Mobility Products Information

Society is a long way from guaranteeing mobility, but the Americans with Disabilities Act has increased awareness of mobility problems and helped remove many physical barriers that the disabled face. The consumer products industry has responded to this heightened focus on mobility by creating innovative devices that make the activities of daily living easier for individuals who need help.

Hands

• If you or a loved one has lost the function of a hand due to a stroke, nerve damage or amputation, several products can help you do most things that a two-handed person can do. A custom cutting board has prongs that hold fruits and vegetables while you slice them. You can cut steak one-handed with a rocking knife-fork combination utensil. Elastic shoelaces let you lace and tie shoes once, then slip them off and on without retying. Extra-long handled hair brushes can help you stay neat and well groomed.

Feet

• Walking mobility devices help people with foot or leg injuries or disabilities move safely over distances. With a knee walker, the patient rests his bent knee on a padded cart on wheels. The injured leg remains stable on the cart, with no weight being carried on the lower leg, while the patient keeps the knee walker moving with his healthy leg. The knee walker is more stable than walking on crutches and easier to maneuver than a wheelchair.

  Consumers with limited mobility due to Parkinson's disease will appreciate the features of the laser cane. You push a button on the cane handle to cast a bright red laser light beam horizontally in front of your feet. The beam gives your foot something to aim for when you step forward, helping eliminate episodes of "freezing."

Eyes

• Many assistive devices help enhance vision. For the vision impaired, magnifying eyeglasses help you watch TV and read print, while a talking watch helps with time management and a talking scale with weight management.

Ears

• Sound amplification products help the hard of hearing stay active and mobile. You need not worry about missing the alarm and oversleeping if you have a vibrating alarm clock to shake you up in the morning. Strobe flashers capture your attention when your phone rings or someone knocks at your door. Novel phone amplifiers intercept your phone signal and transmit it through your hearing aid. Television amplifiers can also transmit through your hearing aid, so others with better hearing can watch TV with you, with the volume set to their comfort level.