child with cere
Standing Frame Adaptation Of The Lazy Squirrel
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized standing frame for children unable to stand unaided. A standing frame allows children to be upright, thus assisting with digestion, circulation, and breathing. Children can also bear their own weight, which may assist in developing bone density, limb coordination and strength. The standing frame designed suggested is the “Lazy Squirrel” or “Squirrel” for short. The Squirrel is designed to provide well-supported vertical standing. It has a plyw
Customized Double Sized Bed
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized bed for children with multiple disabilities. The customized bed was created for twin boys who have multiple disabilities including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, developmental delays, and vision and hearing disabilities. Caregivers wanted the two boys to be able to have shared sleeping arrangements due to the therapeutic benefits seen as a result of the boys' emotional bond. Additionally, the customized bed was to be placed in a family room rather t
Modified Bicycle For Teenage With Cerebral Palsy
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized bicycle for a teenager with cerebral palsy and developmental delays. An evaluation of the teenager with disabilities determined the only modifications needed were a larger seat, outrigger wheels, and foot cups. The new-design outrigger wheels can be easily removed and reattached, making transport and storage much easier. While the modifications were minor, the results were major. The consumer is now able to get necessary exercise while doing an
Bed Modification For Child With Angelman Syndrome
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized bed for a child with Angelman Syndrome. An evaluation of a standard IKEA bed already being used by the child resulted in the idea to turn the footboard into a gate. The customization had two parts: 1) the removal of the footboard and 2) the construction of an end gate. After removing the footboard, the end of the bed frame was strengthened with 19- millimeter plywood. The disassembled footboard was rebuilt to make a rigid end gate. The fitting
Bath Steps For Child With Angelman Syndrome
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide customized bath steps for a child with Angelman Syndrome. To assist the child’s mother with reducing lifting and relieving back strain from assisting her daughter in getting into the bath, a step-stool with a rail on one side was designed. A 19-millimeter piece of steel tubing was used for the frame, and was painted with white enamel. The stool has a 720-millimeter high hand rail on one side, and no rail on the other side. No railing on one side allows the
Fridge Lock
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide customized childproof refrigerator lock for a child with autism that can be easily opened by an adult, but not allow for the child to accidentally lock himself inside the refrigerator. The final design includes two purpose-made pad bolts mounted in metal boxes on top of the refrigerator and freezer doors. The bolts are spring-loaded to make them extend and engage in a slot in a plate which is mounted between the bolts on the top of the fridge cabinet and pr
Bed Surround
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized adaptation to a hospital bed frame for a young adult with a rare genetic disorder. A standard hospital bed with collapsible tubular steel rails was not ideal as the consumer was in danger of injuring himself due to involuntary movements. Placing the bed flush to the floor was not ideal for caregivers because it placed them at risk for back injury. A frame and net system was designed to attach to the existing hospital bed. Four metal posts are m
Wheelchair Tilt Modification
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized adaptation to an existing wheelchair to allow a young adult with a rare genetic disorder and his caregivers to tilt the chair backwards with minimal effort (i.e. for mounting curbs or pushing onto a vehicle hoist platform). The wheels were moved forward so that more of the weight of the chair is behind the wheels. Then the rear handlebars were redesigned so that they were easier to push down on. The original handlebars had a cross bar making it
Modified Student Desk For Individuals With Dwarfism
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide customized desks for children with dwarfism. To modify the existing desks, the wooden desktops were removed and a 20-centimeter piece was cut from the 25-millimeter metal legs using a jig to ensure all the desks would be the exact same height. Tubing inserts were cut to fit inside the metal legs and rejoin them, but because the tubing had a raised manufacturer seam, the leg pieces had to be drilled to a depth of 10 centimeters. The legs were reassembled, fi
Customized Platforms For School Environment For Individuals With Dwarfism
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide customized platforms for various classroom environments for individuals with short stature. Platforms were needed for at least three different classroom environments and needed to be light and easy to move around the classroom. The platforms were mass-produced by cutting tubing to make two of each design, with the hand rails and legs in one U-shaped piece in most cases. The platform bases were made from plywood, painted white, and anti-slip strips were adde
Walking Frame Brake Modification
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized adaptation to a four-wheel walker to enable back wheels to lock when navigating the walker up steps for an individual with cerebral palsy and visual and hearing impairments. Two spring-loaded semi-circular aluminum cams are used to jam the back wheels if they move backwards, but not stop the wheels from moving forward. The two cams are mounted on the frame just above the wheels and are attached to a cord which travels up to hook in the center o
Walking Frame Carrying Stick Modification
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized adaptation to a four-wheel walker enabling an individual with cerebral palsy and visual and hearing impairments to carry her walking stick and white cane while using her walker. Previous adaptations generally put the carry stick attachments on the outside of the frame; however, there was concern that this would reduce maneuverability of the walker within the individual’s small home. Attachments were added that allow the sticks to be carried wit
Modified Chair Lever
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized adaptation to operate the level mechanism of a reclining chair for an individual with right arm weakness. The original lever was quite short and positioned low down on the right side making it very difficult to push down to raise and lower the leg support section of the chair. A handle was created that bent out far enough from the base so it cleared the chair armrest and with a modified handgrip for easier grasping. A bent section of square ste
Keyboard Wedge
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: Provide a custom adaptation to a standard keyboard for use by an individual with cerebral palsy. Due to the type of typing aid used by this individual, the most effective position of a keyboard needed to be at a 30 degree angle from the desk. This adaptation allows the individual to guide the typing aid directly towards the keys rather than having to bend his wrists to reach the keyboard. A clear sheet of acrylic was used to make the keyboard wedge, using a jig to he
Exercise Glove
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: Provide a custom adaptation of an exercise glove for an individual with grasping difficulties due to right hemiplegic stroke. A special glove is created which uses Velcro to attach an open-fingered gym glove to the handlebar of exercise equipment. Velcro is sewed onto the palm of each glove, with a loose section at the end. When the individual uses the exercise machines, she sticks three adhesive Velcro dots to the handle and wraps her hand around them. The loose end
New Bed Controller
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized adaptation of a bed controller for a person with quadriplegia. Upon receiving a new bed this individual find the new bed controller difficult to use. A controller was adapted from original toggle-style switches and an old control box similar to the device previously used by this individual. The existing cable between the bed and the new controller was built into the controller therefore a new cable was needed for the adapted device. First a cab
Modified Cutlery
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide custom adaptation of cutlery for an individual with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy. Two pieces of 16-gauge steel sheet were cut and wrapped into a U-shaped holder that fits around the individual’s hands. A stainless steel knife and fork were then TIG-welded to the U-shape holder. The steel holders have a natural spring so the individual can bend them back very slightly to insert his hand. Once the holders are on his hands, the user doe
Bed Extension
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a bed extension for a hospital-style bed for a tall individual with acquired brain injury. A 150-millimeter extension with two metal bars was made that bolted into the existing holes at the top end of the bed base. A headboard, padded and covered with vinyl, was fixed at right angles to the bars. Straps with Velcro strips were used to fix the lower section of the mattress in position. This adaptation reduced the how often the individual’s position had to b
Walking Frame Modifications
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a custom adaptation to a walking frame for an individual with spinal cord injury and mobility disability. A folding rollator frame was ideal for this individual, but it did not include features such as a basket to carry everyday things or a tray for carrying meals from the kitchen to the table. The basket and tray needed to be easily removable for occasions where the walking frame would be folded to go in the car. A basket from Howards Storage World was hoo
Table For Use In Bed
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a custom adaptation for a table for use in bed to hold remote controls for an individual with quadriplegia. A small table with a small cushion at the based filled with polystyrene beads was made. The cushion is medium stuffed so that it is very stable and will stay in the position it is pushed into. A table top was made from a plywood base with a lip around all four sides to prevent items from falling off. A piece of non-slip mat was added to the table but
Walking Frame Modifications
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide custom adaptation to a walking frame for an individual with rheumatoid arthritis. The current walking frame provided to the individual by the hospital had several issues. The individual’s arms are quite short and slender, and the armrests were set too wide for her; therefore, her arms were not at the right angle and the sides of the armrests were cutting into her. The existing vinyl cover and foam padding on the armrests was removed, the armrests were repos
Bedside Table
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide custom adaptation to bedside table for an individual with rheumatoid arthritis. A plywood box was constructed and screwed into an existing table top. The inside of the box forms a lower shelf, and the top forms the upper one. Inside the box, a shelf mounted on drawer runners was added. The shelf has a small hook-style handle in the center for easy, out of the way use. A small gap all the back of the box accommodates cords for various equipment. A larger hol
Head Pointer
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide custom adaptation to a head pointer device for an individual with cerebral palsy. While many commercial devices are available, not all are ideal for every individual. A simple, lightweight version can be customized for individual needs. The design is based on a donated headgear from a commercial safety visor. The individual’s aluminum pointer has a standard rubber tip (a smaller version of the type used on crutches), plus an end clamp that holds whichever p
Digital Camera Mount And Control Device
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide an individual with cerebral palsy a customized, digital camera mount, and control device. The patron was unable to avoid moving the camera when she operated the shutter, so her shots were blurred. The first solution was to isolate the triggering mechanism from the camera; but today’s digital cameras lack the remote triggering capacity that film cameras have. A “camera remote shutter release” was the solution. A release mechanism consisting of solenoid which
One Handed Chopping Board
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a customized one-handed chopping board for an individual with hemiplegia resulting from a stroke. The board base made of 16-millimeter plywood with a non-slip rubber underlay to prevent it from moving on the marble tabletop. The base has a laminex overlay and oiled hardwood edging. On the right side of the base there are two strips of polypropylene cutting board material, with two “jaws” mounted between them. The jaws have textured grooves on the inside fac
Device To Attach Pram (Child's Stroller) To Wheelchair
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To design and build a removable device which would lock a pram (child's stroller) into position at the front of a wheelchair for a person with paraplegia. Several ideas were considered but the final solution involved lifting the back wheels of the pram off the ground and putting the weight on the front pram castors and the front wheelchair castors. Lightweight 16-millimeter square steel tubing was used to build a frame which clamps in place on both wheelchair and pram
Swing Seat
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To provide a custom adaptation of a swing seat for a child with Multicystic Leukoencephalopathy and poor motor skills. A customized swing seat was made using a Sebel Junior Hobnob seat shell. A frame for the seat was made by bending two lengths of square steel tube to form side pieces, and bracing these at the rear and underneath with two more pieces of tube. Bolted to the brace under the seat are rigid hanging members made from round steel tube, which keep the seating
Toilet Access Platform And Rail
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a custom adaptation of a toilet access platform and rail for a child with Multicystic Leukoencephalopathy and poor motor skills. The frame was made from round steel tube painted white, the frame goes right over the toilet to support a plywood backrest and side rails which the child uses both to access the toilet and keep his balance on the seat. There is also a wide plywood platform in front of the toilet with non-slip strips attached. All the timber is fin
Device To Access Swimming Pool
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide swimming pool access for a person with intellectual and physical disabilities. A 24-volt solar-charged pool hoist from Australian manufacturer Wymo was chosen for this adaptation. However, when lowered into the pool using the hoist, the user needed to be supported while she was removed from the sling. She also needed support during the reverse process of putting the sling back on when she was being taken out. A “landing bay” was made in the pool for the ind
Seat For Swimming Pool
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a custom adaptation of a seat for the swimming pool for a child with cerebral palsy. A pool chair was made based on a previous TADNSW adaptation (Bath Chair)—made from PVC pressure pipe and outdoor furniture fabric. The seat is mounted on a frame which has four sections. The seat section is secured with large suction cups which attach to the tiled step inside the pool, and below this are smaller ones which attach to the tiled step riser. There was some diff
Large Lighted Magnifier
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a large magnifier for a person with Usher
Syndrome (visual/hearing impairments). The magnifier was to be mounted and large enough to fit a book/magazine under it and read the whole page. Additionally, the magnification needed to be adjustable to the various size print the patron was reading. A powerful lens (made by Fresnel Technologies) was adapted. The type of lens was originally designed for lighthouse optics and is made of rigid plastic, so it is not fl
Modified Bicycle
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a custom adaptation of a bicycle for a person with limb amputation. TADNSW’s FREEDOM WHEELS® modified bike service adapted and provided the patron with a bicycle; however, the patron had problems on uphill and uneven surfaces using the bicycle. However, a prototype for a rode that can link between two bikes was being developed and it was perceived that this might solve the patron’s problem—particularly since the patron and her husband were adult riders and
Frame For Bath Insert
CUSTOM ADAPTATION PURPOSE: To provide a custom adaptation of a frame for bath insert for a child with cerebral palsy. A Sunburst bath insert was purchased and a frame to mount this over the existing bath was built. A wooden model to test the fit and comfort of the proposed frame was created. Once fine-tuned, it was built by a local supplier with square stainless steel tube, which would not corrode when it gets wet. The frame fits snugly to the top of the existing bath, and has adjustable bolts
Modified Child's Car
CUSTOM ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To provide a custom adaptation of a Wiggles Big Red Car for a child with cerebral palsy. The car’s existing seat was unsuitable for the child as he needed to be able to recline backwards. However, the child had an existing free-form seat which fitted snugly into the same space. This was used with cushions made by a volunteer. A wired hand-operated jellybean switch control was created to work with the existing electrical controls. This switch was mounted on the steering
Modified Powered Trike
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To provide a customized powered trike for a child with spinal muscular atrophy type II. This customization begins with a simple trike which uses a press foot control connected to a battery that powers the motor. First the foot pedals are disconnected and a circuit board was added to adapt the trike for hand control. The trike is then operated by two specially designed grip-style hand switches which are mounted on each handlebar. The switches plug int
Adjustable Table And Chair For Child
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To provide a custom adaptation of the Rawson Adjustable Chair and Table for a child with spinal muscular atrophy type II. Made to dimensions to suit each individual client, the Rawson provides seating for children who need to maintain an upright and stable posture. The seat, armrest and table height can be adjusted in 25 millimeter increments so the child can have the optimum position for play, eating and learning activities over several years. For e
Senory Toy Frame
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To provide a customized adapted sensory toy frame to provide a variety of stimulating activities for a child with developmental disabilities. The child already had a set of bongo drums, and the idea was to incorporate these into the frame along with other items, such as a steering wheel, a hooter and a bell. A rectangular frame was designed and built from pine and plywood that was specially adapted to clamp onto an existing table at the unit. The fr
Bunk Bed Rails
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create customized bunk bed rails for a child with Edwards Syndrome. A side rail for the bunk was created using a steel tube frame padded with foam and covered in strong white mesh fabric and held in place by canoe clips. The rail is mounted on two brackets which fit over the frame of the bunk base, and can be easily lifted in and out of the bed. This adaptation is strong enough to avoid damage to the frame and safe for the child should she bang ag
Bunk Bed Ladder Modification
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a customized bunk bed ladder for a child with Edwards Syndrome. To protect the child from injury the bottom three rungs of the bunk bed ladder needed to be screened off by putting mesh on the inside. However, this would make the child’s sister unable to use the ladder rungs safely to climb into the top bunk. A new rung unit was created which completely covers the bottom three existing rungs. The new rung unit has mesh fabric on the inside,
Bunk Bed Feeder Mount
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted feeder mount for a Kangaroo Pump feeder to a bunk bed for a child with Edwards Syndrome. There was no room for the feeder to be placed at the head of the bed; therefore, it was suggested that the child’s sleeping position be reversed. Despite the change in sleeping position the feeder could not be fixed directly onto the rails as they were too close together. A new bracket was added which holds the feeder just out from the
Modified Child Walker
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted walker for a child with muscular dystrophy who is unable to stand or walk independently. A bright yellow walker was adapted using FREEDOM WHEELS bike components which would provide the child with postural supports similar to bikes. A high-riser bar was attached to the frame of the walker under the seat then a back support plate and thoracic fins were mounted onto the high-riser. These components are height adjustable on th
Modified Child Bike
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted bike for a child with muscular dystrophy. The FREEDOM WHEELS workshop modification included the usual outrigger wheels and wider seat, plus hip and thoracic supports, a padded head plate, foot cups, and a tow handle. The handlebars were extended to make them easier for the child to reach. TITLE: Jaxson’s Wheels. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 29, Number 3, September 2009: p. 11. PAGES: 2 (including cover).
Outdoor Wheelchair Accessible Tables
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create customized outdoor wheelchair accessible tables for students with mobility disabilities. The Hunter Orthopedic School has 33 students with physical and/or intellectual disabilities from kindergarten to year 12. The school’s existing plastic tables were dilapidated and were not wheelchair accessible friendly. The school wanted to replace the tables with something different that may be supported in a different way making the tables easier for
Tilt-In-Space Chair
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted tilt-in-space chair for a child with multiple disabilities. This adaptation is designed for children with special support needs, the child can be tilted back from an upright position to a 45 degree recline. This type of chair is useful for when a child needs to be upright for certain activities such as eating, but cannot tolerate this position for long periods of time. The child was measured for accuracy and the chair was m
Adapted Play Frame
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To custom adapt the height of a play frame for a child with multiple disabilities including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, visual impairment, and developmental delay. The child’s current play frame provides her with stimulation and entertainment. The play frame consists of a square fabric base on which the child lies, and two hooped rods with padded covers which anchor in pockets on opposite corners of the square and cross in the middle. The child had ou
Modified Child Tricycle
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adaption of a child tricycle for a child with Collagen 6 Myopathy. The child does not have enough strength to turn the tricycle pedals but is able to propel the trike himself using his feed on the smooth floor tiles in the family home. First, the pedals were removed, the cranks straightened, and then reattached to 25 millimeters out from the front wheel hub. This allows the child to use the pedals as footrests when he tires and nee
Movable Communication And Learning Boards
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create custom adapted communication and learning boards for students with disabilities. These boards enabled students with high support disabilities to access communication aids and learning materials while they are in their different therapeutic positions. There was no commercially available adjustable board which could be moved into the various positions and be easily moved around. The original design called for a stand that was 700 millimeters
Modified Bike
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To provide a custom adapted bike for an active adult with Down syndrome. FREEDOM WHEELS adapted a bike to include a wider seat and outrigger wheels that could be removed later if the individual developed enough skill to ride on her own. This adaptation allowed the individual to combine her love of swimming and riding by competing in the Triathlon Pink, which supports breast research. TITLE: Lucy’s Triathlon. JOURNAL: TAD Journal. REF: Volume 30, Numb
Modified Bike
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To provide a custom adapted bike for a child with bilateral ulnar club hand. The child’s arms and hands are not completed developed. Her right arm is longer and can straighten more easily, and she has some ability to grip with her right hand, whereas her left arm is less able to straighten or grip. When younger the child could use a standard bike with one hand, but a heavier bike is too difficult to steer one-handed. FREEDOM WHEELS was able to const
Fishing Rod Holder And Accessories
CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION
PURPOSE: To provide a custom adaptation of a fishing rod holder and fishing accessories for an individual with brain injury and limited arm mobility. Since the individual could only use his right arm, adaptations needed to include tying the hook onto a fishing line—an activity that normally requires two hands. First, a device was located and converted to one-hand use. The device was then mounted onto at an angle onto a piece of plywood, and then flexible polyurethane guides
Skipping Rope
allowing a child with left erb’s palsy (limited arm function) to skip rope independently. Due to the erbs palsy the child cannot hold the skipping rope and turn it in the normal way. A custom adaptation was designed which encloses one section of a skipping rope in a U-shaped piece of 10 millimeter aluminum tubing, with a small L-shaped indentation in one corner of the U. The bottom of the U-shaped section is strapped onto the child’s stomach by a belt that goes across her back, and her left arm
Modified Cot
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To provide a custom adapted cot for a mother with hemiplegia and limited use of her left arm. The mother needed a safe play area for her son that did not require him to be lifted—a modified cot would suit this purpose. An existing cot was adapted using two zips to make a triangle. Since the existing fabric side of the cot was not strong enough to have a zip put in, the cot was taken to pieces to take out one entire panel, cut the black edging to a sq
Games Ramp
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To provide a custom adapted game ramp to play pool for a young adult with cerebral palsy. Due to the cerebral palsy the young adult was unable to control his arm movements and sufficiently use a cue. A ramp was created using a 9 millimeter piece of plywood. The design included a small landing at the top of the ramp for setting the ball, shallow sides to guide the ball in a straight line, and smooth contact points and the edge cushioned so not to dama
Carriers For Crutches And Tripod
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To provide a custom adapted crutches and tripod carriers for an adult with spastic paraplegia and oral dyspraxia. The crutch holder accessory available from the wheelchair manufacturer was too small for the tripod and would be difficult to import from the United States. The custom adapted design began by taking an aluminum base panel and bolting it to the anti-tip legs on the back of the chair. To make the holders for the crutches and the tripod, pla
Large Spike Board
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To provide a custom adapted food preparation spike board for an individual with left arm amputation. Current spike boards were not large enough to accommodate the user’s desire to cook large items such as large meats and large quantities of vegetables. A 400 by 300 millimeter PVC chopping board was acquired. Then 304 grade stainless steel, which is safe to use with food, was used to make a master pin and 30 copies. Each pin has a pointed tip which pr
Tag-Along Bike
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To provide a custom adapted tag-along bike for a child with spastic diplegia. The child has his own custom adapted bike but when on outings with his family he found it difficult to keep up and cycle long distances. Since he was too large for a baby seat a tag-along adaptation appeared to be a good solution. A prototype was created that was compatible with components used to modify FREEDOM WHEEL bikes, such as the U-frame, high-riser bar, and postural
Shower Stool
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a customized adapted shower stool to allow a child with muscular dystrophy to wash his face and hair in the shower. Due to the child’s legs being abducted, he was unable to use the footplates on his commode to raise his legs and use a previous washing system. The child’s therapist suggested a separate footstool which would enable the child to sit in a stable position with his feet wide apart. After an in-home evaluation a device was created
Wrist Stretcher
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a customized adapted wrist stretcher for an individual with multiple sclerosis. The individual’s multiple sclerosis has progressed to a point where she cannot use her right arm and has limited dexterity in her left. It is important that she retain as much flexibility as possible so she can pick up objects and operate her electric wheelchair. To help the individual maintain her flexibility her physiotherapist has recommended that she stretch
Bassinet Modification
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a customized bassinet modification for an individual with spinal cord injury and wheelchair user. The individual had bought a bought a bassinet with a wooden support frame which had cross members on all four sides just above the castors. These cross members meant that she wasn’t able to get her wheelchair very close to the bassinet. It wasn’t possible to completely remove the cross member on one side, as this would compromise the structure
Wheelchair To Stroller Linking Device
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a customized linking device between wheelchair and stroller for an individual with spinal cord injury. While the individual could push the stroller and use her wheelchair in tandem for short distances, this configuration was not idea for various surfaces and/or travel over long distances. The individual obtained a stroller that has swiveling wheels at the front and fixed wheels at the back. An adaptation using the stroller was created takin
Modified Baby Cot
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom modification of a baby cot for a mother with multiple sclerosis to care for her baby. Due to muscle weakness in her legs from the multiple sclerosis, the individual was unable to stand up to read into a standard cot and pick up her son, even with the side at its lowest level. The individual purchases a new cot to be modified so the cot would open from the front and she could reach inside. The cot was assembled apart from one side.
Support Rail
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom modification of support rail on an adjustable bed for a mother with multiple sclerosis. The individual bought an adjustable bed so she could raise the head to sit up comfortably and breastfeed her son. She had a support rail under the mattress of her old bed to help her turn over and get safely in and out of bed, but it was not stable enough when used in the same way with the new bed. A new rail was custom-made and designed to be m
Two Customized Ramps
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted wheelchair ramps for a mother with multiple sclerosis. The individual lives in an older-style house with slight changes in floor level at several of the doors, including the entry to the house, and she was not able to get her wheelchair over these unaided. There are commercially available ramps for such situations, but these did not fit the specific dimensions that she needed. Two customized ramps were built to solve the pr
Pram (Stroller) Modifications
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted pram (stroller) for a mother with cerebral palsy. The individual chose a pram that was heavy in the front so that it did not require any extra weight or other anti-tilt mechanisms. However the pedal brakes were still a problem, as the individual could not lift her foot to operate them without the risk of falling over. The brakes were converted to a hand operation while making sure that the changes didn’t interfere with the
Cot Modifications
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted cot modifications for a mother with cerebral palsy. This individual has balance disabilities related to her cerebral palsy and required a cot that she could lift the baby in and out from while in a kneeling position. The individual had an older-style steel cot with sides that slide down for access, but when the side was in the lowest position it was still above mattress height, and she could not reach over it to pick up the
Change Table
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted changing table for a mother with cerebral palsy. This individual wanted a changing table that she could use from a kneeling position and located a base that was the right height to be adapted. A table top was created from chip-board, with a 75 millimeter-high pine frame around the sides to keep the mattress in position. Two of the four sides are hinged so they can drop down 180 degrees, making it easier for the user to slid
Stand For Baby Bath
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted baby bath stand for a mother with cerebral palsy. The individual bought a plastic baby bath, but she couldn’t use this in the bottom of the main bath as she couldn’t bend over far enough from a kneeling position. The baby bath stand/platform was made from marine-grade plywood and spray-painted with white enamel to waterproof it. This rests over the main bath, with timber stops underneath to keep it in position. There is a h
Rails For Bus
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create custom adapted rails for bus for an individual with Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome. This individual has a rare syndrome which has resulted in developmental delay and challenging behaviors, and gets very anxious if she doesn’t feel secure. The home which the individual lives has a bus which is used to take the residents to their day placements and on outings at the weekend. Most of the residents use wheelchairs and are lifted in and out of the bu
Change Table Plus
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create custom adapted change table for a child with developmental delays. The child’s parent requested a table which would cover most of the bath, but would still be easy and light enough to remove and store. The first thought was to build a table with a Melamine top mounted on folding legs, which could be removed when the bath was to be used for bathing. In the end, the simplest solution proved to work beautifully was a sheet of 9 millimeter MDF
Kangaroo Chair And Table
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create custom adapted Kangaroo chair and table set for a child with developmental delays. The child has had a Kangaroo chair and table set for several years. The Kangaroo is generally designed to provide well-supported long floor sitting for children up to primary school age, and has a chair with a winged back support and a height-adjustable table. However, the child still needs long periods on floor sitting to stretch his legs and loosen his leg
Modified Bikes
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted bike for a child with Down syndrome and mild visual impairment. FREEDOM WHEELS® created a bike with a wider seat, outrigger wheels, toe clips, and a tow bar. Aside from learning how to climb onto the bike with assistance from his father, the child has already begun to enjoy being on the bike and has started to pedal on his own; although his father still pulls him over rougher terrain on occasion. TITLE: Easy Riding. JOURNA
Modified Bikes
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted bike for a mother who is nervous of bikes and wants to ride with her Down syndrome and mild visual impaired child. The mother had ridden a bike since an accident she had while riding on one when she was a young child. FREEDOM WHEELS® created a bike with a wider seat and outrigger wheels for her. Despite being nervous to start, she had gradually developed more confidence and hopes to eventually remove her outrigger wheels. T
Travel Cushion
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted seat cushion for a senior with advanced osteoporosis. Using previous cushions as a model, a new set of cushions that are 420 by 475 millimeters and joined by a 75 millimeter spine, with a 50 millimeter-thick Dunlop Enduro foam filling were created. The long-wearing fabric covers are zippered so they can be taken off for washing. Two pieces of 39 millimeter wide webbing form the handles. The travel cushions have made it poss
Elbow Support For Wheelchair
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted elbow support for a wheelchair user with hemiparesis following stroke. Following a stroke this individual experienced muscle weakness in her left arm which also affected her sitting balance. When sitting in her Sunrise Breezy wheelchair, her left arm would slip off the narrow armrest and she would fall sideways. Working with her occupational therapist, a commercial project was tried as a solution but proved to wide for th
Exercise System
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted exercise system for an individual who has hemiplegia following stroke. For individuals who have had a stroke and now have reduced strength on one side can strengthen and re-stabilize should protraction through practiced movements using an exercise system. The system assists the individual retraining the brain to create new pathways damaged from the stroke. The traditional method of practicing shoulder protraction was not id
Custom Bath Seat
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted bath seat for an individual with multiple sclerosis. After falling in the shower, this individual determined she needed some way of stabilizing herself when using her over-bath shower. Various devices suggested by her physical therapist provided to be unsuitable for the older-style bath that has a narrow lip on the wall side. A customized bath seat, which the individual could transfer on and off independently and was remova
Walker Carrier
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted walker carrier frame for an individual with mobility disabilities due to lymphoedema. The individual could not transport her walker in the trunk or back seat of the family car, even when folded. While there were some commercially available carrier frames none fit the walker frame or could be used independently by the individual. A custom adapted carrier, which would fit into the car’s existing towbar socket, and meet the NS
Custom Footplates
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create custom adapted footplates for an electric wheelchair used by an individual with reduced mobility and strength. When this individual sits in her chair with the footplates at a comfortable height for her, they rubbed on the wheels, particularly when she was turning. Additionally, this individual did not have enough strength in her feet to push the footplates up out of the way when she wanted to get out of the chair. Sometimes a care giver co
Walking Frame Modification
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted walking frame modification for and individual with congenital hip dislocation and has difficulty walking unaided. While this individual uses an electric scooter for going to the local shops and an electric wheelchair around her home, she requires a folding walker to take with her when going on outings in a car. The Admed seat walker with a basket and hand brakes was best suited for the individual’s needs but was too difficu
Walking Frame Modification
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted walking frame for an older individual who has had a stroke and can be safely used with only one hand. The individual was experiencing several problems with her current walking frame—the existing gutter splints were not strong enough for her and had broken in addition to being too uncomfortable to start. Additionally, this individual needed a back rest for the seat and a method for braking safely with one hand. A unique solu
Toilet Flush Lever
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted toilet flush lever for an individual with multiple sclerosis (MS) and wheelchair user. Flushing the toilet was becoming increasingly difficult because a commode occupies the space on one side of the toilet and there is a wall on the other side, making it not possible to bring the wheelchair alongside the cistern. The user had to lean right over the length of the toilet bowl to reach the flush button from her chair. An adapt
Abduction Blocks
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted abduction blocks for an individual with multiple sclerosis and hemiplegia to use to exercise. The progression of MS and after having a stroke this individual was no longer able to continue living on her own. However, she is determined to keep exercising and retain as much strength and mobility as she can. When attempting to walk after the stroke using support railings, she found that her right leg would cross in front of
One-Handed Walker
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted one-handed walker for an individual having use of only one hand following a stroke. This simple but effective adaptation was created by cutting off the existing handles of the walker while managing to remove one of the handgrips intact. The handgrip was placed in the center of a new bar which spans the space between the two original handlebars. Underneath the handgrip, a single brake lever was mounted which was then connect
Wheelchair Tray
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted tray to fit on a wheelchair used by an individual with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability. This individual spends most of her day in her wheelchair and needs something to occupy her and a surface to rest it on; in other words, a portable table which she can use for her walkman, DVD player or to hold a magazine, etc. The tray is made from 9 millimeter plywood with a lip added around the front and side edges to stop o
A-Frame Ladder
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted A-frame ladder for a child with microcephaly, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, and low muscle strength to use for strengthening exercises and promote standing and other mobility. The frame’s ladder rungs are made from 25 millimeter dowel and the four sides are made of pine and angled off at the top to avoid a sharp edge, The frame is painted a cheerful yellow. Each set of the two sides is hinged at the top and is locked
Customized Cup
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a customized cup for a young adult with developmental delay, cerebral palsy, and vision impairment. After experimentation, a physical therapist determined the length of a cup from which the user could drink safely. A Doidy cup, which is used to teach babies how to drink from a rim rather than a spout, was adapted to allow the user to easily hold the cup. New handles were created that are 3 centimeters away from the cup rather than the curre
Chair Insert
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted chair insert for a child with global developmental delay and epilepsy. The child had outgrown his previous insert and a new version was required. The new insert has a plywood back set at a 10-degree recline, a plywood base and footrest, height-adjustable thoracic fins, and cushions made from fabric-covered, 25-millimeter foam. There are also a range of harness mounting points, and the child uses the chair with a waist harne
Modified Bike
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted bicycle for a child with global developmental delay and epilepsy. Freedom Wheels Modified Mike Service created a customized bike which enables the child to join in riding with his brother and sister on family outings, and provides an enjoyable and different way of moving that also improves his muscle strength. In addition to the standard outrigger wheels, the bike's seat has a number of supports including hip and thoracic f
Reinforced Bed With Enclosure
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom-made bed for a child with Angelman syndrome to provide a safe and protected environment during sleep and periods of restlessness. The child had outgrown her previous modified cot and the new bed was needed to withstand the strenuous shaking the child applied during her periods of sleeplessness. The new design involved moving the child to a single mattress and building safety railings high enough so that she cannot climb over them a
Access Stairs
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted set of stairs to access a bed for a child with cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and vision and hearing impairment. The child required a raised bed with side railings to keep her safe at night, but it had to be easily accessible without caregivers having to bend over when caring for the child. The bed is 880 millimeters above the floor and has fixed railings on three sides; the railing on the fourth side slides up and do
Bed Rails
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create custom adapted bed railings to protect a child with cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and vision impairment from hurting herself by climbing out of bed. The parents had purchased a bunk bed set that had a potential for modification with a solid frame and clean sides making it easy to add attachments. Matching the style of the bed, three new rails were added with the fourth side fixed to the wall. Extensions were made for the head and foo
Therapy Steps Set
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create custom adapted three-piece therapy steps set for children with various disabilities to use in a therapy room at an intervention service organization. The steps needed to be wide enough for two people to walk on them side by side, and heavy enough to be stable but light enough to be moved around by two people. The design includes three separate sections, two step sections, and a one-square-meter central platform which goes in between them.
Modifications To Protect A Wheelchair
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adaptation to protect various parts of an electronic wheelchair for a child with right hemiplegia, vision impairment, and developmental delay. There were a number of fittings on the chair that needed attention and had been damaged by the child. The first issue was the control panel for the joystick, which had a thin film cover over the membrane touch buttons that set the direction and mode. The buttons didn’t work unless they were
Commode Footstool
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a customized commode chair for a youth with cerebral palsy and developmental delay to use the bathroom. Since this individual is 14 years old, his parents did not want to purchase a commode chair only to replace it in a few years when he grows taller. The most suitable commode was too big as his legs would not reach the footplate. The child’s therapist requested a waterproof platform that would sit on the footplate and provide a stable rest
Caddy For Sewing And Knitting
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a customized free-standing caddy for sewing and knitting supplies for elderly individuals with heart problems and osteoarthritis. This individual had previously used a fabric storage bag fitted onto her favorite chair for her supplies. Her mobility needs changed and she obtained a new recliner-type chair and the bag no longer worked with this chair. A free-standing caddy was suggested to solve this problem. A wooden caddy with two posts an
Ipad Mount
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a customized iPad mount for an electric wheelchair for individuals with mobility disabilities and spinal cord injuries, including people with quadriplegia. A quadriplegic used a computer to organize his activities such as painting, filmmaking, counseling, and motivational speaking. Laptops do not easily mount onto the electric wheelchair, and when the iPad became available, this individual jumped at the chance. Working with TADNSW an iPad b
Chailley Cart
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a customized mobility cart for children with mobility disabilities such as spina bifida and hydrocephalus. This child is paralyzed from the waist down, and the only way she could move independently was to drag herself on her stomach across the ground. The Chailley Cart is designed as a mobility device for young children who cannot walk but have good upper body strength. The cart is made primarily of plywood. It has a winged back support and
Modified Bike
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted bike modification for a child with spastic diplegia. The boy’s condition mainly affects his lower limbs but he is still able to walk short distances using a walker and his motor skills and strength in his left hand are also affected. The bike did not require extensive modification as the child has reasonable upper body strength. The bike modifications include a wider seat and outrigger wheels, plus a high-riser bar with pad
Easier Painting
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted easel and head mount for artists with cerebral palsy who have limited hand/grasping function. A new head mount was created after evaluating the consumer using the inner mechanism from a welder’s helmet, which has a tensioner in the back to ensure an exact fit. A small brass plate was riveted to the front, taking care to preserve the frame’s cloth surround so that the individual’s forehead was protected. Onto the plate, a
Horse-Drawn Pleasure
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted horse-drawn cart for use with a manual or electronic wheelchair by children with mobility disabilities. Using a standard horse-drawn cart as a base, a cart was designed which meets all of Australia's Riding for the Disabled organization’s needs. It has a sturdy chassis made from steel tubing, with marine-grade plywood panels and floor and fabricated metal mudguards. Horse-drawn carts generally have big wheels which make the
Wheelchair Camera Mount
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom wheelchair camera mount for a photographer with hemiplegia related to stroke and limited use of his right arm. This individual cannot simultaneously hold his camera firmly and press the shutter, particularly as he uses large lenses which are quite heavy, and using a tripod to hold the camera doesn’t work either, as it’s difficult to set this up with one hand. Therefore, a custom adaptation solution of creating a wheelchair camera m
Sling-A-Roo
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom leg exercise sling for elderly individuals with disabilities. Individuals recovering from hip and/or knee surgery who need to start walking with the support of a frame may be unable to hold their affected leg up for any length of time. The solution is an adjustable, soft brace that straps onto the lower leg with adjustable straps to hang off the support frame allowing for adjustments for individuals of different heights. The Sling-
Customized Shower Seat
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a customized shower chair for an individual with campomelic dwarfism and intellectual disabilities. This individual required a caregiver to bathe her but without getting water in her ears. Previous methods and adaptations were not useful as they required the assistance of another individual and/or they were hard on the care giver’s back. This customized adaptation is modified version the “Matilda” bath seat design which rests on a bath stan
Adapted Spoon
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted spoon for an adult with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and spinal fusion. This individual has limited mobility, can only lift her arms to her chest, and cannot bend her neck. As a result, she has been limited in the types of foods she can eat since she could only use a fork. A temporary solution of taping a dessert spoon and a teaspoon together worked well but was unhygienic, and the tape would come undone over time. A perma
Adapted Headset
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted headset for an adult with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and spinal fusion. This individual has limited mobility, can only lift her arms to her chest, and cannot bend her neck. She mostly relies on Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition software since she can only type for a short time without pain; however, she is unable to put on or take off the microphone headset by herself. Designers observed that she was able to m
Sleeping Wedge
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted wedge for sleeping for a young adult with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Initially an abduction wedge was used to assist in keeping the young adult’s hips in correct position after repeated surgeries. However, while the wedge is no longer needed for orthopedic reasons this individual does not feel comfortable sleeping without it but has since outgrown the original wedge. The new design had to account for variations in body me
Custom Adapted Footstool
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted footstool for an adult with cerebral palsy. This individual worked as a disability advocate and often spends most of her eight-hour work day at her desk. She had difficulty with her feet resting on the floor while sitting and would experience swelling and muscle spasms, particularly when she was tired. Commercially available footstools were ill suited. The custom adapted stool was created using lightweight plywood to constr
Custom Adapted Crutch Holder
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted crutch holder for an adult with cerebral palsy. This individual works as a disability advocate and often spends most of her eight-hour work day at her desk. She was leaning her crutches against her desk just inside her office door; however, this was causing a safety issue since the crutches partially blocked the entrance and at times they would fall down and would be difficult for this individual to pick up. Based on a wood
Chair Base Plate
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted chair base plate for a child with multiple disabilities. The child is unable to sit on a chair without support and when she is at school,. she is either in her wheelchair or in a wood chair with a lap strap. Although the lap strap holds the child securely, the child can still rock her chair back and forth with a significant risk of toppling over. The child’s occupational therapist recommended that a base plate be fitted to
Folding Handle For Gator Vehicle
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted folding handle for a John Deere Gator farm vehicle for an individual with paraplegia. An individual with paraplegia as a result of a spinal cord injury continues to work on his family’s farm and uses a Gator, an off-road vehicle, to get around the farm. The Gator allows this individual to perform tasks around the farm that would otherwise be very difficult, if not impossible, in his wheelchair. However, this individual’s t
Modifications To Electric Tricycle
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create custom adaptions to an electronic tricycle to slow acceleration and provide a safe, secure bucket seat for a child with ataxic cerebral palsy. Ataxic cerebral palsy causes the child to be unsteady and a little shaky but does not diminish the child’s desire for speed. In order to accommodate the child’s “need for speed,” a custom adaptation was created using an electric ride on tricycle acquired through funding by the Family Assistance Fundi
Custom Adapted Cot
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted cot/crib for a mother with muscular dystrophy who has difficulty bending and lifting. An adaptation was needed to a cot that is low enough for the mother to access from her wheelchair but tall enough for her chair to slide under and to access easily while standing. First the cot was raised onto timber pillars to lift it higher. A sliding door was cut in half to create two doors which open out at 180 degree angles. The doubl
Custom Adapted Pram
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted pram (stroller) for a mother with arm amputation below the right elbow and back problems. The mother found it difficult and painful to push her baby’s pram as she had to stoop over to reach the handles due to her arm amputation. The mother’s physiotherapist became increasingly concerned by the arching and twisting that the mother's back experienced while pushing the pram. To stop the twisting, a design a handle extension fo
Walker Modifications
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create walker modifications for an adult with paralysis on his right side, use of only the left arm and hand, and with balance disabilities. The user attends a local bridge club with an entrance that has a steep ramp with no handrail on the left side, and he had to rely on someone to walk next to him for stability and balance in addition to using his walker. The walker was helpful, but without the use of his right hand, when the frame brakes were
Seating Support
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted seating support for a child with dystonic cerebral palsy. When sitting in a chair, the child pushes his pelvis forward and becomes uncomfortable, and the child concentrates more on sitting than on his books, crafts, and other activities. The family attempted to remedy the seating issue by adding a two-piece insert, the commercially available “tomato seat;" however, this device did not secure properly to the chair. The child
Bed Surrounds
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted bed enclosure for a child with global developmental delay and autism. The child outgrew her crib and her parents fitted her new bed with bedrails to prevent her from getting out; however, the child still managed to get out in the night despite being unable to crawl or walk. Concerned about the child’s safety, the family contacted TADNSW for assistance in creating bed surrounds for the bed to help keep the child safe. Three
Sleeping In Comfort System
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted system to raise and lower legs at night for an individual with muscular dystrophy. The man with muscular dystrophy began using a ventilator at night and had to start sleeping on his back. He developed severe pain in his knees after three hours of sleeping in this position due to pressure that built up on his kneecaps. The individual was unable to change positions in the night without assistance, and since he lived independe
Modified Crib
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted crib for a mother with C6-7 quadriplegia who uses a motorized wheelchair and. The mother has wrist function but no use of her fingers. She did not have the reach or strength to operate the crib’s drop side, and could not get near enough to the crib once the side was down because it got in the way of her chair. Previous adaptations by TAD staff would not work in this case since the mother used a motorized wheelchair. A TAD v
Modified Scooter
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create an adapted scooter for a teenage girl with cerebral palsy and hemiplegia on the right side that affects her control and balance. The young adult was eager to get a scooter but was unable to balance on just two wheels. A local skate shop offered wheeled scooters for children but none for teens leaving a modified scooter as the teen’s best option. The back of a regular scooter was cut off, and an axle was connected to the original back wheel
Mobility Cart
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted mobility cart for a child with arthogryposis, a congenital disorder that causes joint contractures and muscle weakness. The child’s mother was interested in providing the child with the benefits of wheeling around the house unassisted. Wheels were added to a chair to create a mobility device for the child who has good upper body strength. The child sits on the cart and propels his or herself forward by pushing on the wheels
Sensory Table
---- CUSTOMIZED ADAPTATION --------- PURPOSE: To create a custom adapted sensory table for children of different ages with hearing or visual disabilities. An adjustable table with a round wooden top, a metal frame, and adjustable legs was used for this adaptation. The top of the table was removed from the frame and four indents were cut into the sides of the table allowing four children to stand supported at the table. A plastic container was fitted through a hole cut in the table top and the sq