S’Up Spoon is a new and innovative assistive eating aid to help people with a movement disorder. Check out their Kickstarter campaign!

Comparing S’Up Spoon to a regular spoon

Inclusive and design for all practices are at the heart of everything we do and we like to support products that offer the same. S’Up Spoon is an innovative new product which provides a safe and convenient utensil, specifically designed for people with cerebral palsy as well as anyone suffering from hand tremors, such as essential tremor. S’Up Spoon helps to ensure independence and dignity to many and their Kickstarter Campaign is currently gaining momentum and we want to help push them along their way!

Eat More, Chat More, Spill Less

With the above slogan opening the campaign, S’Up Spoon is introduced as a spoon for shaky hands and the campaign is looking to raise £33,000 and have provided the below valuable flowchart of exactly how their funding will be spent:

What is S’Up Spoon

S’Up Spoon in Action

The video below explains S’up Spoon very well. The spoon was developed after the inventors met Grant who was frustrated by the limited nature of regular utensils as well as those specifically designed for assistive purposes. The spoon was designed to allow grant the freedom he needed to eat out with friends and from his fantastic feedback, the company went on to further hone the spoon for a wider user group.

The current S’Up Spoon has been developed to suit a wider audience including people with essential tremor as mentioned above as well as Parkinson’s disease. The spoon is on the verge of reaching market and there’s hope that the Kickstarter campaign will help launch them and ensure their product is available for a much wider audience. They’re currently about £20,000 away from their target and have 10 days to go. We’re hoping a final push can get them the funding they need and bring S’Up Spoon to market.

Assistive Utensils Market

The assistive utensils market is a growing area of interest for many inventors and designers. Products such as the Knork, Handsteady and other drinking and eating aids, provide assistance in some ways but not others and it’s clear S’Up Spoon feels a definite gap in the market and could even be used alongside other utensils and products.

We also reckon this is a good time to mention how valuable your Trabasack can be when out and about, providing a sturdy and stable surface to dine from, perhaps when you’re in a busy area or the table height isn’t quite right for dining comfortably.

S’Up Spoon Kickstarter

As with all Kickstarter campaigns, S’Up Spoon offer a range of incentives to their backers to get them on board and thank them for their kind pledges, the S’Up Spoon pledge incentives are as follows:

• £2 or more: the feeling that you’ve supported a great cause
• £15 or more: £3 off the estimate RRP for your S’Up Spoon and delivery by Christmas
• £18 or more: A special S’Up Spoon supporters’ t-shirt (for those who don’t need the spoon but want to back the scheme)
• £18 or more: A black/dark grey S’Up Spoon from the first production line for delivery in December 2014
• £18 or more: A black/dark grey S’Up Spoon from the second production line for delivery in February 2015
• £20 or more: A limited edition Kickstarter S’Up Spoon in green, never to be produced again.
• £25 or more: Two black/dark grey S’Up Spoons for delivery between Jan-Feb 2015
• £40 or more: Ultimate Package – both a black and special edition green spoon and a t-shirt for delivery in December 2014
• £375 or more: A special edition silver anodised aluminium spoon, hand finished with a name etched onto the handle for delivery in February 2015
• £2,500 or more: Lunch in Glasgow with a tour of the 4c Design office and a demonstration of the design processes used to develop the product. Whilst in Glasgow the backer will be able to get involved in ideas and planning for future developments of S’Up Spoon and will become a feature on the website alongside the rest of the team involves in the spoon’s design and development.

There are lots of fantastic incentives there to make that final push to back up S’Up Spoon and ensure it’s available to buy for anyone who wants it. Our main hope for the development of the product is that a stainless steel version is eventually created, allowing the S’Up Spoon to blend in more naturally in all dining environments.

Good luck to the 4c Design team and S’Up Spoon. We will keep this page updated with news as the project progresses.

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Mi Smarthouse Kitchen Area

At the Museum of Liverpool there’s a small, unassuming exhibition which looks like the recreation of a normal house. When you get inside you realise it has been setup with every possible gadget and gizmo to support independence. The Mi Smarthouse is a project put together by More Independent (Mi).

More Independent is a Government-funded initiative that is being piloted across four UK regions. As there website says the scheme exists to:

• enable you to take charge of your health, wellbeing and lifestyle
• use technology to allow you to feel safer and live more independently in your own home
• give peace of mind to yourself and your family
• reduce the amount of time you have to spend on appointments, by supporting you to manage better at home

The Mi Smarthouse at the museum is kitted out with a wide range of equipment covering all the key areas of the home. Here we’re taking a look at some of the gadgets they’ve highlighted and used in their perfect, accessible home.

General

These gadgets could be useful at any place in your home and can make it feel more safe and secure.

Fall Detector

Fall Detector

A fall detector can be worn around your neck and it connected to a system which will alert your carer if you do fall even if they’re not on the premises.

Large Buttons Picture Telephone

Phone keypads can be hard to use and it can also be difficult to remember phone numbers. This phone has spaces for photographs of those people you call regularly as well as large, clear numbers for when you need to dial out.

Home Safety Alert

The Mi Smarthouse has a bonus caller panic button installed by the front door, giving the residents the chance to press the button if anyone arrives at the door who they’re not comfortable with. Similar home safety alarm system can be found elsewhere too.

Supra KeySafe

Supra KeySafe

The Supra KeySafe is the UK’s first police approved key safe and is the perfect place to store your emergency keys. You choose a combination number and you can share this number only with somebody you trust implicitly.

Carbon Monoxide Sensor

Carbon monoxide can kill. It’s odourless and can’t be seen so the only way to sense it before it is too late is with a dedicated carbon monoxide sensor. Sensors can be easily installed and can save your life.

Fingerprint Lock

A fingerprint lock is a great option if you struggle with keys. You can add the details of your carer and friends as authorised ‘pad-pressers’ so they can get in and out with ease when necessary too.

Kitchen

We’ve talked regularly about the importance of gadgets to make access to the kitchen easier. It’s potentially a dangerous environment so anything to make it less so is a good invention in our book. In the Mi Smarthouse they demonstrated a range of kitchen-specific gadgets.

Talking Microwave

The controls on a microwave oven can be difficult if you have difficulties with your vision or dexterity. A Talking Microwave Oven can help guide you to the buttons you need and it will also tell you when the door is open or closed and let you know whether the food needs stirring or left to stand.

Induction Hob

An induction hob only cooks the pot upon it. There is next to no danger of being burned by it and they’re becoming a common installation in supported living environments to aid independence. This type of hob is also energy efficient and reaches top temperatures in record time. In the Mi House the hob was fitted but they can also be bought as separate electric units .

One cup Kettle

We’ve talked before about how useful the one cup kettle can be. Never worry about spilling boiling water as the kettle will dispense the exact amount you need with the simple pressing of a button.

Entertainment and Living Area

Many of these items listed below could be used all around the house but are most useful when you’re relaxing in front of the TV or lounging on the sofa.

Big Switch and Remote

Big Switch Remote

A Remote Control Big Switch can be positioned wherever you need it to avoid bending to switch off items which have plug sockets uncomfortably out of reach. The big switch can be used with any electrical appliance in the home.

Voice Recorder Switches

If speech has always been or is becoming difficult then these small voice recorder switches can be used to record key phrases. They can have messages such as ‘I’m hungry’ or ‘I want to go home’ ready recorded for when you’re home or out and about when speech has become difficult.

Chair Occupancy Alert

This item is extremely useful if you have an outside care team supporting you as it allows them to monitor the time spent out of your chair. If it seems exceptionally long they may phone you or come around the check everything is OK.

Big Jack Controller

Big Jack Multi-Controller

The Big Jack can replace all your smaller, fiddly remotes and switches. It can be programmes for a whole range of jobs and can be used to change channels on the TV, switch off lights and even use the telephone.

Personal Care

The personal care element of the home is the most private. Both the bedroom and bathroom are places where you want to maintain as much independence as possible and some of these gadgets are designed to guarantee this as well as ensure you can get the help you need, when you need it.

Epilepsy Sensor

Epilepsy Sensor

Living with any form of epilepsy or convulsions can be extremely frightening – especially if you’re alone when one occurs. This epilepsy sensor will alert an outdoor care team if a seizure is taking place, allowing them to provide the right support ASAP.

Enuresis Sensor

Enuresis Sensor

Designed to fit comfortable under the top sheet, an enuresis sensor will alert your carer to the fight signs of dampness whilst in bed – ensuring you’re not left uncomfortable for a long period of time. We have looked at these aids previously for helping children but they can be equally useful later in life.

Flood Detector

A flood detector will guarantee you never forget about another bath. It’s very easy to forget the bath is running but with the installation of a simple detector, it will be safe and you can avoid the risks of damage to your home and the even higher risk of slipping.

The Mi Smarthouse in Liverpool is one of the first examples of how all this technology can come together and successfully be used to help people remain in their own homes independently. You can take a virtual tour of the Smarthouse here. We recently visited the £D printing exhibition at the London Science Museum and will cover the potential benefits in a future post.

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The lite cup night light is a handy drinking aid for night time drinks and hydrating in the dark. The built in light and non-spill features make it a useful bedside cup.

At Living with Disability, we like to take into consideration the opinions and experiences of the blogging community and anybody living with disabilities who has discovered a great item that makes their life a little bit easier. We’ve previously discussed products as recommended by Tourettes Hero such as simple wrist straps and life changing weighted blankets and today we’re looking at an item recommended by Danni, found on Twitter as @Dannilion, a blogger who describes herself as ‘quite disabled’ and that ‘finding products that make life easier and increase my independence is very important to me’. With this in mind, Danni wrote a blog post all about her favourite items including the seemingly simple Lite Cup Night Light . At Living with Disability we’d never heard of the Litecup before so taking a closer look at it, we  agreed with Danni, it really is a great product.

Litecup – Night Light and No Spill Cup in One

The Litecup is a clever little cup which features a non spill lid and a light in its base, which comes on automatically in the dark. Brilliant if you’re looking for your drink late at night and avoids the risk of spills. There are many different reasons that this product could be a great addition to your range of kitchen accessories and Danni explains that she likes it specifically because of its non-spill top. This allows her to drink whilst laid down as there are days where she finds it hard to leave bed and we believe many of our readers will recognise this experience. The Litecup comes in a range of different colours so you can pick a lid that suits your personal preference and it’s a great, affordable product which can make drinking much easier and less challenging.

Reviews of the product praise its robust build and ease of use. They also rate how long lasting the light is and how it can be knocked over without causing any spills. The Litecup is a great product which we believe many people could benefit from and we thank Dannilion for bringing it to our attention.

The Litecup is available on Amazon.

To see the full range of colours click here

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After discussing both the DUO and the Bridgit recently, both products from the Such and Such Design Company, we thought we’d also include their Strawberi into our directory. All three products were introduced at the New Product Showcase at Naidex National 2012 in May and all three have major benefits for a range of different users. For now, let’s take a closer look at the Strawberi – smart straw holder.

Drink Hands Free

The Strawberi smart straw holder attaches your drinking straw safely to the side of your drinking vessel, allowing you to enjoy your drink without having to worry about spills or splashes. In fact, you can drink completely hands free. It’s perfect for anybody who perhaps lives with tremors or unexpected muscle spasms as you don’t need to steady your glass or cup with your hand. What’s more, for young children (aged three and over) who often decide that they’ll only drink from a straw, it removes some of the mess and stress from cleaning up all those spilt drinks as they struggle to keep the straw in the correct position.

Also, if you ever get annoyed with straws being popped out of your fizzy drinks because of all the bubbles, you need no longer worry. Strawberi is simple clip which holds the straw securely so you can enjoy your favourite fizzy drink. A very simple idea which you can reuse and are on sale in packs of five or ten. Once you’ve started using one, the whole family will want to get involved and as a dishwasher safe product it’s extremely easy to use and reuse again and again.

There are a multitude of accessible drinking products on the market all designed to ensure there is something out there to suit your specific needs and whilst other products may be more appealing to some users, we’re sure the Strawberi will be the perfect for others and they’re also great value. To buy, click in the box below:

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That’s why I was so delighted to discover the Betterware Jar and Bottle Opener Aid. No more running lids under hot water; no more banging them on the edge of the worktop; no more sore hands! The Opener Aid’s textured rubber surface grips the lid and is easy to hold, while its conical shape means it fits any size of jar or large bottle.

Betterware Jar opener uses a rubber cap to make gripping easier

It’s also remarkably simple to use. Just hold the lid as normal, but with the Jar and Bottle Opener Aid already in your hand. The extra grip it gives you means you will find it far easier to open the jar.

It even helps with jars far bigger than its own size. Get a grip on one part of the lid, and the rest will follow!

Other uses

This blog recently looked at the Baby Boa Constrictor Jar and Bottle opener, but I prefer this one from Betterware, because it isn’t just useful for jars. You can also use it to turn on taps, or even to change bulbs in hard-to-reach places or that are “sticking” and difficult to remove. This Aid will become an essential tool in your home. I don’t know how I managed without mine!

Reviews

Reviewers give this item great feedback. One says it works so well, and is delighted with her purchase. She is also pleased with the fast, cheap delivery. Another describes it as a “Super gripping device”. He has found it to work well on a variety of items including a difficult (small area to grip) oven bulb.

If you’d like to get find out more or buy a jar and bottle opener aid, please checkout the Buckingham Twister Jar Opener available from Trabasack.com

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A really innovative jar and bottle opener that fits almost any sized lid.  Another essential kitchen gadget if you struggle with difficult to open jars, lids and bottles.

When you take a look at your kitchen there are probably many things you couldn’t access or utilise without help from additional gadgets. One of these is a Baby Boa Constrictor and of course, we’re not talking about snakes but an innovative little device which will become an essential part of your home within days of purchase.

This tweeter testifies how helpful a Baby Boa can be:

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/Robo_Jo/status/139984764525477889″]

What is a Baby Boa?

The Baby Boa

The Baby Boa is a cleverly designed strap wrench which you can simple attach and use to open jars, bottles, tins and other tight lids. It’s a great gadget for anybody who has difficulty with grip, dexterity problems or related conditions. It can be used for hundreds of different tasks but is most known for its role in the kitchen, opening the morning jar of marmalade or pasta sauce for tea. It can unscrew almost any shaped lid without causing any scratches or damage; it’s a simply perfect design. It also has a soft grip handle which makes it easy to keep hold of.

The Baby Boa is designed to provide great grip for any item from 10 to 100m in diameter and is very simple to use. All you do is place the loop of the device over the item and pull the tail end until fully tightened, at which point you can turn it in the direction of the arrow labelled on the lid.

Reviewers also give this product great feedback, describing it as ‘very versatile and fits any size of top’ and ‘will be good for any tight lids’, which shows that it really does work and could be something that could make your cooking and dining experience much easier.

If you’re looking for a gadget to help aid independence in the kitchen, you should certainly consider a Baby Boa. For more information about this innovative jar and bottle opener, please click the box below.

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There are a huge range of techy products which have been developed to make life easier for people from all walks of life, not necessarily with those with disabilities in mind. The Breville Hot Cup is one of these great innovations.

The Breville Hot Cup is an ingenious invention which allows you to boil and dispense hot water with the touch of a button. It is a one touch kettle that you fill with water and it dispenses hot water one cup at a time. This means you can wave goodbye to that kettle tipper wire thing and have something smart and modern on the work top!

Good bye Kettle Tipper!

There’s no need for lifting, pouring or any of the awkward and potentially risky activities involved in making a good old cuppa. It’s a great development for those who have dexterity issues or problems with fine motor skills and as this tweeter puts it, there’s no longer any need to worry about pouring boiling water on yourself:

[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/RobDroy1973/status/136231018322591744″]

The Breville Hot Cup can make that cuppa of yours risk-free and it also has many other great features. If you choose the model with variable dispense, you can vary the size of the cup you use, meaning you can enjoy a big steamy cup of coffee in the morning and then reduce your intake throughout the day as it can’t hurt to reduce your caffeine intake. It works extremely quickly, boiling in less than a minute and you’ll be absolutely stoked with your new purchase.

Save money on boiling a kettle

We have used one for over two years and they pay for themselves quickly in the electricity that they save. As you only boil as much as you need it really saves the ££££s over time. The filters are expensive though, but we have found that it works just as well without one and have been using ours for 18 months without needing to descale it. Obviously this will vary depending on where you live.

This video shows a demo of the Hot Cup in action:

The Innovative Breville Hot Cup

As you can see, it’s a really clever piece of kit which could make life so much easier and avoid the risk of dangerous burns. In addition to ease of use, the Breville Hot Cup is extremely easy to maintain with a built-in limescale filter and it comes with a drip tray as standard so you can avoid spills on your counter tops.

The Breville Hot Cup is ideal for your morning coffee, your afternoon tea and your bed time cocoa.

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