This year, V-LINC had a lot of requests for modifications to be done to wheelchairs and bikes; 16 to be exact. They are undoubtedly amongst our most popular requests, but did you know that our volunteers are skilled enough to handle projects involving almost any disability? Let’s look at just a few of the other types of projects V-LINC has taken on in the past (when it was still known as Volunteers of Medical Engineering, or VME):
- 1989: A man who was left partially paralyzed due to a stroke contacted V-LINC for some type of device to help him move his arm. A volunteer developed an inflatable pillow operated by an air compressor, which not only provided the arm support, but also allowed the man to exercise.
- 1997: Cedar Lane School’s Career Skills Lab requested V-LINC to make several collator boxes with sensors. If the paper is placed in an incorrect tray, nothing happens. When a sheet of paper is placed in the correct tray, a light will glow. The sensitivity of each sensor can also be adjusted to respond to different shades and weights of paper. This visual feedback the children received from this sorting exercise was helpful in encouraging them to develop their skills.
- 1998: A woman with complex regional pain syndrome required support for her arm while she worked as a clothing inspector. She was fitted with a corset-like garment that has a fishing rod and line and attaches to a support that her arm fits into. The woman used the device at work and said that it allowed her the flexibility and movement she needed, while also solving the problem of pain in her arm.
- 2002/2006: A man with developmental disabilities was enrolled in a vocational training program at Penn-Marr. He had no use of his right hand, so he could not perform his job packaging materials well. An assistive device was constructed to help him place the contents in each bag, and then fold the package evenly to get the contact cement to seal completely. It worked extremely well for the client until the manufacturer redesigned the packaging in 2005, making the custom device unsuitable. V-LINC’s volunteers were once again asked to make meet the man and several of his coworker’s needs by creating a newer version of the device.
As you can see, V-LINC has taken on projects ranging in content and complexity throughout the years. Keep us in mind whenever you have a need that is made more difficult or impossible to meet due to a disability, whether your request is wheelchair-related or otherwise!
