8th March 2022
The client has suffered motor-impairment of her hands and fingers and can no longer hold and manipulate a book. She does, however, have limited control of her right index finger.
A device had to be made to hold an adult paperback book of any of the current popular sizes with up to 500 pages and which enabled the client to easily turn each page, either backwards or forwards, without loosing control of the book.
2nd March 2020
Colin has MND and lives down stairs, spending almost all his time in a riser/recliner chair. He likes to watch YouTube on his iPad and has it mounted on a stand in a convenient position in front of him. The problem was that it was in the way when he needed to leave his chair. The challenge was to modify the stand, in a way that Colin could control, so the iPad could be retracted.
26th February 2020
Stan has a learning disability, autism, sensory processing disorder. Stan has an inquisitive mind and likes to predict a sequence of events and then test it. Stan needed more complex cause and effect toys than pre-school toys but they needed to be safer than toys for older children. It was thought that a maze puzzle, where Stan could put something in one end and predict where it would go and come out would be appropriate. Following discussions with his mother two ideas emerged: a “coin drop” as he liked posting things, and a more complex marble game requiring Stan to rotate and slide movements to move marbles to a specific end point.
Stan has a learning disability, autism, sensory processing disorder. He has no awareness of danger, is unpredictable, moves fast but can be dexterous. He has Pica, which means he might eat anything, including non-food items, that will go in his mouth. The objective, therefore, was to produce two games with the appropriate level of complexity and challenge but which could be played with no risk of Stan being able to swallow any parts.
24th February 2020
Theo is a 9 year old boy with limited capacity to control his movements and a lack of awareness of danger. He wanted to ride a bicycle like other children. The challenge was to modify a bicycle of suitable size so he could learn to ride it, whilst at the same time, giving his parents control of his actions.
2nd January 2020
The client is a regular computer user but is slowly losing the use of his hands due to MS. For this reason, use of a conventional mouse is becoming very difficult. The solution offered by his OT involves use of an Integramouse which has all of the functions of a normal mouse but is operated by the mouth. To be usable by the client, it must be mounted on the end of an adjustable arm.
When writing reports and emails he does not need the Integramouse since he uses speech-to-text software via a microphone, and so when doing this, he requires the Integramouse to move out of sight of the screen and only return when needed once again. This was the challenge addressed by Remap.
18th January 2019
A school in Derby, which specialises in teaching students with learning difficulties and special needs, asked the Derby Remap panel to provide an unusual teaching aid. The students are much more comfortable learning about practical rather than academic subjects and so one of the courses on offer to them is basic car maintenance. There is no space at the school for a dedicated car for the sole use of students and so some staff have been offering their own cars for use during lessons. This is fine for checking oil, brake fluid and radiator water levels but staff drew the line at students removing and refitting their car wheels!
10th December 2018
Margaux has skeletal dysplasia (dwarfism) and struggles to use bathroom facilities, particularly the washbasin, as a result.
Her parents have tried various steps but they are very difficult for Margaux to use and lack sufficient stability. She really needed a custom-made device to safely climb and stand on. To add to the challenge, no fastening could be made to the bathroom wall or floor and the existing sink & cupboards could not be altered.
Ralph Anderson picked up the challenge and visited Margaux with her OT from Derby Children’s Hospital.
7th June 2018
  Copy by Berkshire Panel |
A one-handed snooker player required a rest for his cue that could allow him to play his shots, but also be easy to move one-handed about the table.
This simple rest was made from a bracket usually used as a centre support for a wardrobe rail. The ring allows the rest to be positioned using the cue. The cut-outs allow it to be placed close to the ball without compromising stability.
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28th April 2014
A young man with very limited use of his right hand needed assistance to operate tools for his job.
A leaf rake was modified by attaching the upper part of an elbow crutch with jubilee clips. A pair of branch croppers was fitted with an armpit pad and a fencers guard to the left hand handle.
The client can now continue with his work.
27th April 2014
This lady is a wheelchair user and found it difficult to hang out her washing due to the height of the washing line.
An additional pole was concreted in halfway along the washing line and 4-armed rotating arms mounted at the top of all three of the posts. Operating cords were attached to the ends of the arms and secured to cleats on the poles at a suitable height enabling the lady to set the angles of the arms. To hang her washing out, she rotates an arm to lower the washing line. The arm is then raised to lift the washing up and secured using the cleat. The exercise is then repeated on other sections of the washing line as required.
The lady can hang up her washing from her wheelchair without it dragging in the dirt and dry it at a reasonable height above the ground.
27th April 2014
A playgroup needed a tricycle modifying so that a 4 year old could join in the play.
A new padded seat was made from half a plastic bucket which was heat-moulded to shape. Body and foot restraints and a pommel completed the adaptation.
The boy was able to be included in the group play with one of his friends towing him around.
27th April 2014
Ronan is a 12 year old boy with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, as a result of which he is profoundly deaf, has learning difficulties and has only vestigial arms. His parents thought a cycle would be very good for him.
A tricycle was designed and built to be adjustable to cater for his size as he grows, using parts from a trekbike, a wheelchair and several components donated by Raleigh Industries. Steering is accomplished by leaning sideways against the seat sides; braking by pushing his head back against the headrest and gear changing by using the inside of his thighs.
Ronan is having some difficulty in mastering the techniques necessary to control the cycle but his parents are convinced thathe will benefit from the experience and enjoy riding it.
27th April 2014
A boy with epilepsy, right sided weakness and developmental delay needed aids when toileting and bathing.
A raised wooden platform, tailored to the shape of the small bathroom, was made to allow the boy to reach the bath and toilet. A hole was cut through a spare toilet lid so he had a small secure opening but others had a standard toilet.
He was able to use both the bath and toilet much more easily whilst the rest of the family were not inconvenienced.
25th April 2014
This lady had muscle weakness in her legs and having had bilateral hip replacements had limited movement, limiting her social life as she cannot rise from a chair without assistance.
It was found that the weight on the seat reduced from 50 to 10kg from sitting properly on a seat to leaning forward and trying to rise. A lightweight, portable sit-to-stamd aid in the form of a padded cushion as made with four torsion springs fitted under the plywood base which gave a ‘push’ of approximately 12kg. This ‘ejection’ assistance was enough to enable the lady to stand without outside assistance.
The lady’s social life benefited as she could stand by herself when visiting places outside her home – where she had proprietary standing assistance units. However it was not effective on soft cinema seats.
25th April 2014
Muscular dystrophy had led to this man being unable to straighten up from a “toe-touching” position.
A cordless screwdriver was used to elevate the cross arms of a standing aid and raise his body to the vertical.
He could now stand up straight without assistance.
25th April 2014
This boy with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy uses an electric wheelchair. There is limited room in the area and his condition means that his arms tire very easily. He could not get close to the computer desk so as to support his forearms on the desk because the wheelchair joystick fouled it.
A diagonally sideways approach was adopted. Two specially shaped shelves were made supported on wall mounted brackets. A (ex Zimmer frame) support leg was not only a desk support but acted as a pivot for the computer keyboard. The height of the upper shelf was set to allow the boy to rest his forearms on it to stop them from tiring. The whole unit will be easily adjustable for height as he grows.
He can get right up to and use his computer easily in the limited space available and his arms do not get so tired.
24th April 2014
A 12 year old girl with dystonia is unable to walk but loves to go skiing with her parents. An adaptive ‘Bi -Unique’ ski had been purchased for her which comprises a seat in a space frame fixed on to a pair of skis via an articulating mount. Her parents found difficultly transporting it and the girl to the slopes.
A pair of axles with detachable rubber tyred wheels were made to fit via clamping bars on her skis. After wheeling skis and child to the slope, the wheels, axles and clamping bars can be removed. These clamp into a lightweight base carried in a rucksack by the parent as they ski and control the child in the adaptive ski.
The device enables the client to continue to ski and her parents to get her to the slopes with relative ease since she was growing too big and heavy to continue to carry both her and the adaptive ski.
24th April 2014
An arthritic lady with only one finger and thumb on her right hand had difficulty operating her shower control.
An aluminium ring was turned to fit tightly over the control knob and a lever screwed into it to allow easy operation of the control.
The lady had no difficulty in operating the shower control unaided.
24th April 2014
This keen rifle shooter has Kennedy’s disease and now uses a wheelchair. He wanted to continue with his hobby but from a position sitting in his wheelchair.
A rifle rest was built on to the end of a folding arm that could be fitted in place of wheelchair left armrest. A lever lifted the rest off the ground whilst the shooter positions the wheelchair. A piece of plastic guttering was fitted to the right armrest to safely stow the rifle when not in use. Not only has this man been able to follow his hobby but has put in some good performances in local competitions using the device.
24th April 2014
A young boy with severe learning difficulties and visual impairment who was unable to walk loved to go on the public swings in the park but had grown out of the “baby swings”. He wanted to use the larger swings but needed to be held in a secure position.
The client’s mother supplied a lath and webbing seat. This was modified by the addition of a nylon webbing weight-bearing loop; tie-ons to the swing chains and a harness with karabiners to attach to the chains. The parents can easily attach the device to any public swing to allow their child to enjoy a swing.
21st April 2014
George is a boy with Downs syndrome, learning disabilities, low muscle tone and balance problems, but he loves bicycles. His parents had bought a cycle trailer but it had to hold him safely.
A support frame was made from old zimmer frame tubing inside foam rubber padding and wrapped in tape and bolted to a normal cycle saddle. This in turn was bolted to the trailer frame. He could then be held in place with a lapstrap.
As a result George can go cycling safely with his parents – an activity he loves.
21st April 2014
After a stroke a maker of saddlery wear now has a left sided weakness that prevents him from holding the work pieces as he would like.
An overcentre clamping system was made that screwed to the adjacent wall and held the leather so that he could work on it using just the one hand. The system includes a removable straight edge and punch holder.
The client can now continue to work in leather saddlery.
21st April 2014
A lady with multiple sclerosis had recently had a stroke leaving weakness in her left arm with shortening of her muscles affecting her left hand and wrist. She needed a “Resting Splint” to help her exercise and regain control.
A splint was made from scrap material and consisted of an upholstered hinged splint that could be preset for angle (to assist in the required duration of the wrist bent at the current required angle.) and three tape clamps to hold the arm and wrist in position. The unit was attached to her wheelchair armrest.
She could carry out the required arm/wrist position at her leisure when in her wheelchair. When not required the unit could be removed and the wheelchair was unaffected.
21st April 2014
A girl with cerebral palsy could not walk unaided and tended to tip her dolls pram over when she played with it.
Her physiotherapist thought it necessary for the pram to supply all necessary support to help the girl walk. The foldable pram handle was reversed to keep it inside the wheelbase and the rear wheel frames were extended to increase the pram wheelbase so the girl would stand inside it.
She can now play safely with her dolls in their pram.
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