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Ashley John Pigford
Professor
Department of Art & Design
+ Affiliated Faculty in
Fashion & Apparel Studies
@ University of Delaware

design@udel.edu

Grippers Assistive Wheelchair Outriggers For Holding Things




Grippers are assistive devices designed to hold things for people who are unable. These may be attached to the back cane of a wheelchair, car seat headrest, table top or anything you are able to get the clamp on. This series of devices consists of photographic parts that can be configured in many ways based on the person’s needs and have allowed children with hand and arm impairments to access sippy cups, tablets, books and anything else that weighs less than two pounds. They have proven helpful for children with arthrogryposis by alleviating the need for their caregiver to hold things for them while driving or moving them around the world in a wheelchair.

The typical configuration consisting of a ProMaster Studio Clamp, ProMaster Flexible Arm, Joby GorillaPod flexible tripod and reducer bushing. A complete kit will cost about USD $100 and I source my components from a local photo store.



Attached to a Wheelchair (above)



Attached to a car seat headret (above)



Detail of how a sippy cup is held by the flexible tripod (above).

These devices were inspired by the wonderful and continued efforts of Denise Peischl at Nemours A.I. duPont Hospital for Children. 

Please contact me if you would like to participate in a trial of this device or something like it. All trial devices are provided at no cost to the participant.

© Ashley John Pigford, All rights reserved.