Posts Tagged ‘Grip’
Saturday, February 4th, 2012
Frontpage
I heard that disabled parking permits can virtually vanish into thin air and can’t be found in the car anymore.
They possibly fall into black holes. Partial drifts in the space-time continuum are nothing unusual anyway.
Everybody knows it when you are looking for something, can’t find it, and suddenly it is back again.
As rumour has it, the permits are also stolen at night by SUV and cabriolet driving pedestrians.
But there is also the variant that the permit has never left the vehicle.
The permit is not gone, you just don’t see it any more…!!!
The permits are laminated in plastic foil and therefore quite slippery. Apply the brakes forcefully a couple of times, and the parking permit vanishes rapidly between front screen and dashboard like in a letter box.
Then a good fisherman or the new application for the VIP permit is required!!!
I can’t advise the extraction of the car dashboard to anyone, something is always creaking afterwards.
It’s absolutely clear that most of the people with walking disability have fixed their parking permits in their cars in some way.
But if you are regularly taken along by different people in their cars the parking permit should stay removable and can’t be fixed with a “final solution”.
OK…, it could…!!!
As “final solution” I recommend to adhere the permit to the windscreen with a special glue which hardens under ultraviolet light (the sun will help), e.g. Loctite 30xx.
A theft of the parking permit is only possible including the screen then. 
If I am on the road with a friend in his car, I made the experience that the dashboard jump for my permit is nothing unusual.
The easiest way is to stick some self-adhesive rubber pads or non-slip mat underneath the permit, or to put it like in the picture below in a thick cover.
The non-slip mat is available in the do-it-yourself store around the corner in car accessories or from the company Dycem, (see older blogposts Technical Aids for Quadriplegics Part I und Part IV), who makes very good technical aids which I have tested myself.
This special English disabled parking disc is good for maximum 3 hours parking, presumably like in Germany in restricted parking zones, is new to me.
I am currently thinking about illuminating my disabled parking permit with a LED matrix as you can see on television if a new CD is presented.
Click on tag “Handicap Parking to read other nice stories!
Translator BL
Tags:Handicap Parking, Frankfurt, Grip, Technical Aids
Posted in Everyday life aids, Handicap Parking, Technical Aids, Selbstgebaute Hilfsmittel | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
Frontpage
I am currently testing a technical aid, it is a
Knife Holder
This holder has been developed mainly for quadriplegics like me with limited or no finger function.
You notice immediately that this part has been built by insiders, it has been really well-thought on.
The knife is fixed at the hand adaption. The holder is dishwasher safe.
There is no finger function necessary to use it.
I was convinced by the knife holder already after the first test.
With the weight of your own arm only you have already a strong pressure with the knife on the evenly to be sliced test objects, in this case out of pork.
The cutting could be done without effort.
My first test was not representative yet because thanks to the cooking skills of my wife the test samples to be cut were tender pieces of pork fillet.
Now I was in a dilemma: To complete the test series I had to try to cut tough meat as well!!!
To order a steak “well done” is against my nature, I am not a Botswanian who empirically puts a steak 20 minutes on the barbecue until it is dead for the 2nd time.
I decided that it wasn’t necessary to test if it would be possible to cut a tough piece of meat with the special knife or not. I wouldn’t like to eat it then anyway.
An appointment in the test lab “Charisma” in Frankfurt was made to come to a final conclusion.
As you can see on the picture the test object in this case was a beef steak with fried onions, fried potatoes and for the better gliding of the knife, a little herb butter.
The cutting of the meat was done extraordinarily well, I didn’t expect that.
The knife is very sharp, and the knife holder convinces all along the line.
It has to be decided on an individual basis to what extent the purchase of this technical aid makes sense.
I am convinced by this technical aid.
Unfortunately it doesn’t have a medical device number, thus only suitable for self-payers, whereas the price is absolutely fair.
Have a look at the older blogpost with my self-developed electric
(Click here for blogpost with video)
Translator BL
Tags:Food, Grip, Technical Aids, Kitchen, Links, Cut, Quadriplegic Tips
Posted in General, Everyday life aids, Technical Aids, Technical Aids for Quadriplegic, Links | 5 Comments »
Thursday, January 19th, 2012
Home
There are various reasons for somebody to make himself comfortable in a wheelchair. I won’t go into any more detail concerning this point. With a little practice you can guess what has happened to this guy who crosses your way twenty meters before you’re close to him.
I would like to mention at this point that most of us just aren’t able to walk or to walk anymore, and apart from that the neuronal networking is at least at the same level with the average population.
It is not necessary to reject anybody who isn`t able to walk anymore and send him into retirement. There are too little jobs for wheelers!!
On TV you sometimes see actors doing pleasure rides in a wheelchair. An affected person would never take a seat in such a crap chair. A real wheeler brings his own requisite.
At advertising shots for technical aids like wheelchairs, handcycles, wheelchair accessories and special clothing I demand a few jobs for us. Indeed due to the paralysis the belly gets a little bigger, but with Photoshop you can retouch this without any problems.
Recently a glossy promotional sheet for wheeler clothing fluttered into my mailbox.
That’s not bad though so you always keep up to date what is hip regarding clothing, colours and accessoires during the next wheelchair season.
The supposed „colleague“ has a top handcycle with motor support harnessed to his wheelchair. This is even a special type of handcycle for a quadriplegic like me, who barely can or are completely disabled to grasp. When driving the hands are fixed and you change gears with your chin.
At least the model, probably a pedestrian or a paraplegic who has never seen a handcycle before, should have had to be told how to grasp the handles.
Does that always have to attract my attention only?
There they are, our jobs…!!!
Hands in handles should look roughly like this, look at my picture:
I don’t look too bad for a model, do I? OK, the belly is cut off 
Translator Teo
Tags:Frankfurt, Grip, Handcycle, Job, Sport
Posted in General, Eigude- Shame, Technical Aids, Technical Aids for Quadriplegic, Sport | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
Frontpage
There are really good technical aids available.
These technical aids are often developed by concerned people, produced in small batches and are in many cases not known by physicians and therapists.
We “Teddies“ (Quadri- or Tetraplegics) often have limited or not any finger function any more.
A companion had a great idea, worked it out until production readiness and distributes this individually adapted gripping aid under the name
Gripability
You have a let’s call it gripper adapted to the hand.
This is opened and closed pneumatically by pushing a button with the other arm.
Depending on the handicap there are various different grippers, hand adaptions, etc. etc. etc…
You are able to grip again.
This gripping aid facilitates again independent eating, drinking, writing… ingenious!!
When I was asked I immediately volunteered as test person for new developments. Maybe I can help a little bit.
Look at the homepage and make it known.
Not to be able to walk any more is one thing, but not to be able to grip properly any more is not really great.
Take away the tools from a technician, and he will get them back!!!
The key chain is from the German technical relief organization
Let’s wait and see if I recognize myself in the mirror after the next test series 
Translator BL
Tags:Grip, Technical Aids, Ikea, Links, Quadriplegic Tips
Posted in Everyday life aids, Simply great, Technical Aids, Technical Aids for Quadriplegic, Links | No Comments »
Friday, April 29th, 2011
Frontpage
Yesterday I had to fill the holes in my purse, I was in need for cash.
Because ATMs are extremely inconvenient for quadriplegics, I don’t get the bucks out of the machine with my fingers, my wife fortunately takes over.
In front of the bank, supermarket and bakery recently a spacious parking lot was built with additionally 4 disabled parking places.
I dared to park on one of those 4 parking places, although I remained sitting in the car and thus could have used a regular parking place.
On the disabled parking place next to mine there was this poser car with high-gloss polished alloy rims.
A bit unusual for us foot-lame people, but you never know…
Along came a girl in her early twenties with a shopping trolley and started to load her groceries in the trunk of that car – which didn’t match her at all.
I approached her in a friendly manner that I didn’t like “that” at all.
She replied that she would be paying for it…
I interpreted it in that way that she wouldn’t have difficulties to pay the parking tickets.
Should we introduce 35 € parkometers for extra large parking places???
I told her that this would not be the reason, and we wheelchair users would need the space for getting in and out of the car.
She replied:
• She couldn’t park!
• We men couldn’t understand this!
• Her husband wouldn’t let her drive the car,
• only for the groceries!
My comment:
Practice, practice, practice…
Translator BL
Tags:Handicap Parking, Shopping, Grip
Posted in General, Handicap Parking, Eigude- Shame | No Comments »
Monday, November 22nd, 2010
Frontpage
I am totally convinced that I own the coolest
Floss dispenser
of all times.
Manfred the fisherman motivates me every morning anew to do something meaningful with the day, provided that you define the “nonsense” that I permanently produce as meaningful.
Everything is to my opinion more meaningful than to sit on the couch and wait with the PS2 plastic fishing rod that the fish virtually bites the bait on TV. (No joke, see older blogpost).
Well, if the fish is delicious!
Back to the floss. The usage of floss in traditional technique leads with my light-fingeredness, with the emphasis on “light”, inevitably to undesired self-bondages and strangulations.
There are these little flossers with which you have to watch out that you don’t swallow them. According to latest rumours the new floss holder with integrated span mechanism and rubberized grip handle of the brand GUM:
Floss holder type Flosbrush
looks exactly like the strange thing which is lying on my table since the last midsummer. The engineer was probably quadriplegic. This great part is not available at German retailers.
But ask your dentist or druid on the corner (pharmacy) if they can order such a thing. The old model doesn’t have a span mechanism yet, but is also good to handle. The new one will be launched in the next weeks.
I don’t know yet how much it will cost.
Translator BL
Tags:Fishing, Grip, Quadriplegic Tips
Posted in Everyday life aids, Technical Aids, Technical Aids for Quadriplegic, Tips and Tricks | 1 Comment »
Thursday, November 11th, 2010
Frontpage
With my buckled Tetra fingers I can’t open cans any more.
I think that I might succeed some day with this
plastic bow
.
The can is standing on a non-slip mat (see older blogpost).
The leverage is considerable.
The opener is distributed by the Company Brix Denmark.
The company produces other openers as well.
With this part it should be possible to open an
Eintracht- Frankfurt Adlerschoppe
.
It is incomprehensible to me why the plastic bow is called J-Popper.
Let’s think about it…
Translator BL
Tags:Eintracht Football , Football, Grip, Technical Aids, Kitchen, Opener, Quadriplegic Tips, Tips and Tricks, Drink
Posted in General, Everyday life aids, Technical Aids, Technical Aids for Quadriplegic | 6 Comments »
Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010
Frontpage
Almost all wheelchair users are using bicycle gloves which they buy every now and then at the discounter.
My needs for these quality products were plentiful, the more expensive ones weren’t any better for wheelchair driving either.
I got the tip to switch to sailing gloves because they are more robust and additionally reinforced at the forefinger to let the ropes run through for sailing without burning the fingers.
Furthermore the glove fixes very well around the wrist which is very important for me as quadriplegic for braking to not loose the gloves. The velcro tapes are fixing well, and the leather is out of one piece. The gloves are available in Antara leather or Neoprene.
Sailing Gloves
The price starts at 10,00 €.
Source of supply can be enquired.
Contact: rollinator@eigude.de
Now I am just missing a sailing boat.
Translator BL
Tags:Grip, Technical Aids, Wheelchair, Sailing Gloves, Quadriplegic Tips, Tips and Tricks
Posted in General, Everyday life aids, Technical Aids, Pimp My Ride, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Saturday, October 9th, 2010
Frontpage
The market for technical aids is huge.
There is almost everything you can imagine in the broadest sense. The problem is not only that this stuff is unreasonably expensive, but also apparently nobody has ever tested it.
The Taiwanese fabricate a basically ingenious key holder, like a Suisse Army Knife.
This can be found in almost every catalogue for technical aids.
Because of its size the key holder can be grasped even with limited finger functions. If the key is stuck in the lock the holder is bent by 90° so that you can open the lock due to the big lever with your “little finger”!!!
Attention: If someone else wants to open a door with your key holder please point out to him that a key can be broken off quickly with this technical aid.
The bad thing is that our European keys are a little thicker than the Asian ones and therefore don’t fit in. Such technical aids disappear in the cupboard, like the food processer from the home shopping channel. I have adjusted my
Key holder
accordingly (filed the slots and provided with a longer screw), and I am using it daily.
Last year on the rehab fair I have pointed out this deficit to the Taiwanese. Yesterday I was at the Rehacare in Düsseldorf, but I didn’t see the key holder any more.
Translator BL
Tags:Grip, Opener, Key, Quadriplegic Tips, Tips and Tricks
Posted in General, Everyday life aids, Technical Aids, Technical Aids for Quadriplegic, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010
Frontpage
With my
“Buckled Fingers”,
I know politically correct it is of course just an impairment of motor skills of hands and fingers, it is
not possible for me any more
to start a fire with a customary
lighter or matches.
A couple of years ago this was still essential for survival.
Nowadays it is fortunately not that important any more, provided that you are in possession of a functional microwave and central heating.
I had quit smoking a couple of months before the accident so that I didn’t bother specifically about making fire in the last 2,5 years.
Rather by coincidence I noticed that these
long gas lighters
can be operated without any finger function.
Now even I can light a tea candle again.
Translator BL
Tags:Fire, Grip, Heater, Technical Aids, Quadriplegic Tips, Tips and Tricks
Posted in General, Everyday life aids, Technical Aids, Technical Aids for Quadriplegic, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
Frontpage
If you as quadriplegic like me or for which reason ever don’t have any power in hands and fingers, such a
turning knob on the inside of a toilet door
is getting a real challenge.
Closing the locks is “going“ rather well, but then!!!
If you are not particularly interested to meet consistently your friend from the fire brigade it is beneficial to always have a
Silicon cap
with you which you usually use to open bottles (see older blogpost).
This
excellent turning knob
I have discovered on a disabled toilet in Bregenz (Austria).
Did actually somebody put good thoughts on it, or was it all about the design?!
Translator BL
Tags:Rotary Knob, Fire, Bottles, Grip, Technical Aids, Quadriplegic Tips, Tips and Tricks
Posted in General, Technical Aids, Technical Aids for Quadriplegic, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Frontpage
In light of the current situation, outside we have currently at 10:08 h already 25,4° C, something topical.
Because I can hardly grasp with my fingers it is only possible for me to move my wheelchair when I press my hands against the hand rims of the driving wheels and push them forward.
This is only possible for me with rubberized hand rims, unless I push with the spokes which is a little inconvenient and not possible if you have spoke protectors.
The hand rims are available readily coated with rubber, or as
“sliced hosepipe“ (hand rim cover),
which you pull over on a standard hand rim.
Everybody has to decide for himself what is better or worse.
It is said that the hand rim covers would slip from the hand rims in the summer when it is warm and the rubber gets soft.
I have made the same negative experience.
You can counteract very simple if you clean the hand rim covers approximately all two weeks from in- and outside respectively the hand rims with an alcoholic cleaner like window cleaner, rubbing alcohol,…
The covers stick afterwards to the hand rim like glued.
Now a little bit of hairspray outside on the hand rim cover, and there is nothing in the way of a trip to the swimming lake.
If they have a lift to water at the swimming lake?
Translator BL
Tags:Grip, GreifringĂĽberzug, Technical Aids, Wheelchair, Wheelchair Tyres, Quadriplegic Tips
Posted in General, Technical Aids for Quadriplegic, Pimp My Ride, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Frontpage
With my finger function the opening of envelopes is really trying my patience. I simply can’t open the
envelopes
uninjured, undamaged or prompt. My shredder is usually not far away!!!
If you put a nail file in the
cutlery holder (see older blogpost)
it turns into an
excellent letter opener.
Let’s take it for granted that you can use the
nail file
in the cutlery holder coincidentally for
manicure
as well.
Translator BL
Tags:Letters, BĂĽro, Grip, Technical Aids, Nail File, Paper, Quadriplegic Tips, Tips and Tricks
Posted in General, Everyday life aids, Technical Aids for Quadriplegic, Selbstgebaute Hilfsmittel, Tips and Tricks | 1 Comment »
Thursday, April 1st, 2010
Frontpage
As self-confessed hobbit with 1,38 m total height forehead top sitting in the wheelchair you have to confess every now and then that the upward reach is a little limited.
My well-tried
key hooks
suddenly have a perceived height of 2,10 m after my accident.
If you aren’t a friend of the fishing sport then taking down the keys turns out to be a bit tedious and can be dangerous.
The usage of safety glasses and helmet is mandatory.
The
Yellow North European Furniture Elks
are offering a
magnet holder for kitchen knives,
which I have declared as
vertical magnet key holder.
Watch out, there are two types.
One of the holders just succeeds to prevent a paper clip from falling down. 
Translator BL
Tags:Fishing, Grip, Technical Aids, Magnet, Key, Quadriplegic Tips, Tips and Tricks, Home
Posted in General, Everyday life aids, Technical Aids, Technical Aids for Quadriplegic, Selbstgebaute Hilfsmittel, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
