Wheelchair book bag, easy on and off

This laptop case from Ikea was reasonably priced ($12 when I got it on sale) and the right size for Daniel's speech therapy equipment. The long adjustable shoulder strap can hook over the push bars of the wheelchair, but it just doesn't quite work. We ended up with a tangle of straps and bags, with the feeding pump bag and the push bar extension handles making it quite a chore to get the bag off the wheelchair.

Quick fix. I just added a heavy duty plastic quick buckle to either side of the strap, and created a loop on either side to attach to the push bars. Perfect bag adaption for $2.20 (buckles were $1.10 each at Seattle Fabric) and a little time. It was a bit tricky sewing through multiple layers of webbing strap and bag, but not impossible. Taking the project to a tailor or shoe repair shop might be an option if you don't have sewing machine that's up to heavy duty stitching.

Lift for wheelchair footplates

Daniel has significant leg length discrepancy -- somewhere in the 2 inch range right now. His shoes and braces are custom made to accommodate that -- but who wants to wear shoes and braces ALL the time, specially in summer?

Hence our problem.

The wheelchair footplates are set for his needs when in full shoes and braces. But for those times when he's just wearing sandals, slippers, socks, or barefoot -- his left leg is nowhere near being supported on the footplate, and poor positioning and posture ensue. And with CP, positioning is key.

So this little solution, by no means high-tech or fancy, has saved the day.

What you are seeing:

I used a foam puzzle mat that has seen better days (note evidence of cat sharpening her claws). These can be found at toy stores, Target, or even at big box home improvement stores as floor mats. Cheap source of heavy duty high density foam.








I cut several blocks of foam to fit inside the footplate, and I taped the layers together with packing tape until I got a sufficiently thick piece.

Originally, I just put adhesive backed velcro on the bottom of the foam piece, with the fuzzy velcro side on the footplate. It works, but it's kind of tatty looking. And frequent putting off and on left the velcro worn.










So I sewed a sleeve out of "tough tex" fabric, with box cushion construction, wrapped the foam block in high loft quilt batting, and slipped it inside the black tough tex cover, with velcro to close. I left enough fabric so that I can enlarge the sleeve if he needs a thicker lift in the future. The entire contraption is held onto the footplate with a double sided velcro strap. Easy on, easy off. And doesn't call attention to itself.








And yes, I do know that some wheelchairs have quick adjust footplates, for just such situations as ours. But it's not an available option on this model.

Inspiration

Here's a blog I like -- not because it's special needs related, just because I a) like Ikea and b) like using things for purposes for which they were not originally intended. Great blog to follow to keep you in that inventive mode.

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/

And for anyone in Seattle area -- Ikea has a Rummage Sale this Sat, Aug. 15. I expect great things at low prices!

Almost, but not quite . . .

I like the catalogues. I seem to collect them, and I read the faithfully (while cringing at the prices.) But as cool as some of the adaptive products on the market are -- they are just not quite what we want.

Here's an example. Daniel's OT at school introduced us to this nifty little thing called "the bird". The idea is that you can place a pencil or pen into the screw-tight hole, and then the used can use larger motor movement to manipulate, and mark a page. Paired with a slant board, Daniel does ok with this.

But -- pencil marks are a little underwhelming when one has significant cortical vision impairments. And a lot of the activity of an elementary school aged kid is done in color -- with markers or crayons.

Markers and crayons do not fit in the bird.

Curses.

This "back to school" shopping season, I'm on the lookout for markers that will fit. I've struck out with crayola and rose arts. I hear that the cheap novelty kits, like hello kitty items, will fit.

{the black velcro strip added to the bird -- makes it easier for Daniel to a) see the device and b) grasp it. Great problem solving by Daniel's para-educator J.}

The old adage says "Necessity is the mother of invention."

Around here, necessities arise because my youngest son, who has physical disability and special needs simply doesn't do "off the shelf" or "off the rack". We have to customize his custom equipment. Over the years, we've come up with some neat ideas, cool solutions, clever hacks. And I'm always on the lookout for even better ideas.

My hope is that this blog can become a hub for some innovative, reasonable-cost solutions to the challenges of everyday life lived in a non-standard body.