We all deserve to create. Some people seem to have the muses hidden in their pocket, but everyone benefits when they express themselves in their chose art form. Each of us has tools, from Dremels to paintbrushes, and many folks here build their own implements. Even if we don’t have our macro-enabled mechanical keyboard or a dual-extrusion printer, we can make due. But what if you couldn’t operate your drill, or mouse, or even a pencil? To us, that would be excruciating and is the reality for some. [Laura Roth] and [Christopher Sweeney] are art teachers designing a tool holder for their students with cerebral palsy so that they can express themselves independently.
On either side of this banner image, you can see pencil drawings from [Sara], who has spastic cerebral palsy. She made these drawings while wearing the tool holder modeled after her hand. Now, that design serves other students and is part of the 2020 Hackaday Prize. The tool holder wraps around the wrist like a wide bracelet. Ribbing keeps its shape, and a tube accepts cylindrical objects, like pencils, styluses, and paintbrushes.The result is that the tip of the pencil is not far from where it would have been if held in the hand, but this sidesteps issues with grip and fine control in hands and fingers.
The print is available as an STL and should be printed with flexible filament to ensure it’s comfortable to wear. Be mindful of digital styluses which may need something conductive between the barrel and user.
Hackers are familiar with the challenges of cerebral palsy, and we’ve enjoyed seeing a variety of solutions over the years like door openers, camera gimbals, and just being altogether supportive.
Bravo!
Thank you for looking for solutions to help those with special needs! This is a lovely idea for preschoolers, though a universal cuff design may prove to be more comfortable, with far less risk for pressure points ( a reddened problem area appears to be visible where the splint meets the wrist on this young lady)
Most people who have such significant involvement of their arms and hands will unfortunately not have the control to produce more than an uncontrolled scribble with a device like this. My hope is that more work will go into helping those who are intellectually able to do more than scribbling to explore existing technologies that might allow them to produce the art that is commensurate with what is in their head. This could be with a mouthstick, or on a computer using a chin joystick, a mouth joystick, a trackball with a foot, or a head mouse. Occupational therapists who have good knowledge of alternate computer access should be able to help with exploration of technological options.