Innovations to Help People with Cerebral Palsy

Further proof that there is always room for improvement, a man with cerebral palsy is part of a team that has developed a better spoon for people who have decreased fine motor skills in their hands. Designed for a competition that was sponsored by a housing and care provider, the Blackwood Homes Care and Support Design Awards selected the S’up Spoon as the winner. Blackwood’s goal is to help people with disabilities to live independently.

Designed to be easy to hold and intended to hold food or liquid deep into the handle, the spoon resembles a hollowed-out elephant tusk. The designer’s motto for the product is to “Eat more, Chat more, Spill less.” It is particularly useful for people with disabilities that cause unsteady hands, like cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease. The U.K.-based award (open to participants across the globe) included prize money of £1,000.00.

Other finalists included the following:

• SAT bus design: intended to replace seating in public transportation, these specialized seats would be able to move up, down or sideways to allow wheelchair use
• Kinesic mouse: a revolutionary software program that permits hands-free computer control with simple facial expressions or head rotation.
• POSTA: Intended to assist disabled passengers to transfer from wheelchairs to seats in airplanes.

There is a tremendous need for improvements to assist those with technology, and the response, particularly in recent years, has been tremendous. From Cochlear implants for deafness to computerized speech assistance, innovative technology and products can change lives.

Contact Experienced Cerebral Palsy Attorneys

A diagnosis of cerebral palsy or any other disability brings a great number of questions. Parents will particularly be concerned with the level of independence that their children can be expected to achieve. Fortunately, entrepreneurs and inventers continue to raise the bar by creating new products which improve the quality of life of special needs individuals. If you have questions about cerebral palsy, contact us at (440) 252-4399, or send us your questions online.