Handicap accesories help individuals with physical disabilities maximize their independence. They are the tools someone can use to overcome obstacles that result from being differently-abled in an able-bodied person's world. Standard household objects can be changed into Handicap accesories that allow someone with disabilities to complete the same tasks as their able-bodied peers. In her book "Adapt My World" and on her website, J. Rose Plaxen describes a number of ingenious ways to adapt standard items so they can be used independently by differently-abled children.
Handicap accesories for home, school and play are created by making minor adaptations to everyday household items.
Handicap accesories help such individuals fit in with the peer group by giving an individual with disabilities a way to be self-reliant. When they no longer depend on the assistance of others to complete mundane tasks, differently-abled children can become fully functional members of their families, their peer groups and their school communities. No longer relegated the outsider role, such children enjoy increased self-esteem, secure in the knowledge that they have the ability to reach the same goals as their friends.
Handicap accesories for children to use in various settings are described in J. Rose Plaxen's book "Adapt My World", which provides strategies and instructions for creating tools at home, at school and at play. Plaxen's detailed instructions show parents and caregivers how they can adapt everything their child needs for self-reliance in their bedrooms, bathrooms, dining rooms, playgrounds and schools. With the use of such tools, a differently-abled child can be the same as any other kid.
J. Rose Plaxen began writing "Adapt My World" when she first realized that some strategically placed non-skid bathtub strips enabled her young daughter to sit up in her highchair with little assistance for the very first time. As the parent of a child with disabilities, Plaxen had been disappointed by the lack of resources geared toward raising a child with special needs. So she decided to do something about it. Thus was "Adapt My World: Homemade Adaptations for People with Disabilities" conceived.
"Our world is not accommodating of differently-abled individuals," said Plaxen. "It's up to each individual caretaker to make the child's world truly their own. This book contains common-sense modifications that have an enormous and immediate effect on improving the daily lives of these children."
"Adapt My World" is the first book to put together the myriad hints about how to adapt a "differently-abled" child's environment to his or her needs. They come from therapists, teachers, and experienced parents. The book is organized in "recipe book" format, with lists of ingredients, detailed instructions, and substitutions. There are photographs of the finished products, some of them even in use!
The adaptations described in "Adapt My World" are divided into sections on home, school, and play. Adaptations for the home include chapters on mealtime, bath, and bedroom modifications. The section on play includes chapters addressing modifications for both independent and interactive activities, some of which provide these special children with the rare opportunity to fit in with their friends. Finally, a section on academics includes accommodations developed by teachers and therapists to facilitate study and socialization. Although this book presents a variety of modifications for a number of settings, the common thread running throughout the book is that small changes can make life a lot less challenging for children with disabilities and their parents.
