Week Seven: Adaptive Art Activities

    Last Thursday's class was really fun! We brought in different adapted art equipment information we researched before class.  I found a chalk art attachment for wheelchairs and different paintbrushes and utinsels with adjusted grips.  The grips were of different materials and sizes.  After discussing a bit about the art materials we found, we got into our groups.  The task at hand was to create adapted art utinsels/equipment with a pile of supplies given to us.  The supplies included grips, egg cartons, paintbrushes, pens, pencils, string, cups, sponges, etc.

  My group used the sponges to create stamps by cutting shapes out of them and gluing them to cardboard.  We then glued cups upside down on the cardboard.  An individual who has trouble with fine motor control could more easily grip the bigger cups.  We also adapted many of the brushes and writing utinsels by attaching them to the inside of cups for the same purpose.  We altered the size of many of the utinsels because a common difficulty is the thin size of the utinsel's handle.  Our group's big project was creating a marker writer that could attach to a wheelchair.  Aden headed this project and it turned out pretty good! We poked markers through an egg carton and used string to attach it to the base of a wheelchair. It worked when we tested it out! :)

   When creating the adaptive art equipment, it was really fun and interesting.  I learned a lot about how to be innovative and creative with what supplies you are given.  We were able to create some of the same basis of ideas by being innovative.  For example, we saw an example of  adapted scissors and created our own version by placing a sponge in between the scissors.  We had to think about durability and creating functional equipment that could be used for individuals with various disabilities.

    This class was really helpful because it taught me how to be innovative and creative.  I learned that I enjoy feeding off of other's ideas and having input for my own ideas.  I think this will be useful in my future when working with a team of other healthcare professionals.  I also learned how to improvise and use a more-developed model to create one with simple materials.  This can be helpful if equipment or an activity is expensive and I would have to create a cheaper version.

  During this class, I tried to "strive for excellence" by coming to class prepared with many examples of equipment I had researched. I also gave input and ideas to the group activity.  I participated in class and listened to other's ideas as well.  :)