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Abilitease, Inc. (Mark Fuglevand)

@abilitease

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Owner ♿️ C6 Quadriplegic - @fyoogz
We design adaptive tools to improve the quality of life for people of all abilities.

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Recently we saw an article posted by @newmobilitymag talking about adaptive aids that we can’t live without. An individual posted a comment saying their knee/leg spreader for self catheterization had been discontinued and she had been duct taping the same device for ten years.

We reached out to this individual and decided to build her a newly designed leg spreader prototype. With this design there is lots of adjustability to meet the needs of the individual.

After some testing we hope to release this product in our online shop soon!

Please check out our adaptive product line by clicking on the view shop button or visiting us at www.abiliteaseadaptive.com and support a disabled owned business. You can also access the link above in our bio.

[Video Description: In this video Mark shows an individual that has been duct taping the same leg spreader for years because it was discontinued. He then shows a newly designed leg spreader that has numerous adjustable options.

#legspreader #kneespreader #femalecatheterization #catheterization #discontinued #activitiesofdailyliving #accessibility #inclusivity #adaptivetools #universaldesign #handdexterity #arthritis #stroke #musculardystrophy #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordinjurysurvivor #paralysis #paralyzed #quadriplegic #tetraplegic #wheelchairuser #independence #inclusion #wethe15 #reels #reelsofinstāgram taken in Cerritos, California by @abilitease

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a year ago

When staying in a ADA hotel room I often find that the bed is so high that I cannot transfer into it independently. I probably could get help using a sliding board or purchase a portable lift to travel with, but I prefer to transfer on my own if possible.

After checking into my hotel room, the first thing I do when I notice the bed is too high is call housekeeping and ask them to send someone from maintenance to remove the bed frame. When they ask why I tell them I’m in a wheelchair and I can’t get into the bed because it’s too high. Sometimes I get push back on the phone, but with a little persistence I usually get them to send someone to the room to help.

The maintenance workers are typically very helpful and accommodating. Once they arrive I provide some instruction and they will start moving the mattresses. A lot of times the frame is simply a box on wheels that can be removed with ease. In the end the bed is at a more suitable height and I can feel comfortable knowing that at the end of the night I will be able to get into bed independently and get a good night’s rest.

This is a great example of how important it is to advocate for yourself and others. The hotel may not have known about the potential bed height issue for other patrons staying in a ADA room. They were able to accommodate me with some instruction and now they know how to do it going forward if someone else has an issue.

[Video Description: In this video Mark is showing how the bed is too high in his ADA hotel room and he gets maintenance to come and remove the bed frame so that the bed will be lower and accessible for him to transfer into.]

#adaroom #bedheight #removableframe #hotelmaintenance #accommodation #neversettle #adl #activitiesofdailyliving #assistivetechnology #handdexterity #inclusivity #adaptivetools #universaldesign #handdexterity #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordinjurysurvivor #paralysis #paralyzed #quadriplegic #tetraplegic #wheelchairuser #independence #inclusion #reels #reelsofınstagram #pechangacasino taken in Cerritos, California by @abilitease

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2 years ago

Last Saturday as I was leaving a restaurant with my family I noticed that the vehicle in the Disabled parking spot next to me had parked in the adjoining access aisle.

For those that are disabled and use the ADA spots they may not need to utilize the access aisle to exit/enter their vehicle. Or they require less space because they are transferring to/from their wheelchair from the driver or front passenger seat. For me, the access aisle is extremely important when exiting/entering my vehicle because of the deployment of the side entry ramp.

Because I use a rampvan, I specifically look for “Van Accessible” disabled parking because the access aisle is wider. Unfortunately, this also attracts shopping cart parking for individuals who don’t put their carts back in the proper place after exiting the store.

Over the years I have learned a technique where if my ramp is close to the vehicle next to me I can pivot around the ramp to get onto it. However, on this particular occasion the space was tight and I had to get help from my son.

The easiest solution would have been to have my wife back the van up, but I wanted to troubleshoot the issue with my boys in case it was just us. This also gives them the opportunity to appreciate the importance of the access aisles as it pertains to a disabled individual’s independence. I want them to be mindful of their surroundings as we try to bring awareness and normalize an accessible world.

[Video Description: In this video Mark shows how someone has parked in the blue access aisle of an adjoining disabled parking spot. This leaves little room for Mark’s van ramp to deploy and for him to roll into his van independently. However, Mark has learned a technique with his wheelchair to pivot around the ramp when there is little room, with some help from his son.]

#disabledparking #accessaisle #accessibleparking #vanaccessible #handicapparking #adaparking #ada#accessibility #adaptivetools #universaldesign #handdexterity #spinalcordinjury #spinalcordinjurysurvivor #paralysis #paralyzed #quadriplegic #tetraplegic #wheelchairuser #independence #inclusion #thisisjustthebeginning #norisknoreward #ideasareworthnothing #setgoalsandgo taken in Edwards Long Beach Towne Center by @abilitease

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4 years ago

For the past 10 years I have been using the Hollister VaPro Plus Pocket catheter to empty my bladder.

Aside from it being compact and easy to insert, the catheter itself has an introducer tip and is fully enclosed in plastic. This means my risk of infection is minimized which is great because I have limited hand function.

At the top of the bag where is a small tear line. I typically secure my teeth on one side of the tear line and pull the opposite way with both hands to open the bag for emptying.

I had mentioned to the R&D team at Hollister that it would be nice if there were some holes near the tear line so that I could hook a finger and pull instead of primarily using my teeth to tear the bag open. With this month’s supply I notice the bags had a hole on either side of the tear line and this made it a lot easier for me to rip the bag open to empty it.

This may not seem like much, but those little changes may mean the difference between someone being able to catheterize independently or not. Thank you @hollister_incorporated for listening and implementing the change in a timely manner!

Please check out our adaptive product line by clicking on the view shop button. Or you can visit the store directly at www.abiliteaseadaptive.com and support a disabled owned business.

[Video Description: In this video Mark shows how the VaPro Plus Pocket Catheters he received this month have some product enhancements that were based on end user feedback.]

#neurogenicbladder #hollisterincorporated #Vapropluspocket #urinarycatheter
#limitedhandfunction taken in Cerritos, California by @abilitease

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4 days ago

Go to makerworld.com/en/@abilitease or
TechOWLpa.org/maker-catalog.

Video description: Alanna showing 3D printed playdough caps with a loop.

#AssistiveTech #AssistiveTechnology by @abilitease

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17 days ago

Recently an individual commented on a @techowlpa post saying that the adaptive Play-Doh lid we designed for download on Makerworld did not fit any of her Play-Doh containers.

We found out after going to several stores that the most commonly sold Play-Doh containers are the 2oz, 3oz and 4oz. The lid on the 3oz and 4oz containers are the same, but the 2oz lid was slightly bigger.

Therefore, we designed three different adaptive lids that have the corresponding number of ounces on the side as well as braille characters that represent the number.

We will make these files available for download on MakerWorld.

Please check out our adaptive product line at www.abiliteaseadaptive.com and support a disabled owned business. You can also access the link above in our bio.

[Video Description: In this video Mark is sharing 3D printed adaptive lids that make it easier to open 2oz, 3oz and 4oz containers of Play-Doh.]

#play-doh #playdoh #adaptivelid#assistivetechnology #accessibility taken in Cerritos, California by @abilitease

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21 days ago

As an individual with a spinal cord injury, I rely on mobility equipment to live a full and independent lifestyle. My mobility equipment is an extension of me. There are particular things that able bodied people do with my wheelchair that drives me nuts.

1. Don’t use someone’s wheelchair as a footrest. It almost feels like someone is putting their feet on your lap.
2. Don’t use someone’s wheelchair wheel as a convenient place to tie your shoe. I don’t want your dirty shoe on my wheel/pushrim when I use my hands to push those wheels.
3. Don’t push someone’s wheelchair without asking first. I have no balance so a sudden jerking motion could trigger a spasm or send me falling forward.
4. Please don’t use the push handles to lean on or support your weight. This can make it uncomfortable to the individual in the wheelchair.

A lot of these uncomfortable situations can be avoided with good communication. If you aren’t sure just ask the individual in the wheelchair.

[Video Description: In this video Mark shows four different things that a person should avoid doing when interacting with a disabled individual’s wheelchair.]

#spinalcordinjuryawarenessmonth #spinalcordinjury quadriplegic #wheelchairuser #wheelchairetiquette taken in Cerritos, California by @abilitease

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24 days ago

No pressure Mark (@abilitease ). You can find these files and lots more on our website: www.TechOWLPa.org/maker-catalog

Video description: Clips of people using 3D printed pill bottle caps with a loop that go on top of a CVS pill bottle, a glue stick cap that replaces the original cap and has a loop, and a playdoh cap that replaces the original cap with a loop. Everyone looks very pleased with the devices!

Transcript: This project really is the gift that keeps on giving. It started with Mark who designed this pill bottle cap for himself and generously shared the file with us to download and print. We shared a video of it and Amber commented and asked if someone could make something similar for glue sticks. Of course Mark jumped in to help and now that design is available to download and print. But it didn’t stop there because then someone else asked, what about play doh? So a huge thank you to Mark for continuing to build on this project. Should we give him some more ideas to work on? What else is hard to open?

#AssistiveTech #AssistiveTechnology #3Dprinting #3DprintedAT #3Dprinted by @abilitease

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24 days ago

TMT SPORT!
We are so pumped to showcase this new prototype for the TMT SPORT model that will join our lineup of TMT devices.
SPORT features : cambered wheels, integrated push-rims on thinner tires, slimmer and lighter frame, and front/side bumper rails

This particular prototype was printed by @abilitease in truly amazing colors! by @abilitease

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a month ago

Introducing our newly redesigned 3D-printed sport toddler mobility trainer. This was created to help young kids experience movement, play, and the excitement of sports.

Because access to the game means more than watching from the sidelines. It means getting out there, exploring, participating, and having fun.

[Video Description: In this video Andrew tests out the new Sport TMT on the basketball court.]

#SportTMT #makegood #mobilityequipment #AdaptiveSports #InclusivePlay taken in Cerritos, California by @abilitease

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a month ago

Yesterday my son Brandon helped me build a toddler mobility trainer (TMT). One of the steps when printing flexible material called Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) is removing the stringy hairs that look like spider webs on the printed parts.

The pushrims for the toddler mobility trainer (TMT) are printed out of TPU and at times produce stringing. Trying to remove the stringing by pulling or cutting it is not efficient. Instead we use a heat gun to sweep over the areas with strings to shrink them down to nothing.

[Video Description: In this video Brandon uses a heat gun to demonstrate how quick sweeps over the stringing on the printed TPU parts shrinks the hairs down to nothing and results in a nice clean part.]

Please check out our adaptive product line at www.abiliteaseadaptive.com and support a disabled owned business. You can also access the store link above in our bio.

#TPUstringing #TPU #thermoplasticpolyurethane #heatgun#mobilityequipment normalize makegood toddlermobilitytrainer disableddad accessibility disabled disability universaldesign handdexterity spinalcordinjury spinalcordinjurysurvivor paralysis paralyzed quadriplegic tetraplegic wheelchairuser independence inclusion thisisjustthebeginning norisknoreward ideasareworthnothing taken in Cerritos, California by @abilitease

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a month ago

Ways to get involved in 3D printing assistive tech:

1. Connect with your state assistive tech program (AT3center.net)

2. Find a chapter of a local maker group (like @makersmakingchange , @tikkunolammakers, @enablethefuture, @makegoodnola)

3. Check out public libraries, universities, maker spaces, etc.

Happy printing! Find our favorite files on our website: www.TechOWLpa.org/maker-catalog

Video description: 3D printed eye drop squeezer, handle writer with base, drag writing device, adaptive glue stick lid, and adaptive pill bottle lid

#AssistiveTech #AssistiveTechnology #3Dprinting #3Dprinted #3Dprinted AT by @abilitease

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a month ago