OTs Awarded Prizes for Aids to Daily Living

  • Sep 01, 2012
Maddak ADL awards

Pictured from top: Aquatic Stabilizer Apparatus and the Rockin’ Scooter.

Occupational therapists (OTs) don’t simply teach skills to make life easier for people with limited mobility; they also use their creativity to design tools to assist in everyday living. This year, aids to daily living manufacturer Maddak recognized OTs for their design efforts.

At the Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Conference in Indianapolis, Maddak handed out awards for product design from among more than 30 entries. A volunteer panel of OT practitioners rated submissions on originality, therapeutic value, function and appearance/presentation.

The winners by category were

Professionals

  • David Blaski, OTR/L, of Medical Devices, LLC, won first place for his Aquatic Stabilizer Apparatus. The product enables aquatic therapy for children with cerebral palsy by enabling proper kicking movements for swimming and thereby strengthening the lower extremities.
  • Mollie Verdier, OT, of Therapals.com, placed second for her Tag-a-Long Book Bag Scheduler. The scheduler provides assistance for children and adults who need help transitioning from task to task.
  • Beth Ann Walker, OT, of University of Indianapolis, won third prize as well as the People’s Choice Award, for her Hoop Aid Dressing Aid. The padded hoop helps women who have trouble bending over pull on undergarments.

Students

  • Robert Pippinger, a student at University of Central Arkansas, won first prize for his Rockin’ Scooter. The device combines a scooter board and vestibular board to increase endurance, strength, postural control/stability and motor planning while promoting quality prone extension. In addition, the vestibular board challenges the vestibular and proprioceptive systems while minimizing fear.
  • Megan Tronchetti, a student at St. Ambrose University, placed second with an Adaptive Cell Phone Holder for patients with C5 spinal cord injuries. The product makes texting and calling easier and attaches to any power or manual wheelchair.
  • Gilbert Dodd, a student at Zane State College, earned third place for The Angler Assistant, an adaptive fishing pole holder that enables fishing with only one upper extremity.

Read more about the products and view photos here.