Adaptive Equipment
If you are familiar with www.eatzii.com you are aware that we are all about adaptive equipment for eating. In this Blog I would like to discuss adaptive equipment in general. Occupational Therapists have knowledge and training is this area.
The broad definition of adaptive equipment is any product or technology that improves abilities in the areas of self care, work or leisure/recreational activities. Examples of high tech assistive equipment may include wheelchairs, scooters, computer access technologies and apps that control the home environment ie. heating, lighting, etc.
Adaptive equipment may also be used to promote independence with operating an automotive vehicle.
Low tech adaptive equipment may include products such as reachers, long handle shoe horns, sock aids and adaptive silverware
There are many examples of adaptive equipment that enhances participation in recreational activities for individuals who may have physical difficulties.Wheelchair basketball is a popular and an Olympic Sport. Adaptive Sailing programs are also popular. An image of adaptive equipment for skiing is included below.
In addition to Occupational Therapists, each state has an assistive technology center that typically will have a resource library of adaptive equipment for trial purposes. Google assistive technology programs by state to find your state’s assistive technology center.
As we mentioned earlier, the focus of our website is adaptive equipment for eating. We have an excellent guide to adaptive equipment for eating at: www.eatizii.com/adaptive-eating-aids. At Canoe Creek Products we have developed the Stable Slide support for inividuals with severe tremor activity at mealtime. The Stable Slide has been available at www.performancehealth.com for over twenty years. We are also developing a new eating aid for individuals with tremor activity. This eating aid will be applicable for individuals with Parkinson’s or Essential Tremor who have difficult managing utensils. This aid is called the ChillSpill and should be available in Spring of 2023.
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