Independent and Modified Pediatric Feeding Solutions
About this project
The team developed cutlery prototypes with a customizable grip for firmer control at the base and provided Ursula the ability to modify the position of the cutlery ends so that she can choose an optimized angle when feeding herself. The team also created a discreet design for the cutlery which mimics the look of a magic wand.
The challenge
She has difficulty with self-feeding due to motor planning difficulties (dyspraxia) and ongoing oral-motor issues: she is unable to open her mouth wide (due to inflexibility of the jaw hinge) and to move her tongue bilaterally .Additional difficulties involve a soft pallet easily damaged by metal spoons and a history of chipping her teeth when bringing a utensil towards her face too quickly. Her challenge is to create utensils to aid independent/modified feeding.
Who it helps
Ursula is a 9-year-old need-knower with Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy.
Project details
- Stage: Concept
- Built by the Cornell University community, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- Team: Ursula
- Category: Daily Living
- 1 downloads
An open-source assistive technology project shared free by TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.
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