Resources to assist daily living

The MDI knowledge base aims to be a one-stop resource for every child, adult, and family living with a neuromuscular condition. Here you can find some suggestions regarding resources, products, and organisations to assist daily living.

As a community resource, we need your help to develop this knowledge base in order to most effectively reflect your needs. To add to or update an existing resource, email your suggestions to communications@mdi.ie

Muscular Dystrophy Ireland makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of these web links, and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this site. Reference to these sites do not constitute endorsement or recommendation by Muscular Dystrophy Ireland. 

Assistive technology explained – and how to get funding for it

AIDS TO DAILY LIVING

• Access Now– search for accessible businesses in your local area.
• Homecare Medical– a wide range of quality consumables, equipment and furniture.
• Amazon Echo– Amazon Echo is a hands-free speaker controlled by voice. The Echo can connect to appliances, keep a shopping list, set alarms, play music and shop on Amazon.
• EaZyHold – silicone cuff to aid with gripping.
• Wheelchairs – Ireland’s Wheelchair Specialist Shop –accessibility equipment manufacturer including aids to daily living.
• Play grounds Inclusive –discover these fantastic inclusive playgrounds in Ireland.
• Med Guard– a wide range of medical devices and consumables.
• Promed– partners with Irish primary care practices to offer diagnostic, consumables and technology solutions.
• Murrays– providing solutions for: mobility, seating, pressure relief, aids for daily living, sensory and paediatrics.
• Active Hands– Active Hands make gripping aids that gently, yet firmly hold your hand into a gripping shape enabling you to hold tightly onto objects, from hammers to garden tools, gym equipment to drumsticks, ski-outriggers to boat tillers, adaptive bike handles to musical instruments, and many more.
• Beechfield Healthcare– Daily living, mobility aids, bathroom, kitchen and bedroom.
• Essential Aids– a wide range of aids including crutches, wheelchair accessories, bathroom aids, toilet aids, kitchen aids and dressing aids. Aids for children too.
• Adaptative can opener– for users with weak grip or limited dexterit;y
• Mobility Genie– mobility aids, physio aids, footcare, daily living aids.
• Assistive Technologies– This site is dedicated to Assistive Technology (AT) and aims to raise awareness of the various technologies and resources that are available.
• The Armon Edero arm support– especially designed for those who have limited strength in their arms and hands, or for those who- can only use their muscular strength for a limited time.

A GUIDE TO ACCESSIBLE IRELAND

• Top 10 best wheelchair accessible attractions in Ireland.
• List of accessible beaches in Ireland. 
• Wheelchair-friendly days out In Ireland, as recommended by p
• Best wheelchair friendly trails in Ireland.
• World on w
• Accessible piers and boardwalks in Ireland.
• Accessibility Ireland – this section of Tourism Ireland’s website offers lots of information for people with reduced mobility.
• Disabled Access Holidays – accessible accommodation directory for disabled people

EXERCISE

• Resistance bands – set of exercise bands
• FitBeast pull-up bands set– Five different levels resistance band for calisthenics, crossfit, powerlifting, muscle toning, yoga, stretch mobility.
• Adjustable grip strength trainer– (10-60KG), grip ball, ring grip exercise, finger exerciser and finger s
• Therapy putty
• Hand grip strengthener
• Hand therapy squeeze exercise balls
• Finger Strengtheners
• Balance exercises– NHS UK
• Wobble cushion– for core training, agility, gym workouts, yoga, comfortable sitting etc.
• Resistance exercise band kit–for mobility,strength and rehab.

EDUCATION ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

• National Council for Special Education– overview of Assistive Technology (AT). Computer-related applications.
• AHEAD, a non-profit organisation working to create inclusive environments in education and employment for people with disabilities, lists.– some assistive technology commonly used in higher education in Ireland (grouped by disability).
• AT Hive– the aim of ‘AT Hive’ is to guide through various technologies that can help people with disabilities in many different ways.
• ABC School Supplies– special needs educational equipment
• HuntOffice– health and safety supplies.
• Enable Ireland– whether you’re an Assistive Technology user, a parent/family member, a personal assistant, a clinician, an educator, or just someone with an interest in AT, you’re likely to find training courses/workshops here to help you get the most out of what technology can offer.
• Inclusive Technology– hardware, software and learning resources.
• All Play Learn–accessible online evidence-based tools and resources to assist and support children and young people with developmental challenges and disabilities and their families to successfully participate in mainstream activities.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IDEAS FOR ELECTRONICS, SOFTWARE AND COMPUTER ACCESS

• Enable Ireland– guide to accessible apps games and toys.
• Inclusive Technology– range of engaging, colourful and cuddly switch adapted toys. Switch adapted toys are toys which have been adapted so that their original switches are redirected to a larger switch that is easier for the child to interact with.
• Amazon Echo – a hands-free speaker controlled by voice. The Echo can connect to appliances, keep a shopping list, set alarms, play music and shop on Amazon.
• Apple Accessibility – accessibility options for Apple products.
• AutoHotkey – free, open-source software for Windows that can be used to automate computer functions.
• Camera Mouse – Free, downloadable tool that turns a webcam into a head tracker.
• Accessible features and appson your smartphone.
• Wearable assistive technology– device that functions like a mouse.
• Keyboard and mouse alternatives and adaptatations
• Safe Care Technologies – a range of different communication (AAC) devices to help users with different disabilities or impairments that can be assisted through touch, Eye-Gaze or switch a Eye-tracking assistive technology for tablet and desktop.
• Microsoft Accessibiity– website for Microsoft’s accessibility features.
• Polital Enterprises– free tools for computer access.
• TechCheck – Powerful but simple tool to help employers assess their technology accessibility practices. Whether you have a formal accessible technology effort or not, TechCheck can help give you a benchmarking ‘snapshot’ of the current state of your technology, the accessibility goals you want to reach, and what steps you might take to achieve them.
• Tobi ATI – eye-tracking devices for speech, tablet and computer accessibility.
• EyeGaze – eye-tracking hardware and software communication solutions.
• WebAIM Assistive Technology for motor disabilities – article highlighting types of assistive technologies for individuals with motor disabilities.
• 15 Assistive Technology tools and resources for students with disabilities.
• Accessibility information from Irish telecoms providers and details of the services and devices that are designed to assist in ensuring accessibility including vision, hearing, mobility or dexterity requirements:

• • Eir
  • 3 Ireland
  • GoMo

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR WRITING

• Free online assistive technology tools to help with reading, writing, and math 
• Bubbl US– free brainstorming tool and information organizer
• Educational technology writing tools
• Mindomo – visual tool to aid mind mapping, concept mapping, and outlining
• Popplet –tool for the iPad and web to capture and organize ideas.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR READING

• Amazon Audible’s Immersion Reading –website that highlights Audible Kindle products that support Immersion Reading – a tool that allows you to read a Kindle eBook and listen to its professionally narrated Audible companion Audiobook at the same time.
• Speechify–text-to-speech reader.
• Natural Reader – text-to-speech reader.
• Rewordify – free, online reading software.
• Snap&Read – complete toolkit to help students comprehend everything they read with tools to assist reading, organise information and annotate PDFs.
• Tar Heel Reader – website with access to accessible books.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR ORGANISING

• Aida Reminder Reminder app
• Evernote – Note-taking app
• Simplenote – Note-taking app.

CLOTHING

• ADAPTAFASHION– provides specifically adapted clothing for people with disabilities and additional needs or any temporary disability or restrictions in movement.
• Able2 Wear– specialist wheelchair clothing and adaptive c
• ComfortClothing – design, manufacture and delivery of  clothing for men and women with reduced mobility, reduced shopping opportunities or those recovering from surgery.
• CHARIOT– A clothing brand for wheelchair users.
• Adaptive range for men – Tommy Hilfiger
• Special Kids Company – a range of adaptive clothing and accessories designed for children with special needs. Suitable for 2 to 16 year-olds.

ROBOTICS

• Kinova Robotics – assistive robotic solutions to support increased independence: a robotic arm, eating device and arm supports.

MORE RESOURCES

• The HSE provides a range of aids, appliances and assistive technology for people who have a clinical requirement for devices which can support them in their daily living – CLICK HERE
• National List of HSE Community Funded Aids and Appliances – CLICK HERE