Communicator mounting for wheelchair

Maria, a resident at the Scope Birchwood residential care home in Chesham, has no significant movement ability and is unable to speak clearly due to cerebral palsy. Wheelchair bound during the day, Maria uses an electronic communication aid to control equipment in her room, including lights, heating and TV; the device can also be used to access a mobile phone. She operates the device using her left knee — the part of her body over which she has greatest control — to activate a pressure switch.

Although the communication aid has text/symbol-to-speech capability, Maria sometimes finds it easier to communicate with regular visitors and Birchwood staff by pointing at a communication chart attached to her wheelchair tray. To make this easier, Remap designed and fitted a plastic mounting to secure the communication aid at the back of the tray, so Maria can use both the chart and the aid at the same time.

Communicator frame

A lady with multiple sclerosis (MS) was completely paralysed other than being able to use her mouth. She could operate a communication device alongside her drinking tubes, but mounting everything to her chair was cumbersome. We designed a system of swivels and joints to make the communicator and drinking tubes easier to use.

Slipper switch

Caryl cannot move her hands or feet, except for a slight movement of a single toe. We incorporated a sensitive switch into the insole of a slipper in such a way that the switch remains in the same relative position to her foot, even when she is in bed. She can now use her toe to call for help and to activate or adjust an environment control system. Caryl has been using the switch for five years, day and night. Since she has now almost lost the ability to speak, it has become her main communication aid.