GADGETS / ADAPTATIONS AVAILABLE FOR THE DISABLED

geek84

Hi Folks

I'm helping my nephew who is carrying out research into what gadgets/adaptations are available for disabled people and what gadgets/adaptations could be invented into making their life easier.

Can someone kindly let us know where to start and how to progress?

Thanks in advance

Jellihead

Hi, I am a full time carer for my daughter who has Downs syndrome and we both struggle with the following:-

plastic underneath caps of milk bottles - if someone could invent a simple to remove seal for milk bottles and the like, ketchup, squeezy honey, yoghurt tops, etc., or maybe we could start a petition to bring back the local milkman delivering in bottles which would not only create jobs, but be better for the environment by recycling glass. Sometimes the old ways are the best.

Electric can openers are a great.

I have a little gadget that you can use to slip under the tin can pull, without breaking nails? and then a hook that pulls if up and off the can, this is great for me as I have no longer any grip or strength in my fingers.

I have a few gadgets that are supposed to release air from glass jars to enable me to unscrew the tops but they don't always work, which is very frustrating as I use a lot of jars, honey, marmite, coffee, etc

Hope this helps.

geek84

Good morning

Many thanks for your reply @Jellihead

teuchterlass

Large button phones. Knives with handles at right angles to blades. Scissors with easier return. Proper non slip shower mat. Grips on wall for shower. Rails at outside doors to hold to make it easier for me to balance going up/down the 2 steps. Contraption which enables kettle to be tilted to pour boiling water for a cuppa or add boiling water as needed without lifting weight of kettle. Easy openers for jars

What I call my long arm - to enable me to pick items beyond my easy reach or floor to save me moving too much.

Sock enabler. Leg lifter to help get leg into car/bed. Long shoehorn.

Easy grip for writing implement

Easy grip for cutlery. Combined spoon/fork/knife which does cut.

Need something to easily dry wheels on wheelchair/buggy/walker when coming in from salty/icy/wet conditions

Easy tap turners

Clothes/shoes with easy closures without looking too bulky.

That's a few to start

HappyDays62

I use lots of gadgets and aids but do have a look at essential aids as there are countless aids on there. Plus lots of reviews.

https://www.essentialaids.com/

Elizabeth100

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/948181#Comment_948181

Wow, thank you, that is THE best website I've seen, I'll be busy looking at it today!

GalDriver

I cannot lift one of my legs, e.g. for getting in the car. So I "invented" a new use for a scuba-divers air-tank carrier. It's basically 2 straps (to go around the air-tank) with a carry handle atop. Perfect for encircling my thigh then I can hoik it up and throw it about. lol

HappyDays62

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/948212#Comment_948212

You are welcome! It is excellent and you get VAT relief on most items. x

JW77

CSl ergonomic vertical mouse

The girl has MS and also carpel tunnel surgery in her dominant hand, so much better than a regular mouse

We also have grabbers, easy grip scissors, and electric tin opener

Also some adapted gardening hand tools

geek84

Hi Folks

Many thanks indeed for your suggestions.

@Jellihead there are electric can openers available. I presume you've tried them?

@teuchterlass There are already large button phone available. I presume you are asking for larger ones? Also, do you mean scissors which are easier to grip? Have you tried non slip shower mats already available? There are also wall grips available if you are having a shower? I have seen rails outside front doors enabling individuals to go down/come up the steps. I presume you don't find these helpful? There are also easy tap turners availbe on the market. Again, I presume thses are not suitable for you? Finally, what do you mean by combined spoon/fork/knife which does cut?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

aleem

@geek84 Where is this research going to be used? Will the results be released somewhere that we can easily obtain?

geek84

Hi @aleem

My nephew and some of his friends are carrying out this project off their own backs for their own knowledge. Some of them are thinking of entering the Carers jobs field.

I doubt if results will be available publicly, but will ask.

teuchterlass

Geek 84

You are commenting that there are already these products available - believe it or not all situations/problems are not solved by one general answer, each situation has to assessed individually.

Why are there so many different types of cars/fabrics/tools - does a 6'8" well built person usually buy a small mini or do they go for something more suited to their size and build, does that person go into shop to buy trousers and told - there's only one size, 34" waist and 34" leg and that's it you have to squeeze into that. Next time you need a new tyre for a car go and buy the first tyre for sale and fit it - you might discover just because it's a tyre it doesn't fit 🤔😯your car. We are the same - individuals.

Disabilities are the same, all completely different, one aid can be great for one person and completely useless for another - believe it or not, we are like everyone else we want choices to suit us as individuals, able to pick colour, styles for ME, be it a tin opener, a shower mat, clothes, a door knob which I can personally use - I am not bothered that there's 20 others on the market, I want suitable for ME

Jellihead

@geek84

Hi yes I do have an electric can opener but never thought to use it when there is a ring pull! Doh!

wobblyone

Inventions

Attachment arms for mobility scooters to attach to supermarket wheelchair trolleys or supermarket trolleys with attachments that fit mobility scooters.

Visual alerts that can connect to smart hubs and smart displays. For example if the microwave alert goes off it’ll come up on a screen or smart device and it would be specific. Right now I can be alerted to alarms going off but can’t tell the difference between the fire alarm or door bell.

A mobility scooter that can convert to an electric tricycle/bicycle that isn’t huge and does cost the earth.

A shopping trolley that can convert into a ride on class 2 scooter if needed.

a hair washing machine.

A mobile phone with in built captions for everything without paying for different subscriptions.

A remote control or smart commode that comes to you when you call it.

Smart glasses with audio captions.

I’m not sure these are helpful but these are the things I dream about.

Actual things already invented

Bath chairs that lower you into the bath.

Tactile alerts for alarms

Device that plugs into a TV and connects to hearing aids so tv can be played at a normal volume to everyone else.

Wheelchairs that climb stairs

Lightweight mobility scooters that fold themselves with a remote

voice typing facilities on most phones and computers.

Laces that fasten with Velcro.

Easy grip pens.

Inflatable chair thing that picks people up of the floor.

Those grab claw sticks to reach things.

Walk in baths.

That’s all I can think of for now

egister

ISO 9999

geek84

Many thanks indeed for your suggestions @wobblyone

miketate2

1. Types of Disabilities

• Physical Disabilities: Mobility issues (e.g., wheelchair users, amputees).
• Visual Impairments: Blindness or low vision.
• Hearing Impairments: Deafness or hearing loss.
• Cognitive Impairments: Autism, intellectual disabilities, dementia.
• Speech Impairments: Challenges in communication.

2. Existing Gadgets & Adaptations

• Mobility: Motorized wheelchairs, exoskeletons, stairlifts, and ramps.
• Vision: Screen readers, smart glasses, braille displays, audio books.
• Hearing: Hearing aids, captioning, vibrating alarms, sign language apps.
• Cognitive: GPS apps, smart home devices, reminder apps.
• Speech: Augmentative communication devices, speech-generating tools.

3. Areas for Innovation

• Smart Prosthetics: Custom, functional prosthetic limbs.
• Brain-Computer Interfaces: Control devices with thoughts.
• AI-Driven Tools: Adaptive hearing aids or visual assistance.
• Robotic Assistance: Robots for daily tasks.
• Accessible Transportation: Innovations in self-driving cars for accessibility.

4. Steps to Proceed

• Research: Review current technologies and gaps in the market.
• Survey: Talk to disabled individuals about their challenges.
• Collaborate: Work with experts like therapists and disability organizations.
• Prototype: Develop and test new ideas with real users.
• Funding: Look into grants for innovation in accessibility.

By exploring existing tools and identifying needs, your nephew can contribute to making life easier for disabled individuals.

geek84

Many thanks indeed for your suggestions

@miketate2

Amaya_Ringo

My autism includes a very severe navigational disability, and GPS is absolutely useless to me because I cannot follow directions and often cannot orientate correctly, especially in the dark. I rely on public transport unless someone is with me in my local area - sometimes I get lost even going around my local neighbourhood, because I lose my bearings. I also become lost inside shopping centres and often have to stop and recalibrate to find the bus station after work, although it's a five minute walk at best. This is extremely limiting and not helped by a very poor local bus service.

I often get people suggesting to me I should 'just use GPS'. I have tried, but it really doesn't help in the slightest. It's not designed to help people with navigational disabilities. It's designed to help non-disabled people track unfamiliar routes.

I mention this because a lot of 'gadgets' used for autism are not actually designed to help autistic people and thus have negligible benefits depending on the autistic person concerned. (Some people will find them more useful than others, but there's a danger of assuming they're helpful when often they're not).

Ironside1990

I think Hot Cup water dispensers are great for people who are uncomfortable, or have poor co-ordination. I had an accident when using a kettle, trying to make a pot noodle. I spilt boiling water all over my hand.

With Hot Cup dispensers, i don't have that problem anymore.