I can paint again – thanks to gadget (From Worcester News)

I can paint again – thanks to gadget

2:08pm Monday 21st November 2011 in James Connell By James Connell

NECESSITY is the mother of invention, and when that invention can change the life of someone with a lifelong disability, the rewards can be immeasurable.

A Worcestershire charity formed entirely of retired or semi-retired engineers and skilled craftsmen does just that, and now it is seeking new challenges so its members can put their diverse skills to good use.

Remap Worcestershire, which has some 10 active volunteer engineers and craftsmen from all corners of the county, each with many years experience in their field, has been active since the 1960s.

The charity, part of a national organisation, works closely with occupational therapists, transforming the lives of people with disabilities by adapting existing equipment and designing items that can help them to leadan independent, fulfilling lives. The Remap team of engineers undertakes about 80 projects a year but wants to do more.

“Remap Worcestershire has been kept busy with projects, but our volunteer engineers are itching to do more. We love the challenge of designing bespoke gadgets or equipment, sometimes just very small pieces that when used in conjunction with an already available piece of equipment, makes all the difference to a disabled person.

That’s what Remap is all about, helping people with disabilities achieve independence,” said John Del Mar of Cleobury Mortimer, chairman of Remap Worcestershire.

The branch recently won national recognition from Remap head office for one of its projects undertaken by Peter Bettridge, a volunteer from Stourport-on-Severn with more than 60 years’ engineering experience.

His design of a device that allowed a woman with muscular degeneration of her arm to paint again, despite not being able to grip a paintbrush, won him the Carpenter Award (see case study).

Occupational therapists reduce the debilitating effects of disability so people lead as normal a life as possible. However, there are sometimes specific needs which cannot be met with current equipment.

This is when a Remap engineer is contacted, the problem put forward, and the engineer gets working to find a solution.

While most of the projects undertaken by the volunteers are from referrals by occupational therapists in Worcestershire, more can benefit from the service as many people may not have OTs assigned to them.

“We welcome enquiries from anyone. In the majority of the cases simple gadgets make a difference.

The more challenging tasks tend to be referred to us by OTs, but in a situation where a client comes directly to us, and we feel an OT should be involved, we advise them to speak to their surgery to involve an OT, just so we know that whatever we design is safe and risk assessed” said John Del Mar.

what is remap?

Remap is a national charity with 85 branches in the UK, and more than 1,500 volunteer engineers and craftsmen.

Every year the Remap panels make more than 3,000 pieces of equipment, all specially designed to help people with disabilities achieve independence in some aspect of their life.

Each item is a creative response to a challenge posed by a disabled person.

Remap Worcestershire designs about 80 pieces of equipment a year.

For more information or discuss your needs with Remap Worcestershire, contact Chris King (christineking@nhs.net) or John Del Mar via Remap head office on 08451 300456.