Psychologists across the country agree that a key element of self-care during the quarantine and isolation periods associated with the COVID-19 pandemic is staying connected to one another. Most disability service centers that normally provide adult day programs, support groups, recreational activities, and events have had to shut down in order to maintain the safety…
Nine-year-old Ithaca resident, Zoey Harrison, has physical disabilities and uses a wheelchair. Because of her disability, it often takes her twice as long as other kids at her school to don the necessary winter garb to go out and play during recess (1). In 2017, Zoey grew frustrated by having to miss so much recess…
On Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending Beautiful Me, a fashion show for adaptive clothing sponsored by Easterseals and the Miracle League of Michigan. The show was intended to model adaptive clothing for children and young adults with disabilities who may have difficulty getting dressed or undressed, or may need specific types of fabric…
A recent report from the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health found that kids in the California Children’s Services (CCS) program often have to wait months or years for important pieces of equipment such as wheelchairs, shower chairs, and hospital beds. These long waits can cause pain and pressure sores, make existing health problems worse,…
For people with limited range of motion, spastic reflexes, or problems with strength and dexterity, maintaining personal hygiene can be difficult. In order to make tasks like brushing hair or clipping nails more manageable, people with motor disorders such as cerebral palsy often use assistive equipment. These are items that can help those with disabilities…
People with cerebral palsy and other conditions that affect motor control often struggle to use traditional dining utensils and dishware. Spastic reflexes, muscle weakness, and limited range of motion can make it difficult to eat and drink without spilling. Some people with motor impairments require assistance from others at mealtimes. Adaptive eating utensils and dishware…
Orthotic devices (technically referred to as orthosis) are a type of brace or other wearable that serves one or more of the following purposes: Improvement of mobility Immobilization of an injured body part to promote healing Correction of biomechanical misalignments Prevention of injuries Reduction of weight bearing and pain Some orthotic devices are relatively inexpensive,…
There are many types of sensory-friendly toys, clothing, and other items. Here, we’ll cover a few to help you get started in your search. If you don’t know what kinds of gifts an individual child may appreciate, it might help to ask one of their immediate family members; they will be able to give you…
There are many forms of adaptive technology that give voices to non-verbal people. Famously, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking is able to talk by moving only his cheek. He has an infrared sensor on his glasses that can pick up on muscle movement; this is connected to a computer with advanced word prediction software. Once he…
Many people with cerebral palsy have a difficult time writing due to limitations in muscular function, fine motor control, joint function, and range of motion. Fortunately, there are many types of assistive tools and technologies that can help people with cerebral palsy to write with greater ease. These can be broken down into a few…
