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This is an interesting association called Adaptive Design Association that works with PT, OT, and parents to help make your own adaptive equipment out of cardboard and other resources.  You can design specific and client centered equipment that is very cost effective.     Truly amazing!

Universal Design E-World provides web based tools to support the "community of practice" in universal design. This is a great resource to learn all about visitability. The website details the requirements of visitability in the home and how universal housing design benefits everyone, not just the disabled population. No step entrances and wide hallways make it easier for strollers, moving furniture in and out, etc. There are several PDF reports containing more information on topics relating to visitabiltiy that can be downloaded by the user. These include design approach, increasing home access and universal design in housing. I think that universal design is much more feasible and aesthetically pleasing than renovations to make a home more accessible.

Originally, I was looking for an article about aging in place but during my search I came across an article, "How Pinterest Can Teach you About Universal Design". Almost everyone is familiar with Pinterest and this article talks about resourceful Pinterest can be. There is a pinner named Claudine Casabonne who shares a bunch of information on universal design. She states that the "goal is inclusive design, which doesn't need adaptation". I thought this was pretty interesting. Following her on Pinterest might come in handy if we ever take our careers in this direction.

A Taiwanese designer named Sha Yao began her project in creating tableware for Alzheimer's patients due to her grandmothers deteriorating condition. She based her designs and color usage due to a study finding that the use of bright colors increased the amount of food and liquid consumed by patients. Every piece of the tableware is designed with dementia patients in mind. Some of the adaptive silverware and plates with lips should look familiar from our pediatrics class!

Adaptive Equipment For Dementia Patients. Adaptive equipment designed to help individuals with decreased mobility, balance, motor control or vision loss often helps the dementia patient. Other types of adaptive equipment are specially designed for patients with memory loss. Equipment may function as warning devices, such as alarms that sound when the door is opened, or promote safety, such...

This youtube video by Markerbot and Robohand shows how two men use a 3D printer to design and make prosthetic hands.  The 3D printer allowed them to make cost effective mechanical hands for boys born without hands.  The mechanical hands work due to 'tenodesis grasp'.  The video specifies the need for an OT to strengthen the wrist for better use of the hand and a need for an OT to fit the gauntlet and hand cap.  Is this the future of prosthetics?  The possibilities of 3D printing are limitless when being used to make not only prosthetic hands but various adaptive equipment solutions for all populations.

Great video Kellie!

Here is a room-by-room checklist of steps you can take if someone in your family is impacted by a lasting injury, disability or age-related physical challenges. Many of these improvements will also make your home safer and more comfortable for able-bodied residents and guests alike, as well as potentially increase its value.

This article provides a checklist for making a home accessible. It begins with simple solutions for ensuring safety and also recommends contacting someone that has a Certified Aging in Place Specialization (CAPS) that can help design the home to meet visibility and universal design. I think it will be important for us to be skilled in assessing a clients home to help enable them to age in place.

A computer software concept has been developed that will enable clinicians with no experience in Computer Aided Design (CAD) to design and make custom-made 3D printed wrist splints for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers. The 3D printed splints are not only more comfortable and attractive but potentially cheaper than the current ones that are 'ugly, bulky, and can make a patients arm sweat'.

What a great idea. So many things are being done/accomplished due to 3-D printing. I can only imagine what our future holds in the area.

I am sure all of us have already designed our adaptive devices, but this journal has a few cool ideas that we could share with future patients. These are things found around the house that can be easily adaptable.

Some cheap and easy adaptive ideas for clients in the home environment. I may even use some myself!

The Physical Agent Modalities Practitioner Credentialing Agency, LLC (PAMPCA), has designed a continuing education course in PAMs for the busy therapist. You do not have to set aside multiple weekends to complete your credentialing training in physical agent modalities.

Wrist Splint, Braces and Stabilizer all at Supplies Central. We offer fast shipping and Warranty Replacements. Ossur form fit and DeRoyal's have wide variety of wrist brace and thumb splint brace supports designed to be comfortable and provide improve patient outcomes.

A program designed to help the viewer avoid back pain by demonstrating the correct body mechanics to use when transferring patients. The program discusses how the center of gravity, the line of gravity, and the base of support determine proper body alignment.

The "super 7 exercises are an important part of treatment for tennis elbow. They are designed to strengthen the muscles in the forearm and increase flexibility through stretching. In most cases te these exercises will help relieve elbow pain in about 4 to 6 week Each stretching exercise is held for 15 seconds and repeated 2 or 3 times.

Photo credit: John A. Rogers/University Of Illinois Researchers from Northwestern University and the University of Illinois have developed a discreet, wearable device that provides around-the-clock monitoring of both heart and skin health. The skin-like patch measures a mere five centimeters square and is designed to be worn directly on the skin, for example on a user's wrist much like a band aid.

I thought this was a neat idea, based on the lessons recently on cardiopulmonary health.

This web site provides resources to aging individuals. It includes studies, programs, tools, prevention services, among many others. This web site is a reliable resource that can be share in patient education. Our materials are designed to assist health professionals in learning about and engaging in activities of CDC's Healthy Aging Program and The Healthy Brain Initiative to promote independence andwellbeing. Access general health information for older adults. Get email updates To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address:

Ergonomics: Occupational Therapy in the Workplace (From the American OT Association: Reproducible consumer handout to further public education) Ergonomics is the science of designing a person's environment so that it facilitates the highest level of function. A person's work environment should fit his or her capabilities as a worker.Good ergonomics prevent injury and promote health, safety, and comfort for employees.

There has been a technology boom in wearable fitness trackers lately and I was curious to see if there was anything available to individuals who use a wheelchair as their main mode of transportation, whether due to LE amputations, spinal injury, etc. I came across this company who has created a fitness tracker specially designed for those who use a wheelchair. It not only maps incline, speed, heart rate and distance, but also aggregates data used for terrain mapping. This info can be used to give options for routes based on ease of maneuverability and safety.

This is an article about i-limbs which is a type of prosthestic design. It shows the different types of amputees, how they put the device together and how OT is involved. It even tells some patients goals and how the OT helps them reach their goals.

I thought this article was very easy to read and informative at the same time. I liked the fact it was from the first Eleanor Clarke Slalge lecture. It tells about three different pieces of equipment: Tilt Table, Standing Table, and Bilateral Tilt Tables that encourage correct positions and body mechanics.

This guys work looks fascinating. Shared as it is important to know all available options.