PROJECT 1: Footrest
PURPOSE:
The footrest was made to provide foot support and improve positioning while sitting. In OT, it can be adjusted to fit each person’s needs.
Supplies:
Tri-wall cardboard
Ruler
Cardboard knife and T-square
Awl and mallet
White glue and wooden nails
Clamps
Tape
Cup of water
Primer, paint, and polyurethane
HOW IT WAS MADE:
Measured and cut four 3 × 8-inch pieces for the sides.
Used the side pieces to measure and cut the top, bottom, and middle support.
Glued the pieces together and clamped them while drying.
Added wooden nails and a middle support for extra strength.
Attached the bottom piece to complete the footrest.
Added water prone tape to the grain/exposed pieces
Finished with primer, paint, and polyurethane.
OT CONNECTION:
This project shows how OTs can create simple, low cost adaptive equipment to improve support, comfort, and positioning.
PROJECT 2: Seat Wedge
Purpose:
The wedge helps provide angled support whether that is for sitting, a place to set your computer down on desk, or serving as a footrest. In OT, it can be adjusted to fit the needs of the person using it.
Supplies
Tri-wall cardboard
Ruler
Box cutter
Cardboard Knife
Awl and mallet
Hand Saw
White/hot glue
Wooden nails
Clamps
Cup of water
Tape
How It Was Made:
Cut one 15 × 28-inch piece of cardboard.
Measured, scored, and folded the cardboard into a wedge shape.
Used the folded wedge to measure and cut 3 support pieces.
Glued the supports inside the wedge for strength.
Punched holes and added glue and wooden nails to secure the pieces.
Added end caps to make the ends even on both sides.
Finished the wedge with edging and adding water prone tape to the exposed edges.
OT Connection:
The wedge is a simple, versatile piece of adaptive equipment that can improve overall positioning, support, and comfort during everyday ADL's.
PROJECT 3: Prone Standing Frame
The frame provides support and positioning. In OT, adaptive equipment can be used to improve comfort, stability, and participation in daily activities.
T-Square, knife, awl, mallet, foam brush, chisel, cardboard, white glue, nails, glue tape, water
Cut four 10 × 11-inch pieces of cardboard, alternating the grain on two pieces.
Glued the cardboard pieces together to make two side pieces and clamped them to dry.
Once dry, cut a slant into the front of both side pieces.
Cut one 8 × 26-inch piece of cardboard.
Measured, scored, and bent the main cardboard piece.
Glued and nailed the side pieces to the main piece.
Cut holes for the feet and thigh strap.
Cut and prepared the base.
Glued the frame to the base.
Sealed and covered the edges with Water Activated tape.
Cutting, punching holes, gluing, nailing, edging, bending, and removing layers of cardboard.
This project shows how adaptive equipment can provide support, positioning, and comfort to help with everyday activities.
PROJECT 4: Rocking Perch
Purpose:
The Rocking Perch provides seating support and positioning and allows rocking for sensory stimulation. This device can be modified and adjusted to fit the needs of the individual using the device.
Supplies:
T-Square
Cardboard knife
Awl
Mallet
Foam brush
Box cutter
Jigsaw
Sander
Tri-wall cardboard
Single-wall cardboard
White glue
Nails
Glue tape
Water
Paper Plate
How It Was Made:
Cut two large pieces of cardboard, each 12 inches by 8 inches (grain facing up).
Cut and glued the two cardboard pieces together to make two separate side pieces.
Clamped the pieces together to dry.
Used one side piece as a template for the other.
Cut a slant and rounded the bottoms of the side pieces using a plate as a guide.
Measured and cut the main cardboard piece, 8 inches by 29 inches.
Scored and bent the main piece to fit the sides.
Punched holes and added nails along the edges and sides to secure the pieces.
Hot glued the side pieces to the main piece.
Added single-wall cardboard to reinforce the sides, rounded side edges, and bottom of the rocking perch to prevent water from getting in.
Measured and attached the bottom piece.
Sealed and covered tyhe edges with water-activated tape.
Skills Used:
Measuring, cutting, punching holes, gluing, nailing, bending, cutting curves, reinforcing, and edging.
OT Connection:
The Rocking Perch can provides sensory stimulation through rocking, support students during classroom activities, and can improve comfort and participation. This device is able to be modified to fit the needs of the individual.
PROJECT 5: Reading Easel