Table Mounted Vegetable Peeler
IATP’s Tech Kitchen program requested that the IATP Makers create a vegetable peeler that could be used by someone who only has use of one hand. Multiple designs were considered, but ultimately the Makers decided to go with a design that utilized Airstick to adhere the device to a tabletop or other surface. The blade for the vegetable peeler was purchased online and is made of stainless steel.
Adjustable Hairbrush Handle
The IATP Makers were contacted by an occupational therapist that they had worked with on prior projects asking if they would be able to make something that would allow the user to brush the back of their head. The person who would be using the brush had limited arm and shoulder mobility, meaning that the extension handle needed to be long enough and light enough to work properly. The Makers program was able to find an already designed file online, and with minimal modifications the device was adapted to work for the individual.
Reusable Brailed Can, Spice, 3D Printed Labels
The IATP Tech Kitchen program asked Makers to print some reusable braille labels for everyday kitchen items. The labels help users quickly identify what the items are and can be easily moved to a new container. All everyday seasonings such as salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, and paprika etc. are now labeled. These braille labels can also be used for many other items. Custom requests can be submitted by using the form on the Contact page of this website.
Phone stand
Ted is an older gentleman who frequently visits Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP) to browse the Demonstration Center for new assistive technology options. Ted was very interested to learn about the Makers program and 3D-printing. Ted was assisted by one of the Makers’ team members to browse the product page on the iatpmakers@iltech.org website. He noticed that Makers have tablet stands in their inventory, but he wanted to inquire about a solution that will hold his small phone due to poor grip strength.
Makers located an open-source file for an adjustable, small phone stand and quickly printed it for Ted. The phone stand can hold the phone at either a horizontal or vertical position, and it is lightweight and easily accessible for Ted to adjust as needed. The phone stand will provide Ted the opportunity to have free hands when requiring use of his phone, especially during FaceTime calls with family members.
Gas Cap Turner
Teresa has a mild form of Cerebral Palsy which affects movement in her arms and hands, causing muscle weakness. Due to her limited muscle strength, Teresa was having difficulty removing her gas cap on her new vehicle. Teresa was referred to the Makers program by her twin sister who works in the assistive technology field.
Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP)’s Demonstration Center has a similar, manufactured gas cap opener for individuals to test, but unfortunately the measurements required modifications to fit Teresa’s vehicle’s gas cap handle. With the collaboration of Teresa, her sister, and the Makers team, they were able to get the correct measurements of the handle and the space around it to make the necessary changes to the gas cap opener. The handle was also slightly extended to provide easier access for Teresa and built up for a more secure grip. The device was quickly printed and shipped to Teresa to begin using it as soon as possible.
The Makers program can not only design and fabricate assistive technology devices that do not exist but can also investigate modeling and modifying already existing designs to fit the customized needs of the individual requesting it.
Adapted Writing Bird
An occupational therapist (OT) at a local school requested a device like the Writing Bird 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.