Making the impossible , possible
Remap depends on occupational therapists ’ clinical expertise and practical skills , to ensure they find the most creative solutions for the people they help . Here we look at three recent life-changing projects .
Above : Ava with her bike adaptation by Remap
R emap is a unique national charity founded in 1964 , which brings together two sets of people : volunteers who are skilled at making things and people with a disability that could be eased by a piece of specialist equipment .
The result is that each year thousands of pieces of custom-made equipment is made to help transform the lives of people with disabilities .
Remap ’ s army of ingenious inventors design and make equipment and gadgets for young or old alike and these are then provided free of charge . The aim is always to help people achieve independence and quality of life , filling the gap where no suitable equipment is available commercially .
Here we look at three heart-warming stories , where Remap has helped people achieve independence and quality of life .
Helping Ava to ride a bike
The West Midland ’ s Remap group worked with Ava to produce a handlebar that was smaller and closer to her body , allowing her to support her hand on the bar . Remap volunteer Nigel details the adaptations he made : ‘ I produced two brackets out of a steel square tube , these were then drilled through for the correct size and capped off at each end to reduce sharp edges and increase strength .
‘ Once this was complete , I cut them along the length and fitted riv-nuts in order to increase the thread length and stop the use of nuts ( keeping the sharp edges to a minimum not to catch clothing on ).
‘ I also made an elbow joint for the handle bar itself with a thread in the end so I could attach a bigger washer to remove any risk of injury from the end of the bar . All open ends of tubes were capped off so fingers couldn ’ t get caught .’
Ava will now be able to ride a bike for the first time , and mum Kerry explains just how much this means to Ava : ’ What the Remap volunteers have done is amazing . She really loves it . Before we had the bike adapted , Ava found it difficult to hold the handlebars and sit on the seat safely . It ’ s amazing to see her smiling and enjoying riding her bike .’
Etta ’ s beautiful butterfly chair
Etta , a ‘ fiercely independent ’ young girl came to Remap with the simple request of wanting to sit at the family breakfast bar by herself .
With nothing commercially available that fitted her needs , Etta had to sit in a high chair or be lifted on and off of stools with her legs left dangling . As she was getting older and finding her independence , it became more and more frustrating for her and her family .
With the help of volunteers at the Essex South Remap branch , Etta got her very own chair fit for her needs . The chair was made to be adjustable ,
50 OTnews April 2022