Assistive Technology exhibit planned Nov. 7 at Grossmont College

EL CAJON—Students in Grossmont College’s occupational therapy assistant program will demonstrate devices that they invented to assist friends and family members with disabilities, at the annual Assistive Technology Show to be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on both levels of the Health Science Building on Thursday, Nov. 7.

Over the years, there have been some pretty ingenious devices developed, according to instructor Darlene Cook.  For example, there was a device that attached to the front of a wheelchair that allowed a disabled person to push her child’s stroller in front of her.

The stroller was attached facing the wheelchair so that the mother could reach over from her sitting position and feed, pick up or play with the baby, said Cook.  Another invention, also designed for use by a person bound to a wheelchair, was a flexible broom.  Because the broom would bend, the user was able to sweep the floor from her wheelchair.

Another of Cook’s favorites was a device enabling a person who couldn’t grasp a hamburger for very long to keep it within biting distance through the use of a sleeve through which the burger could be pushed into his mouth.

Yet another  invention helped a man with hyper-extended fingers to use a computer mouse. The occupational therapy asssistant student separated the mouse into two portions – so that the track ball could be used with one hand, and the clicker with the other.

The man for whom it was developed was so taken with the invention that he exclaimed upon using it, “Now maybe I can get a job!” Cook recalled.

In another instance, a magnetized device helped a woman who has use of only one hand to put on her earrings.

This year, said Cook, 20 students will preview their inventions.  The devices not only are important to the people for whom they are designed; they also “give our OTA students confidence that they can solve problems,” she said.

Over the six years she has been teaching the course, 100 percent of her students have been able to develop assistive technology devices for their family and friends. Better yet, they have been able to do so inexpensively because one requirement of the exercise is to keep the cost below #10 by using everyday materials.

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