By MATP Staff Member Laura Hall

As a person who uses a power wheelchair, I am excited by developments in assistive technology that make power mobility equipment more comfortable, more durable, and easier to use.  In particular, I love alternate drive controls –  AT that allows people with disabilities to drive their equipment with technology that isn’t dependent on the person’s ability to use a joystick.  (e.g. head array, Sip n Puff, switches) .However, in terms of the joystick controller, the designs are relatively limited.  Traditionally, they involve some sort of knob that is attached to a shaft.

Several months ago, a friend and former Michigander (and Spartan) offered me the opportunity to test his design, the ErgoJoystick – a new controller that replaced the knob with a handle for the entire hand.  As a powerchair user himself, Joe Olsen, who designed the device, felt that other joysticks fell short in providing comfort for driving longer distances and all day use,  I was interested to see if I would have less fatigue in my hands and wrists, and agreed to try it out.

The process of customizing the ErgoJoystick was relatively simple, involving just a few measurements and photos of my driving hand.  With three handle options to choose from, I chose the Stingray design,  which was recommended for people who frequently drive long distances, Once the device arrived, I was pleasantly surprised with how well it fit my hand.  In fact, many people mistakenly thought it was custom molded.

I had no trouble fitting the ErgoJoystick on the shaft (and fine motor tasks often present a challenge.  It fit more snugly than my original joystick, which is always losing friction and popping off.  I recognized through my trial that I actually position my hand differently throughout the day depending on the driving environment, and the ErgoJoystick accommodated that by rotating around the shaft.

I immediately felt more comfortable and had less pain using this joystick for longer distances.  It provided a more natural resting place for my hand, which in turn seemed to reduce spasticity.  Despite the rough winter season, I felt more control on the snowy, bumpy, slick surfaces than with my original joystick. On rough terrain or in tight spaces the shape of the Stingray allowed me to have more control by grasping the device in a claw position.

As with any piece of new equipment, there was a definite learning curve.  For me, this involved adjusting the way in which I drove in reverse and around tight corners, and the way I approached tables.  I also had to develop some muscle memory to avoid bumping the ErgoJoystick with my hand, arm, or sleeve as it is bigger, taller, and wider.

Though it worked well in my case, the effectiveness of the ErgoJoystick will be dependent of course on the individual’s abilities and how well it meets their needs.  While it may not work for everyone, it is exciting to have another joystick option on the market.

Have you ever designed your own assistive technology?  Or thought about it?  What would you design?

By MDRC Intern Piotr Pasik

Has the polar vortex and never ending winter got you down?   Are you are on the lookout for winter fun?  Perhaps adaptive skiing could help relieve that cabin fever.  Several weeks ago, I went adaptive skiing at Challenge Mountain, in Boyne City, Michigan, and documented the experience in a video about my Challenge Mountain adaptive ski experience.

The wide arsenal of adapted skiing equipment options available on-site puts skiers with disabilities in their most natural and least restrictive environment. For walker users like myself, a four-ski – basically the front end of a walker with skis as opposed to wheels – is an option. Sound pretty awesome? It is! After spending the morning session on the four-ski, I opted to use the bi-ski in the afternoon, as it  gave me more control over my direction. A bi-ski is very similar to a mono-ski, in which the skier sits and uses outriggers – crutches with ski endings, if you will –  to control their direction. The additional ski on the bottom of a bi-ski adapts to the surface, giving the skier better balance control.

For new skiers, additional outriggers can be added to either the mono-ski, or the bi-ski, to prevent the device from tipping over, these are removed as the skier gains experience and confidence. All of the adapted skiing equipment can be adjusted to the skier’s range of motion and flexibility. Similarly, the volunteers consider the skier’s ability and experience in determining the extent of assistance that they provide.

In addition to providing a wide range of adapted skiing equipment for individuals with physical and mobility disabilities, the volunteers are trained to assist skiers with sensory disabilities such as blindness, or hearing loss. With skiing opportunities also available for skiers with intellectual disabilities, this adapted outdoor recreation program is very inclusive and offers skiing to a large portion of the disability spectrum. Furthermore, it is a family oriented program that offers adapted skiing training to family members of skiers with disabilities, so that they can enjoy the sport with their loved ones.

Assistive technology serves purposes that are primarily practical, but it can also amount to a lot of fun. As always, at the end of the day, assistive technology never fails to get you places, in this case, downhill, fast!

Looking for other activities to beat the winter blues?  Check out our achieved webinar, “AT for Winter Sports.