Task - Provide better grip or to grab something.
User - For an individual who has trouble with grip or limited motions in their hands.
Item - Playdough: this mouldable material can make materials easier to grab and turn like the tops of jars or bottles or cupboard knobs. Mold the playdough around the item and it gives a better grip.
Task - Drinking through straw.
User - This is important for an individual who may not use their hands or has difficulty working with smaller objects.
Item - Clothespin: straw grip. Simply use a clothespin to attach a straw to the side of a cup, mug or glass to limit its movement (elastic band holds both together). Another alternative to this is to purchase a tumbler that has a lid and attached straw.
Task - Keep page of book open.
User - This tool would be beneficial for an individual who has limited motion with their hand or has a hard time flipping pages. Also this can be a tool for an individual with cognitive difficulties who may lose their place easily.
Item - Clothing Hanger with pant hooks: This can be used to attach to a book or papers to keep them open. A practical application may be to use it to keep a page of a cookbook open. Hang the hanger with the book on a cabinet in your kitchen while working away. You never lose your page!
Task - Keeping items on a table or ones lap.
User - This tool can be used with an individual who has limited ability to pick up things off the floor or for an individual who has abrupt movements who may knock items over regularly.
Item - Aluminum Turkey Roasting Pan/Plastic Tray or ice cube trays: used to avoid items/pieces from falling off table. For example, a shallow plastic tray could be used to put a puzzle together. An add on to this tool could be a clamp or heavy duty clothespin that can hold the tray in place. Peg Clips for example can be added to this task to ensure the trays remain solid on the desk or table if required.
Task - Opening doorknobs.
User - individual with limited grasping capabilities
Item - Shoelaces: tie shoelaces to knobs on cabinets and doors to allow an individual with limited grasping capabilities the opportunity to open the doors themselves. Metal coat hanger or decorative wall hook can be used as an extension of one's hand to open kitchen cupboards or can be used as an aide to pull up pants. Cat/Dog toy- attach the cat/dog toy around a circular door knob to provide a lever for individuals to use to open the door.
Task - Quick communication
User - nonverbal individual
Item - Luggage Tags: could be filled with pictures (that can easily be changed), so student could look through luggage tag and hold up the one that has the right number, for example, when asked a math question. This would be a tool important for a nonverbal individual for quick communication working with aided language. Another example would be during phys-ed class to increase the flow of the class and protect the technology in more high action classes such as wrestling or basketball. The pictures, letters or numbers inside the luggage tags can easily be changed, so they can be used for numerous activities.
Task - Read worksheet or book.
User - individual with, for example, dyslexia or visual stress
Item - Transparent Plastic Dividers or Folder: can be used as overlays, for example, a student with dyslexia may use a blue overlay to be able to help read info on a page.
Task - Communicating in water.
User - nonverbal individual swimming in pool/lake/ocean
Item - Floating Water Toy (e.g. fludder board or beach ball): attach laminated communication grid or single images on beach ball, to be able to communicate in the water. This tool is for an individual who is nonverbal, but still needs to communicate when swimming in a pool or visiting the beach. The non water version may be a Cutting Board- someone can attach pictures (schedule of the day) to the cutting board so that it can be easily held and seen.
Task - Pulling oneself up from toilet or car seat.
User - individual with difficulties getting up from seated position.
Item - Belt, leash, dog tugging toy and many more: This tool can be used as a lifting aide to assist a student with difficulty getting up from the seated position. An example could be to connect belt to a headrest on front seat of car to allow student better grip to pull himself/herself out of back car seat or attached to a hook in a bathroom stall to serve the same purpose.
Task - Identification of items (e.g. Play cards).
User - individual who is visually impaired
Item - One Hole Holepunch: an individual who is visually impaired may use holepunch holes to identify items (this is when braille is not available), e.g. Playing cards - one hole for each number that the card is worth on top left hand side and one to four holes on top right hand side depending on suit of card.
Task - Holding on to writing utensils.
User - beneficial for an individual who has limited mobility to pick something up off the floor or for an individual who loses things easily/often.
Item - Bracelet or elastic hairband: Attach a pencil, pen or marker to bracelet then to wrist so that it does not get lost.
Task- faucet extender.
The lid can be taken off and a hole cut into the side of bottle to fit over a water tap.
User- This tool can be beneficial for someone in a wheelchair that can’t reach that far back.
Item- Pop bottle or Water Bottle
Task- Touchscreen facilitator.
One finger of a glove can be cut off to allow skin to screen contact to click iPad/tablet. This will avoid other fingers/whole hand interaction.
User- This tool would be beneficial for an individual who struggles with using a touchscreen device properly or has limited movement in fingers.
Item- Glove (At the Dollar Store we actually found a “touch glove” that already had the touch ability built in.)
Task- Catcher
Attach velcro to an everyday item and use wool/spandex gloves to make catching easier.
User- This is a tool for an individual that does not have the hand movement to close their hand quickly enough to catch an item or for an individual with limited sight this tool can help keep them involved in everyday activities/games.
Item-wool Glove and Velcro
Task- Dice roller.
You can roll dice inside of container, so they don’t fly around the classroom (I actually use that in my classroom to avoid losing dice).
User- This tool is beneficial for an individual who cannot roll an individual dice due to fine motor, but also for an individual who may be too abrupt in movements to roll a die effectively.
Item- Small plastic transparent container
Task- Page separators.
Stick items between book pages to allow student to better be able to turn book pages himself/herself.
User- This is beneficial for an individual who has a difficult time turning individual pages in a book.
Item-Pom Poms or popsicle sticks or binder clips and many more
Task- Toilet flusher.
Attach to existing toilet handle to allow for bigger surface area to push to flush toilet.
User- This tool is beneficial to an individual who has limited motion in their fingers possibly from a stroke.
Item-Spatula
Task- Occupational Therapy.
Put a string through the middle of the noodle and attach it to any chair/seat to elevate legs and keep them in flexion.
User- This tool would be beneficial to an individual who has cerebral palsy and needs their legs to remain at a certain angle for comfort. This tool also prevents rubbing on various materials.
Item-Pool Noodle
Task- Painting
User- This is for an individual who has a difficult time holding on to smaller objects such as a paint brush.
Item-Scrubbing dish brush
Task- Pencil grips.
Simply cut hole in balls and stick pencil through the ball.
User- These are large, but may be necessary for an individual who requires a more substantial grip.
Item-Tennis Balls and doggy balls of various sizes
Task- Magnifying glass
Cut in half, length ways and add water to the inside.
User- An individual who has vision problems and cannot properly use a small hand held magnifying glass due to issue with fine motor may find this easier.An individual who has vision problems and cannot properly use a small hand held magnifying glass due to issue with fine motor may find this easier.
Item- Clear pop bottle
*To amp it up a little you can add food colouring to enhance the picture, ie. yellow.
Task- attach to a light switch and let dangle making turning on and off a light more manageable.
User- for an individual who may struggle with grasp or fine motor skills required to complete this task.
Item- Glasses straps or shoestring
Item- Glasses straps or shoestring
Task- iPad/tablet/technology holder.
A student can place the iPad/tablet on the top shelf and documents on the lower shelf. Students can then easily take pictures with the device.
User- This is important for an individual who may not be able to hold the device or when holding cannot stabilize themselves to take a picture.
Item- Locker Organizer/cabinet organizer
Task- creates a slant board/art board.
User- The angle of the slant board promotes better placement of shoulders, arms and hands, therefore promoting fine and visual motor skills. It promotes an efficient pencil grasp because of its design it brings the paper closer to the student which provides better support for holding a pencil appropriately. For children who have difficulty reaching the entire paper while flat on a desk, the slant board provides an easier distance to reach from the top to the bottom of the page, while also keeping the paper stabilized. Placing a book or other reading material on a slant board may reduce eye strain.
Item- Three Ring Binder and Chip Clip
Task- technology stand.
Attach a small clip to a larger one to create a stand for an iPod, iPhone or iPad/tablet (multiple needed for bigger devices).
User- This can be very important for an individual who requires devices to be at an angle because of visual impairment or it may be important for an individual who cannot handle a smaller device due to issues with fine motor skills.
Item-Binder Clips
Task- Response System
Green can represent YES, while red can represent NO.
User- This can be used for an individual who is nonverbal.
Item- Something red and something green (like sweat bands)
Task- attention grabbers.
These devices are flashy or they either light up, vibrate or both and can be used to gain the attention of a student.
User- an individual who has difficulty hearing or is partially/completely deaf. This could also be a tool for a nonverbal individual who wants to get the attention of another individual.
Item- Flashy Flamingo (I mean who misses this in the class?), a horn, light or toys
Task-Arm Stabilizer
User- An individual who may have difficulty holding a pencil or pen properly may need support in order to do this. A nice cushion can help that student maintain proper form.
Item- Gel Bike Seat
Task- Sequencing Device.
Attach visuals in a sequential order to ensure students follow proper steps when completing a task.
User- This tool can be used for any individual who may require a step by step visual of directions on how to complete a certain task (intellectual disability). It may be something like logging on to a school computer of putting on their coat at the end of the day.
Item- Flyribbon or Picture Frame
Task- Card holder.
Cards can easily be placed in this item and easily held while playing games.
User- An individual who struggles with holding multiple items within their hands may find this tool beneficial.
Item- Nail Brush Set
Task- Item holder.
Items can easily be placed and replaced within this foam.
User- An individual who may require visuals to point at to communicate or an individual who struggles with keeping multiple items on their work space.
Item- Floral Foam
TIME TO THINK…….
Here is the item we chose to buy and present on Wednesday. Any guesses what we would possibly use it for?
Presentation
Task- Toilet Paper Stopper
Set heavy item of your choosing on top of toilet paper holder to be able to tear off toilet paper with one hand. After rolling out TP, set heavy item on top of TP and tear off pieces. (Prevents whole roll from unrolling!)
User- This tool is important for an individual who may only have one arm or limited movement in one hand/arm. This can be for a temporary aide (broken/sprained arm) or a more permanent (amputee or stroke victim) need depending on the situation.
Item-Something heavy i.e. a soap bottle, a shoe, a pencil case or even a water bottle (an everyday item a person may carry is most beneficial, you don't want to add extra to an individual's person).
Please excuse the formatting issues (grey colouring in place of bolding and left alignment). It doesn't look like this in edit mode, but does in the blog :( I have no idea how to change it so please accept as is. :)
ReplyDeleteYou really had the class in suspense about the soap dispenser. How you presented it was very creative. I think this is such a great product or idea for students with hand strength and the ability to stop things from moving. Great job on your assignment. Thank you for sharing your ideas!!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Joy,
ReplyDeleteWay to think out of the box. I was trying to guess in my head what you bottle of lotion was going to be used for. Never in a million years would I have come up with your idea. A simple solution to a vital task.
Nick