Adjustable Mirror
Project was fabricated for a wheelchair user who cooks but has difficulty seeing inside her pots and pans, which is crucial to know when water is boiling, or noodles are done. This angled mirror will be mounted to the wall behind the stove, containing a ball and socket joint at the neck of the two attachments, allowing the mirror to be adjusted to either side of the burners. The material used is Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PET-G) allowing the material to withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. The Mirror itself is an acrylic sheet that is fog resistant allowing for a safer solution to glass.
This project was also utilized in IATP’s Tech Kitchen to assist individuals as needed when learning to cook on the stove using assistive technology.
Geraldine’s Story
Geri is a senior woman living alone in an assisted living apartment. She is independent with most daily tasks but putting on shoes has become difficult for her. Geri’s daughter and son stopped by IATP for a tour of the demonstration center to learn more about assistive technology that can assist their mother.
After working with one of IATP’s Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), they mentioned how Geri struggles using her long-handled shoehorn and was looking for an alternative solution. The COTA working with them referred them to the Makers program to see about a shoehorn. Geri was able to receive a shorter-length shoehorn that night through Makers’ donated device inventory. Anybody who is requiring simple, 3D-printed assistive devices to enhance independence can browse our product page and request one. If you are interested in donating 3D printed devices to be used by illinois residents in need, please contact us.
Gwyn’s Story
Gwyn is a young adult who has been blind since birth. He recently started learning more about assistive technology options and how he can benefit from certain devices. Gwyn attended IATP’s Open House in April where he learned about the Makers program. One task that Gwyn requested to be able to do on his own is signing his signature when applicable.
Gwyn was assisted with submitting a request for the Makers to 3D-print a customized signature guide. The guide contains a one-inch margin and includes a slide in feature. Gwyn wanted to have his name embedded on the signature guide, so the Makers team was happy to make that possible. Makers also added his name in Braille since Gwyn has been learning fluent Braille. Gwyn was so excited to be able to use his signature guide, that he quickly used it to sign a photo release, giving IATP permission to show off him using his new signature guide!
iPad Stand for Scanning Documents
Denise lost her full vision following an optic-nerve injury in 2012. She reached out to IATP this past winter to be matched with an assistive technology specialist to develop computer access through screen reader technology. After receiving services and a new iPad, Denise was then introduced to other IATP services including Smart Home, Tech Kitchen, and Makers. Makers received an individualized request by the assistive technology specialist to design a 3D-printed stand that will hold Denise’s new iPad in place while it scans text-documents to read back to her.
Makers, Smart Home, and the assistive technology specialist working with Denise all traveled to Denise’s home to provide further services and teach Denise to properly use the iPad stand once it was ready for use. Denise will be using Seeing AI, a free IOS app downloaded onto her iPad, that offers text-to-speech access. During IATP’s visit, Denise learned where to place her iPad on the stand for use and where to place the documents when using Seeing AI.
The stand contains all 3D-printed parts and has both top and bottom borders to position the iPad and documents within. The stand is lightweight, and the legs are attached to a portable tray using Micro Suction tape that Denise can move as needed to read documents from anywhere in her house. With the help of the iPad stand, Denise can now position and scan any text-document, scan barcodes or money and change for the Seeing AI app to read back to her.
Penny’s Story
This month, IATP Makers teamed up with the Tech Kitchen to meet with an individual to assess her needs in her kitchen. Penny is a new IATP client who benefits from both IATP’s Reuse and Makers program. Penny is a wheelchair user who enjoys baking in her free time, but she would love to be more independent as well as bake safely. Before meeting with Penny and providing her with useful assistive technology (AT), she was unsafely bending over from her wheelchair and reaching the stove knobs positioned on the back of her stove.
Our Makers designed and fabricated a 27” Stove Knob Reacher that was printed using our large format FDM 3D printer, to accommodate the length required for Penny to safely turn on her stove burners from a seated position. The Extended Reacher was fully printed in all layers in a strong, durable plastic material that can withhold heat up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, making this AT acceptable for reaching the back of the stove.
This fabricated device will be available on our website for others who will benefit from it to print or request. The design unit will be modified to accommodate a “modular” approach, which the individual will be able to switch out the knob turner unit on the end to provide access to a variety of other uses.
