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Mobility Rehabilitation Engineering and Research Center (RERC)

Creating Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Experiences (cRE/ATe) - Student Projects

Center-Mounted Footrest

Many models of power wheelchairs use a center-mounted footrest or footplate. Some wheelchair users must lift or swing away their footrests prior to transfer. These users need to rest their feet upon the ground during transfer. The traditional swing away footrests are attached in a manner that allows the occupant to reach a release and swing the footrest to the side. The center-mounted footrests do not have an accessible attachment and most power wheelchair users cannot reach forward and down to access the footplate. This project sought to design a solution to permit wheelchair users to independently lift a foot plate prior to transfer. The solution needed to be a retro-fit, in that it could be added to a wheelchair after prescription and delivery. It also needed to be compatible with different wheelchair models.

  1. Four Bar Linkage Design Instructables Website
  2. Track Slide Design Instructables Website
  3. Spring Design Instructables Website

Baby Bottle Holder

Mothers who have children with low facial muscle tone may have trouble bottle feeding. Because of the low muscle tone, these children cannot apply suction to a bottle to feed and mothers must use their thumb, forefinger, and sometimes their middle finger to adjust the baby’s jaw so the correct suction can be applied for feeding. Holding the child and the child’s face makes it difficult to hold the bottle and feed the baby. This project sought to design a product that could be manufactured at home to solve this problem.
Fact Sheet for more information

Modified Wiimote with External Buttons

The Wii has become a popular video gaming system that is used for entertainment as well as physical therapy. A need has arisen for a modified Wiimote so that people with upper extremity disabilities are able to play and enjoy all the features of the Wii. These people suffer from disabilities ranging from fine motor skill problems to spasms, and all other ranges of inability to move in certain ways.
Instructables Website
Fact Sheet for more information





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