Q&A with the Creators of EazyHold – Flexible Universal Cuffs

Once in awhile, a new product hits the market that can be a game changer.  In my opinion, the EazyHold flexible universal cuffs, appear to have accomplished this by helping children (and adults) with physical disabilities.  Since I have a big interest in entrepeneurship, I thought it would be great to hear about the story behind the EazyHold.  Plus, as pediatric occupational and physical therapists day in and day out, we constantly adapt items on the fly.  This product seems to be a simple solution to help children grasp items such as toys, utensils and more so children can increase their independence.  (This post include affiliate links).

Here is the Q&A with Kerry Mellin, one of three sisters who created the EazyHold.

Q: How was EazyHold conceived?

While preparing for a family holiday I grabbed my broom and went to sweep out the barn. But due to the arthritis in my thumbs I was having a really hard time gripping onto the brooms handle and sweep after sweep it only became more painful. I was determined to finish the job though, family was coming soon so I grabbed some duct tape, made a loop across the broom handle and slipped my hand inside. I was really surprised how effortless it felt having this little bit of support over my the back of my hand! I was able to maintain control sweep after sweep with very minimal amount of grip and this little bit of leverage.

Hmm, I wondered if there was anything like this on the market? My only knowledge of ADLs was when I spent a year at Northridge Hospitals OT Center 30 years prior as a volunteer. I remembered the old fabric and leather cuffs, but they were not very adaptable or hygienic. Had they improved?

So later when my sisters were over for the holiday, we started talking about the arthritis the runs in our family and the challenges that we were all having and probably many other people were having and I told them about my trouble that day and showed them the duct taped broom. Couldn’t we come up with a better solution to alleviate some of the pain of everyday tasks by giving a little grip support? We started brainstorming.  We wanted something soft, adaptable and comfortable. So we grabbed a silicon pot holder from the kitchen, cut a couple of holes in it and slid it over the broom handle. Voila!

We decided that very day to innovate a new product that would help people get a grip on objects. (After a bit of research we discovered that there had been no improvements made in the old universal cuffs that I had used 30 years back!) Our idea was to make something that would fit on brooms, paint brushes and outdoor equipment that people might want to use during their daily activities.. Little did we know there was a HUGE special needs community of children as well as adults who desperately needed this long overdue problem solver for utensils, writing implements and even toys!

We got to work the very next day doing all the prototyping making ourselves. We learned to to sculpt clay and make molds. We learned to mix, color, pour and to cure silicone. We designed 20 different sizes and styles of EZs and made about 1000 samples EZs to trial on every ADL we could think of.   And then we really got to work!

With, boots on the ground we went from school to clinic to therapy center to hospital.  We initially tried to set up appointments with therapists and doctors, but the receptionists had no protocol to fit us in, after all we had no medical background or degrees. So we would camp out in the waiting room until we saw a therapist walk by and we’d ambush them with prototypes in hand and show them how much more effective are little straps were compared to the devices they were familiar with.

 

We dropped off samples to professionals all over Southern California sending them out for trialing at educational facilities, nursing homes, pediatric hospitals and to the parents of special needs children.

We went to flea markets and set up booth with all the things that EazyHold could adapt to and got amazing feedback from from a wide variety of people who told us what they could use it for as well!

The response was pretty profound. We went to the Abilities Expo and were overwhelmed by the positive response by therapists. We starting started getting requests from all over the country for more samples and invites from hospitals to show their staff of nurses and therapists how our products worked. The word of mouth from parents of special needs children was phenomenal. They were so anxious for any new innovation that can help their kids, that the word spread rapidly. EazyHold, the first silicone, universal cuff and grip assist for a child sized hand was available!

Every therapist and physician we’ve talked with about EazyHold has said of this simple invention, “Where has this product been and why hasn’t it been invented before?” The reality was… It’s a melding of old and new ideas. The old “universal cuff ” made better by utilizing a relatively new material called silicone, which doesn’t harbor bacteria and is easily washed and dried, and so for the first time can be used and reused in care facilities, is soft and stretchy, super adaptable and it fits a much wider range of sizes! From tiny infant hands on a bottle, to an adult on a garden tool.

Q:  Do you manage the EazyHold from start to finish?

As three sisters, we run all the day to day operations, from packaging and fulfilling orders, to marketing and reaching out to therapy centers, schools, hospitals and assisted living facilities. We have been selling EazyHold for a year and a half.  EazyHold  is Trademarked and Patent Pending.

We have a facebook page and what a joy it is to wake up every day to photos and videos posted by the parents of the children who are using our products to do the things they have never been able to do before. To drink, eat, play music, brush their own teeth!

We receive messages every day saying thanks to EazyHold, my little girl has been able to draw her first Valentine’s Day card. We are seeing children who have never held onto an action figure or a doll now learning to play and explore new learning opportunities. We are hearing every day from excited parents who are seeing what their special needs child can accomplish and achieve independently with this little assistance.

Q:  What is your #1 tip for entrepreneurs?

We invented our product just about 2 years ago in 2014. But because I have sisters whom I love and trust we were able to bring our product to market in a year. So my suggestion is to make sure you have a good team around you for support. Be it financial, creative, or just “boots on the ground” it takes a lot of hard work and commitment, and a team to lift you when you hit a road block and push you forward with fresh ideas and inspiration!

As baby boomers my sisters Merrily and Wendy and I have all had fulfilling careers: Merrily in Early Childhood Development. Wendy in Food services and Art, and myself, Kerry, a Costume Designer for the entertainment industry. Our combined work history and talents have enabled us to innovate and create a new product and business. That while initially born of necessity because of the arthritis in our own hands, has now become a labor of love ,and is driven and thriving due to the intense desire to create useful tools for therapists, teachers, caregivers and parents of children with special needs who deserve the chance to play and learn and create with the joy of independence!

Q: Where can we find the EazyHold? 

We sell on our website at http://eazyhold.com/ and Amazon.

We also have 10 distributors across the globe.

Facebook:  http://ift.tt/2h2NqxF

Pinterest: http://ift.tt/2gkce5T

Instagram: http://ift.tt/2h2MDwX

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Follow Up Questions about Modifications and Adaptive Equipment in the Classroom

Once a piece of adaptive equipment or modification is put in place to use with a student, therapists need to follow up frequently.  Whether the adaptive equipment is a pencil grip, standing frame or weighted vest, on going assessment is needed.  Have you seen modifications recommended ie sensory break and it never gets carried out?  Here are 5 follow up questions to answer after implementing adaptive equipment or modification use:

1.  Is the equipment or modification even being done at all?  May sound ridiculous but we all have seen many pieces of adaptive equipment gather dust or IEP recommendations that just get rubber stamped year after year.

2.  Is it being used when it was suggested for use?  For example, perhaps special adaptive seating was recommended for seat work but it is being used during floor time on the rug.

3.  Is the tool or modification suiting the needs of the student?  Once the equipment has been used, make sure is it helping the student to accomplish a functional goal.  If you give the student a pencil grip to encourage a functional grasp, it should not be used for a chewy or a projectile.

4.  Does the equipment or modification need to be modified in any way?  If the tool is not accomplishing the task, can it be tweaked or does a different modification need to be put into place.  Children grow very quickly, always recheck for sizing.

5.  Is the student comfortable using the equipment or modification?  Check to make sure that the student agrees with using the equipment.  If the student is not on board with using it, the equipment will not be used.  Also, is it truly comfortable to use the equipment?  Check for fatigue, skin breakdown, pain level, etc. to ensure comfort and a pain free experience.

6.  Is the student as independent as possible with the equipment or modification?  Sometimes adults can provide too much help without even realizing it.  The goal is for the student to be as independent as possible.

Modifications and Interventions for School – Reporting Forms

This book, in printed or electronic format, provides pediatric therapists with over 60, reproducible reporting forms with hundreds of suggested modifications and interventions for students.  Track progress once modifications are put into action.  Find out more information.

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Free Assistive Technology Resources

If you are a new or seasoned pediatric occupational and physical therapist, the world of assistive technology and adaptive equipment is constantly changing.  Here are many resources that can help guide you to select the most appropriate technology.

1.  Access to Independence Website – Michelle Lange is one of the top OTs in the field of assistive technology.  Her website is LOADED with free resources.  You can check them all out at her resources page.     There you will find positioning documents, mobility training guidelines and adaptive toys.
2. RESNA – Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America.  Need updates on pediatric powered mobility, use of tilt in space wheelchairs, evacuation chairs and more?  This is the place.  Check out all of the position papers on these topics and more at RESNA.
3. CAST has many free UDL resources and white papers.  You can find them here.
4. Call Scotland website – my favorite resources here are in the download section.  The posters, leaflets and quick guides are awesome!
5. WATI- this website has a HUGE amount of information to assess a student’s need for assistive technology.
6. QIAT – website has a large resource bank for assistive technology and an active email listserv.

Care to add any of your suggestions for websites with assistive technology or adaptive equipment resources?

The post Free Assistive Technology Resources appeared first on YourTherapySource.com Blog.

5 Tips to Promote Participation of Children with Disabilities in Physical Activities

The recommended amount of physical activity daily for children is at least 60 minutes per day. This can be difficult to accomplish for any children with the busy schedules that face this young generation today. For children with disabilities, this can be very difficult to achieve each day for various reasons. Pediatric occupational and physical therapists can help parents, teachers and other members of the community how to promote participation in sports, recreation and physical activities.

1. Educate on the benefits of sports participation and recreation: Regular physical activity helps the body by maintaining muscle strength and range of motion, increasing bone mass, and improving cardiovascular fitness. The brain also benefits from physical activity through elevating the mood, improving self concept, enhancing social skills and more. Specifically sports participation can create friendships, encourage creativity, foster teamwork and define meaning for one's life.

2. Choose appropriate activities: A child's disability or diagnosis needs to be taken into consideration when deciding upon an appropriate recreational or sporting activity. The American Academy of Pediatrics has produced various charts in the article Medical Conditions Affecting Sports Participation to help guide the decision making process. In general, it is recommended that children with disabilities participate in increased duration (minutes per session), frequency (times per week) and decreased intensity if comparing to typically developing children.

3. Minimize risk of injury: Once a sporting activity is chosen, modify the activities if necessary to ensure the safety of the child.

4. Adapt the activity: Offer suggestions to adapt the sporting activities so that the child can participate the most.

5. Have a positive, supportive attitude: Unfortunately, society tends to view children with disabilities too susceptible to injury to participate in traditional sporting activities. Families and the environment seems to influence participation more than the child's choices. Remember the children have a right to participate!

Reference: Murphy, Nancy A., Carbone, Paul S., and the Council on Children With Disabilities, Promoting the Participation of Children With Disabilities in Sports, Recreation, and Physical Activities Pediatrics 2008 121: 1057-1061

FREE Digital Magazine for Rehabilitation Technology

I came across an excellent FREE resource on adaptive equipment and rehabilitation technology.  I was reading the Rifton Newsletter (which is also a great resource) at http://www.rifton.com/adaptive-mobility-blog.  In one of the articles, the author referred to a digital magazine article from the NRRTS - National Registration of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers.  The first article I read was titled "Positioning the Head: Strategies to Improve Head Control and Posture" and starts on page 42 at http://www.editionduo.com/publication/?i=198189.  After reading that article, which was full of helpful suggestions, I saw that there are many archives available as well.  I could read for hours on topics such as powered mobility, case studies, etc. In addition, it is always helpful to even see the advertisements for new products that are available to be aware and up to date on what adaptive equipment can help the children on your caseload. 

If you work with any children who utilize adaptive equipment or assistive technology this digital resource is certainly worth a look!

Adapted Straw

A picture says a thousand words but head on over to YourTherapySource for more details and uses for this simple adapted straw holder.

Do It Yourself: Sound Ball

Here is a simple adaptation to create a ball that makes some noise.  This is a great tool to work on catching or hitting a ball for children who are visually impaired or who are just learning how to catch.  By adding the noise to the ball, it provides additional sensory input for the child to locate where the ball is traveling.

I had an old tennis ball and ping pong ball that I used for this project.  Cut a large slit in the tennis ball using an exacto knife.  Cut a small 'X' in the ping pong ball again using an exacto knife.  Push some metal beads or BB's inside the ping pong ball.  Now push the ping pong into the tennis ball.

You can glue the tennis ball shut or use duct tape to close it back up but this does quiet the noise.  If you leave the slit in the tennis ball alone the ping pong ball will not fall out and it makes a louder noise.  You can still bounce the ball as well.

The additional noise will help the children to focus their attention on the ball coming towards them.     

Modifying Motorized Cars for Powered Mobility

Pediatric Physical Therapy is offering free access to an informative article on how to modify off the shelf motorized cars for early powered mobility for children with physical disabilities.  The article is entitled, Modified Ride-on Toy Cars for Early Power Mobility: A Technical Report, and it describes a variety of car models along with how they differ.  It provides suggestions on how to modify seating, steering and drive systems including how to use a push button switch to drive!  All the suggestions appear to be simple to carry out with a few tools and readily available supplies.  This article is awesome if you are considering early powered mobility for young children.  So detailed and wonderful pictures.  You can view the article at Pediatric Physical Therapy.   

Reference: Huang, Hsiang-Han OT, ScD; Galloway, James C. PT, PhD. Technical Report Modified Ride-on Toy Cars for Early Power Mobility: A Technical Report. Pediatric Physical Therapy:Summer 2012 - Volume 24 - Issue 2 - p 149–154 doi: 10.1097/PEP.0b013e31824d73f9