Team develops focus desk for special needs boy

Matthew’s school desk was a hurdle in his learning. The specialist team that deals with the boy’s angry behaviours were not able to get him to do things and learn, as he was always distracted. Matthew’s family was not able to find a desk on the market that would meet his needs, and they couldn’t design a desk themselves.

That’s when they met Bob Woolf, Eileen Bloustien and Janet Garner, from the charity May We Help (an organisation that develops gadgets to increase the autonomy level of disabled people).

This team created a custom focus desk, which design specifically addresses sensory issues with positioning, enclosure, colours, and lighting to provide a more productive learning setting.

They used the following material: CNCed commercial grade plywood, foam cushion fabric seat and lighting strips around black laminate desktop.

Matthew got his new desk in 2013 and everyone was happy with this new solution. “Finding a desk for a child with so many needs, it was just not out there anywhere. We looked everyplace and no one had all the things made into one desk that would work. Our son is now seated at the appropriate angle needed for a child with his disabilities; he is comfortable and cannot run off when working, and most importantly with his visual impairment the red lighting on a black background and built-in slant board makes it possible for our son to see and focus on his work task. Our son can now see his work task and focus on his work, comfortable and appropriately seated. It is excellent, we are very pleased”, his mother observed.

Adapted from: https://bit.ly/2KeFMSL