Hesperian Health Guides

Aids for Reading, Writing, and Drawing

In this chapter:

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:


Pencil holder with pencil attached to wrist band, hand drawing with pencil.
piece of leather or stiff cloth fastened to a stick, with space to force a pencil through the hole
stick
Velcro or buckle
Pencil attached to hand with fabric, strip of fabric indicating where velcro should go.
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

Piece of rounded wood with screw at one end, and pencil going through it.
pencil-sized hole
piece of a tree branch
screw to hold pencil in place
Pencil inserted in a wider tube.
piece of hose or tubing
Pencil inserted in a ball.
rubber ball
hole slightly smaller than pencil—so that it must be forced through it
Paintbrush inserted in a ball.
brush


For other ideas, see "Prevention of Injury for Persons with Loss of Feeling and Strength" and "Homemade Equipment to Help Eating.

PAGE TURNER (Design for head)



Girl with elastic headband attached to thin rod tied to eraser side down pencil propped on book.
metal rod attached to headband
pencil upside down
wire to keep pages straight
rubber eraser used for “grip” to turn pages.
wood book support
For writing, a pencil or pen can be taped with the point down
Girl in wheelchair using page turner on elevated table, girl in wheelchair with lowered table, eating.
Tray table lifts up for reading and writing, and down for eating
Girl typing with stick attached to elastic headband on head.

Many children who have difficulty with hand control and cannot write clearly by hand can learn to use a typewriter—using their hands or a stick attached to their heads. A typewriter or computer may be a wise investment for a child with severe disabilities—and 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.

Lupito’s 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.
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Lupito at school...
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and at play.


This page was updated:18 Sep 2024