Jockey Club Rehabilitation Engineering Centre
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Special Modification and
Adaptation
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Modification of a wheelchair for
toilet access |
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A standard wheelchair may be able to be modified for toilet access. It is
useful for a user who wants to use existing toilets but are not able to
self-transfer from their wheelchair. It is only useful to modify
wheel-chairs that are both wide and high enough to go over toilets. One must
bear in mind that most toilets at home or in public places do not have doors
wide enough for wheelchair access.
Major modifications done as follows:
The cross-bar of the wheelchair is moved forward to gain room for toilet
access. The seat of the chair is replaced with a plastic and aluminum seat
with a slide in the middle.
In use, the user positions the wheelchair over the toilet and removes the
slide for toilet access. The slide can easily be re-inserted. For comfort, a
closed-cell foam mattress attaches on the seat with plastic fastener.
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Mouth-operated terminal device for bilateral amputee |
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Commercial tool-holders with a quick-release
mechanism allow an amputee to change tools with ease. One type of mechanism
requires an upward push from the tool for latching and a forceful push on a
release mechanism on the side of the holder to un-latch the tool. Another
type of mechanism requires an upward push from the tool for latching or
un-latching. A bilateral above elbow amputee may find it too difficult or
inconvenient to operate the necessarily strong side-push release mechanism.
For the second type of device, the tool cannot be used to do jobs that
require a pushing action.
The mouth-operated tool-holder’ allows an amputee to put on a tool by a
gentle downward push and release a tool by gently pulling on a thick nylon
line with his/her mouth.
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Light weight folding push-cart with self-locking brakes and ramp |
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This attendant propelled mobility aid was
designed specifically for a person who cannot sit because of ankylosing
spondylosis. The ramp, which doubles up as the back support, allows the user
to get on the cart unaided. An attendant propels the cart by pushing forward
and down on a push-bar which releases the brakes. If the push-bar is
accidentally released, the rear wheels lock automatically. For long travel
on flat ground, the brakes can be disabled if desired. The cart is foldable
for easy transportation in a taxi and storage at home.
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Sewing machine modification |
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Wheelchair users cannot operate an
industrial sewing machine because they can neither operate a foot-pedal nor
knee-operated foot-lifter. REC has modified the following models of
electronic industrial sewing machines for hands-only operation. Some models
have been used in a sheltered workshop for training as well as production
since 1988. They were well received by both instructors and handicapped
users.
JUKI models: DDL-5550-6/SC328, DDL-5550-7/CP133, DDL-5550N-7/SC1 TYPE KB
A push-button control panel provides the following 5 functions:
STOP, SLOW SPEED, FAST SPEED, REVERSE, CUT-THREAD.
The existing small mechanical hand-operated foot-lifter is not suitable for
production work. It has been replaced by a longer and broader one.
PFAFF 465/880M with an electric foot-lifter and reverse switch
A push button panel controls the following 7 functions:
STOP, SLOW SPEED, FAST SPEED, REVERSE, CUT-THREAD, FOOT-UP, FOOT-DOWN.
A rotary switch located under the sewing table selects the sewing speed in
which FAST SPEED operates.
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Toy Modification |
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| A lot of toys are inaccessible to a disabled
child because they require finger dexterity and strength to operate such
things as standard switches and push buttons. However, with simple
modifications, most battery operated toys can be operated by a disabled
child. For example, a toy that comes with a single on/off switch requires
simple modification and only one single ability switch. |
A more complicated toy such as a
robot-arm normally requires one or two joy-sticks to operate. It is likely
that such a toy can be easily modified for operation with multi-switches
such as large push buttons. With a scanning interface, it can even be
operated with two switches, such as a suck & blow switch.
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Adapted toys are great training aids. Simple
toys can be employed as trainers for using an ability switch and a toy such
as a robot-arm can be used to train spatial perception.
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