The Senior Occupational Therapist, Michelle Jackman, says, ‘We are extremely lucky in the Hunter to have such creative and skilled volunteers working for our local TAD group.’
The items made by the branch include angled step blocks for stretching leg muscles and SPICA chairs and tables for kids who have had hip operations and are splinted from the waist down.
A recent project was a modified Intravenous (IV) pole to hold an iPad which could be used as a distraction for young children undergoing treatment.
The idea was suggested by Jenny Piper, the Occupational Therapist Assistant. It involved attaching a special bracket to an IV pole to secure the iPad.
‘For therapists, having TAD nearby often means that challenging clinical situations, for which there is no commercially available solutions, can be addressed, ‘ Michelle says.
Other items built by TAD Hunter include a tilt in space chair, Joey corner chairs and Rawson Adjustable Chair and Table sets.
Michelle says, ‘For the children and families who access our services, the equipment that TAD is able to fabricate and adapt often means that children are able to carry out their daily lives, improving their quality of life and reducing the impact on families.’
