Hesperian Health Guides
Aids for Reading, Writing, and Drawing
HealthWiki > Disabled Village Children > Chapter 53: Education: At Home, at School, at Work > Aids for Reading, Writing, and Drawing
PENCIL HOLDER FOR A WEAK OR PARALYZED HAND
For children who have difficulty holding a pen, pencil, or brush, or turning the pages of a book, you can think of all sorts of adaptations. Here are a few examples:
piece of leather or stiff cloth fastened to a stick, with space to force a pencil through the hole
stick
Velcro or
buckle
|
SIMPLE MODEL
strap around hand |
Velcro (sticks-to-itself strap)
long thin pocket to hold pencil sewed onto strap |
AIDS FOR HOLDING PENCILS, PENS OR BRUSHES
A thick handhold gives better grip and control
pencil-sized hole
piece of a tree branch
screw to hold pencil in place
|
piece of hose or tubing |
rubber ball
hole slightly smaller than pencilâso that it must be forced through it |
brush |
PAGE TURNER (Design for head)
metal rod attached to headband
pencil upside down
wire to keep pages straight
rubber eraser used for âgripâ to turn pages.
wood book support
For writing, a pencil or pen can be taped with the point down |
Tray table lifts up for reading and writing, and down for eating |
Many children who have difficulty with hand control and cannot write clearly by hand can learn to use a typewriterâusing their hands or a stick attached to their heads. A typewriter or computer may be a wise investment for a child with severe disabilitiesâand may in time provide a way for her to earn money.
A pocket calculator is much cheaper than a typewriter. A person with disabilities who is good with numbers can do many different kinds of accounting jobs.
For more ideas on aids and adaptations, see Chapter 27 on amputations, Chapter 9 on cerebral palsy, and Chapter 62 on special aids.
Lupitoâs family was afraid to let him go to school. They thought the other children would tease him. Village rehabilitation workers convinced his family to let him go to school, and to also lead a CHILD-to-child activity with the schoolchildren. Lupito now attends school happily and does very well. |
Lupito at school... |
and at play. |