Sensory Regulation Spinner

11th December 2022

Sam is the teacher of 3 to 6 year olds, with severe learning difficulties in Purple Class at The Milestone School Longlevens. He came to us with this challenge

All the children in Purple Class have severe learning difficulties.  Most also have Autism, little or no language, and Sensory Integration Difficulties.

In Purple Class, we focus a lot on supporting our little learners’ sensory regulation needs. By doing this, it helps bring calm to the children, and makes them less heightened and anxious, which in turn allows them to access different activities, focus for longer, and become more confident learners.  These types of input also help the children to calm down after severe upset, such as when something has ‘gone wrong’ that they cannot explain due to their young age and language difficulties.  The difference made by putting these types of strategies in place is amazing!

Our problem:  We need things that stimulate the children’s vestibular sense – their sense of movement.  We have discovered many children prefer to engage with this by spinning – they do not feel dizzy, and this type of fast, circular motion really helps them to ‘centre’ and feel ‘grounded’.

We borrowed a ‘spinner’ from an Occupational Therapist, but will need to return it soon. We would like to have two made for the class.  The one we have borrowed is good, but it has its limitations – its a little small to lay on as the children are getting older, and because the base below the turntable is smaller than the platform the children lay on, it often tips up.

We would like to have two ‘spinners’ made, circular ones, about 1m in diameter, so that children who find it hard to sit upright can lay on them.  I thought originally a 1m top, with a turntable that went almost round the entire rim underneath would stop it tipping up.  On reflection, it may be possible to have a smaller turntable, like the one installed on the spinner we’ve borrowed, but with a larger base underneath, about 80cm.  This may stop the spinner tipping, whilst also avoiding fingers getting caught underneath?  These are just ideas!  I don’t have the ability to put it together myself!  The one we have borrowed is from America – the OT has not found any available in the UK yet.

Head support

12th November 2020

Our client suffered from MND and a support had been made to help lift her head, but she was finding it a little difficult to move her head sideways to look at her computerised vision driven voice box or her carer.

Wheelchair protectors

27th April 2014

The client wanted to stop the “sharp” parts of her electric wheelchair knocking chips out of her valuable antique furniture. The problem with the joystick controlled electric wheelchair is that it instantaneously goes where the front castors are pointing, rather than following the joystick/ differential electric control of the driving wheels, and this resulted in poor control in tight spaces.

It was decided that the best solution would be to fit wood protection over all the “sharp” parts of the wheelchair, as shown in the photo. This solution has proved to be entirely satisfactory.

Toilet transfer board

27th April 2014

The client has muscular dystrophy and had difficulty transferring to and from her wheelchair. The commercially available transfer board was unsuitable for her toilet because it was too long and the aperture did not fit.

A toilet seat was manufactured from 18mm ply and fitted with a plastic bridge which rose over the wheelchair tyre, to avoid snagging.

The client is now able to position her wheelchair and manipulate herself onto the toilet on her own.

Swim launcher

26th April 2014

Elizabeth, who has multiple sclerosis, was ‘a real water baby before the disease took hold’, wanted a wheeled trolley to carry her across a beach to the sea.

The design was based on a ‘rickshaw’ style trolley utilising a braced ‘T’ bar frame, braced from. Low pressure ABS (anti-lock) rimmed tyres were mounted on the cross bar with a third tyre on a castoring action axle at the front. The seat, seat frame, foot board, tyres and castor assembly were all demountable for storage.

The benefits are best described by quoting from Elizabeth’s letter: ‘My husband had no trouble pulling it across the sand. He took me into the water. I got off and swam away! It felt fantastic. When too tired to swim I sat in it on the edge of the sea and let the waves break over me – magic!’ Quoted by kind permission of the client.

Standing frame

25th April 2014

This client’s physiotherapy requires that he stands for 30 minutes twice a day. He was unable to do this when working away from the office or out of the country and requested an air-transportable support if possible.

A steel frame that could support his weight at elbow level was made. A sponge covered cross member prevents forward collapse of his knees. The frame has a bottom tray on which the client stands and prevents toppling over. It is easily collapsed into a transportable package.

The frame successfully allows the client to exercise away from home.

Tall adult stair-gate

25th April 2014

This tall client is unsteady on his feet and has jerky, involuntary movements. A tall (to chest level) stairgate was requested that would prevent him toppling down the stairs when moving from his bedroom to the bathroom at night.

The 1200mm gate was made from plywood and was lightened by cutting out panels with the result shown in the picture. As there was no satisfactory place to attach the hinges, aluminium channel with cutouts every 200mm was secured to both walls.

The gate is lifted and dropped 200mm into position, the channel thus securing the stairgate all the way to the top. Rubber buffers were attached to the top of the stairgate so that the wallpaper was not damaged when the gate was stowed away.

The client’s mother now sleeps soundly since her son is no longer able to fall down.

Secured shower chair

24th April 2014

The 35- year old client has a level access shower, but the shower chair has occasionally toppled over with him in it, requiring a carer to help him back up.

A steel frame was fitted to the rear of the shower chair and secured to the floor outside the shower. The ‘upside – down – U – shape’ portion of the frame is easily lifted out from both the outside floor section and the blocks on the back of the chair. Since their protruding length provides the security, clamping is not required. The client now levers himself from his wheelchair onto the now-fixed shower chair.

The client no longer topples over in the shower. He is also independent of any need for a carer to stand by, and thus maintains his modesty.

Raised chair arms

21st April 2014

The client could not raise himself from his wheelchair because the chair arms were too low and thus he could not obtain a balance on his legs to lever himself up. He was a draughtsman and had designed his own fitting.

The soft arms were raised by 50mm using aluminium blocks machined to suit the tubes of the wheelchair arms and frame.

The client is now able to transfer himself from his wheelchair to any other seat, and was pleased with the result.

Pump pot support

21st April 2014

A lady client used a pump pot for dispensing coffee for herself and her friends but this had to be held by carers while she used it to prevent tipping.

A wooden support for the pump pot was designed that held the pot securely and was clamped to the edge of the table.

The client is now able to dispense coffee for herself and her friends without assistance from anyone, giving her that added element of independence that is so important.

Oven door handle

15th April 2014

The client has insufficient strength in her shoulders and fingers, preventing her from successfully gripping the high overhanging oven door ridge and pulling it forwards and downwards, because it needed her fingers cupped upwards.

A stand-off bar was manufactured and fitted to the high oven door which allows her much better grip and pulling action because now her fingers are able to grip downwards over the bar.

The oven is now usable!

Music player

14th April 2014

The client was a totally blind youth with severe learning difficulties. He enjoyed music, and wanted a player that he could control.

The equipment was supplied by the client’s parents. It was modified so that it could be powered from the mains and a jack socket was fitted so that the music output could be taken to the external speakers. The client only had access to the controls to “Play” Stop” “Next Tune” and “Previous Tune” He learnt the position of these controls and operates the unit by himself when the unit is powered up for him.

The client is now able to listen to his favourite music and control which tunes he listens to without the assistance of a carer. He can replay tunes he enjoys, and fast forward past tunes he does not want to listen to.

Looped cutlery

13th April 2014

The client was unable to grip cutlery normally, so help was requested.

The solution was to add loops to two sets of cutlery through which, with help, he could slide his fingers. The loops were made from copper tube, and silver soldered to the cutlery. The cutlery was then plastic coated to provide a pleasing and washable surface.

The client is now able to feed himself.

Keyboard guide

12th April 2014

Tremors in the client’s fingers meant that he tended to touch two or more keys when using the laptop computer keyboard. A shield was requested by his parents.

An aluminium plate was machined with holes positioned at the location of every key on the keyboard and fixed to the laptop. A direct photocopy of the keyboard was made to give the hole positions. A plate of plastic would probably have broken between the keys since drilled hole separation was only about 2mm – so aluminium was chosen. A trial run was carried out and the holes were slightly increased in size to prevent finger jamming, and thus enable better contact. The keys could then be confidently pressed one at a time.

The client how happily uses the keyboard far more effectively than before – THANK YOU! shows on the screen in the photo.

Hot ashes removal

12th April 2014

The elderly client is not steady on her feet when bending and she was worried about removing the ashes from her coal fire.

The solution was to design and make a small frame that she could clip to her ashes tray with extra welded-on brackets. The twelve inch height of the frame was limited by her ability to subsequently tip the ashes into her dustbin. The frame was made from lightweight aluminium tube and covered with a tape to provide cool and easy to grip handholds.

The client now feels much happier, since it gives her more confidence in lifting the hot ashes safely and without spillage onto her carpet.

Horse mounting platform – transportable

12th April 2014

Mandy had been advised by her physiotherapist that horse riding would be beneficial for her multiple sclerosis problems, but she needed a platform to mount her horse. The platform was to be transportable so she could ride in different places.

The solution was to make a thirty inch high platform, two feet by three feet, with a handrail. Wheels were mounted on the rear so that the handrail could be used to haul the platform up the slope of a horse box. Supports, to prevent the whole platform from toppling over if the client fell against the handrail, were also added and were hinged to be stowable. To minimise weight, the steps were made separate.

Mandy is now able to mount and dismount in safety using the handrail provided, and is very happy with the result.

Gel liner applicator

11th April 2014

A tetraplegic client needed a device to enable him to don gel liners for his prosthetic legs. He was unable to do this without help.

A novel device positioned the gel liner over four vanes. Each vane had a roller at the top. As the client pushed his stump into the gel liner supported by the device, the rollers and vanes allowed it to fold over and effectively ‘roll up’ over his leg.

The client can now fit the gel liners without assistance in preparation for the donning of the prosthetic legs, thus giving him greater independence.

Face wipe

10th April 2014

The client suffered a runny nose and wanted something to help, since he was not able to lift his own hands.

The solution was to design and make a frame to fix to his wheelchair, to which a wipe could be clamped by his carer conveniently in front of, but not obstructing, his face.

The client felt much better, thank you.

Drive winch

8th April 2014

The client is a wheelchair user and has a steep path to his front door, which exhausted his carer when pushing, both up and downhill.

The solution was to provide a hand winch which the carer could rotate – a motorised winch was tried, but found to be extremely slow and it was found impossible to change its gearbox so this was discarded.

It is now much easier for the carer to help the client to the front door.

Drinking aid with pump

8th April 2014

The client could no longer raise a cup to her mouth or actively swallow. She frequently ingested food and drink into her lungs. Any fluid was being administered by her carer, one teaspoon at a time. She needed a drinking aid that would enable her to take fluid in a controlled manner, without assistance.

The drinking aid was built around a peristaltic pump, gravity-fed from a widemouth flask (allowing carers to add ice cubes to the liquid if necessary). The pump was converted from mains power to 12V for safety and portability. A variable timer allowed the pumping-time, and thereby the quantity of fluid, to be set within suitable limits (a time equivalent to 5ml was used). The drinking aid is self-contained and portable, being powered by an internal rechargeable battery, and provided with a commercially available intelligent plug-in charger.

The client is now in control of her own fluid intake, and can satisfy her thirst without calling for help.

Cooking station

2nd April 2014

A tetraplegic client wished to continue with their hobby of cooking

A cooking station was devised which included a variety of gadgets to help with the various tasks of cooking, preparation and dining. One of the devices helps with opening bottles by turning the bottle whilst gripping the top. The set of equipment enabled the client to carry on with their passion for cooking.

Child’s steerable trolley

14th March 2014

The young boy had difficulty with sitting, standing and walking, and wanted a steerable trolley to help him.

A trolley was manufactured from steel tube and a large padded cushion which the boy could rest his chest upon. It was also made steerable at the front for fun, and everyone’s enjoyment.

The boy is now able to move himself around much more independently of his parents, resulting in a better time for learning and exploration. Beep! Beep!

Camera holder

12th March 2014

Adam had spinal injuries and was unable to lift even the smallest weight. He wanted to use a camera, so requested a device to hold the camera in position for shooting yet allow him to move it out of the way when not in use.

A flexible pipe (rather like a desk-lamp support) was attached to the frame of his wheelchair. The camera was fitted to the end of the flexible pipe. Adam was able to position the camera in the required position for shooting and the device then held the camera in that position. When not in use the pipe could be bent to allow the camera to rest in Adam’s lap.

Adam is able to use a camera from his wheelchair and the assembly is easily removable when not required.

Bike handlebar grip

11th March 2014

The client was no longer able to use his right hand to grip the standard size handlebar securely, and needed a much larger diameter.

An aluminium bar was bored to the diameter of the handlebars and grub-screwed to the handlebar. A sponge foam layer was stuck to the aluminium bar with double-sided tape, thus providing a secure grip. Over that was wound a self adhesive, non-slip tape. This overall diameter had been predetermined by finding which spray cans in the garage were most easily and best gripped!

The client is once again happily able to use his bike safely.