An occupational therapist (OT) at a local school requested a device like the Writing Assist that is on display in IATP’s Demonstration Center for her student who enjoys coloring. The OT requested that the device be smaller to fit in the palm of a young child’s hand and able to fit a marker in the hole that was designed to hold a slim pen or pencil. The need for this device was to allow an individual the ability to use a writing utensil without requiring much lifting of the arm or grip strength.
IATP’s Makers Program quickly designed and 3D-printed one small enough for the student and to fit a marker inside. A threaded heat set insert was installed into the device to allow for a screw to be used to hold the marker in place or any other writing utensil, big or small, while the device is in use.