Equipment list

This page has been compiled as a list of equipment and suppliers that members of HemiHelp have over the years found useful in living and dealing with hemiplegia.

Please help us keep it up to date by letting us know of any changes to the details you find here, or if you discover a brilliant piece of equipment and think others should know about it. If you have any suggestions, please contact us.

Included here are aids for writing, dressing, washing and eating as well as a few miscellaneous suggestions all for use and exercise of either with one hand or with limited use for both hands and then, towards the end, there is an address directory for you to contact the suppliers directly.

Aids for writing

Angled Desk Top
'Write angle' Wedge of desk top at a 20 degree angle, also available with a non slip mat.
Philip & Tacey Ltd
Angled desk top with magnetic top
Posturite (UK) Ltd
Bookstand/clipboard/sloping board
Beesneez

Desk Clamp
'free hand' desk clamp - assists with reading, writing and drawing
Peta

Drafting head
'Variomatic' by Staedller
Good for geometry
Available from all good stationers.

Foam Grip
'Dexball' holds pen, pencil, or spoon in position
Insight Medical Products

Hand huggers
Triangular colouring and lead pencils, colouring pens and markers and triangular ink pens.
Buy Hand Huggers online from the HemiHelp shop >>

Keyboards
Computer Keyboard designed for use with one hand
PCD Maltron

Magnetic boards
A4 paper can be secured to a metal board using magnets or slipped between pages of an exercise book.
(These boards have sharp edges and therefore should be bound or framed before they are given to children)
DMC Creative Designs or NES Arnold

Pencil Grips
Either specially molded or triangular make grip much easier
Nottingham Rehab and Homecraft

Rulers and Geometry Sets
'Discovery' & 'Achiever' by Helix.
These are good maths sets, which can have magnetic strips stuck on the back for use with or without a metal/magnetic board.
Available from all good stationers.

Rulers and protractors with handles
NES Arnold

Ruler Cutter and Mat
Operates along the same lines as a traditional guillotine
Brookvine Home Shopping

Scissors
Self-opening handles of loop scissors are easy to grip and can be operated with just a small squeeze.
Peta scissorcraft, Functional Solutions, Stirex, NES Arnold
Easy grip scissors.
Homecraft
Left Handed Scissors
Anything Left-Handed

Personal hygiene

Long reach sponge
Plyfoam sponge on an extra long handle
Keep Able and Homecraft

Nail Clipper Board
Securely attached to a plastic base on suckers to provide stability whilst clipping.
Functional Solutions (part of Promedics)

Plaster cast cover
Waterproof protectors that slip over casts and splints to protect them when taking a bath or shower.
Homecraft, VM Marketing & Help at Home

Stay put nail brush
Secured with suckers this nail brush doesn't need to be hand held
Keep Able

Tube squeezer
Attach to a tube of eg. Toothpaste for simple controllable
Keep Able

Aids for eating

Dycem & Stay in place Mats
Non-slip mats in a variety of shapes and sizes, also available on a reel for table tops etc.
Buy a Dycem mat online from the HemiHelp shop >>

Dyna Fork
Fork with an extra wide prong which is sharpened to enable it to be used for cutting - both left and right handed available.
Buy the Dyna Fork online from the HemiHelp shop >>

Electrical Tin Opener
Light & comfortable and mains operated opener.
Benefits Now

Free Hand tray
This tray has a handle that allows you to carry it with one hand.
Keep Able, Homecraft, Chester care & Help at Home

Grater & Peeler Boards
Frame with detachable blade and optional spike to hold veg in place.
Homecraft

J Nelson Knife
This is a two-in-one knife & fork enabling you to eat with one hand.
Keep Able or Remap

Mini jug kettle
Ideal for boiling small quantities this kettle is light and easy to lift.
Homecraft

One-Handed workstation
Designed for one-handed use the base unit is held in place by non-slip pads and the grating unit is detachable.
Keep Able

Plate surround
Guard which snaps on the side of any plate between 23-28cm, to push the food against so that it falls back onto the spoon.
Keep Able, Homecraft or Remap

Relef Knife range
This range has a large contoured easy-grip handle designed to limit wrist movement.
Homecraft

Safety cooking basket & strainer
Mesh wire basket avoids the need to lift heavy saucepans
Homecraft

Saw Handle Knife
Can be easier to use a saw handle action to cut than a standard knife action
Keep Able or Remap

Selectagrip
Soft rubber handle to slip over an ordinary spoon or fork - many sizes and shapes.
Nottingham Rehab and Homecraft

Snap-on Apron
No fussy strings or ties this apron simply snaps on round the waist.
Help at Home

Twist & Turn Jar Opener
Fits to the underside of a kitchen wall cabinet, so you just need to grip the jar or bottle, not the opener.
Lakeland and Homecraft

Aids to dressing

Tie adaptions
Send your school tie away with a cheque to have it adapted to be a clip on.
Filaspun or Fashion & Corporate Ties

Coiler shoelaces
These are designed for easily taking off and putting on your shoes without the hassle of tying.
Buy coiler shoelaces online from the HemiHelp shop >>

Grey school trousers
Elasticated waist boys' school trousers up to men's sizes.
Dressing made easy, Kevin's School Outfitters, Wearable Clothing
Hook and Eye fitting
John Lewis (Nationwide)

Orthoses
High stability, low weight fun fabrics
Otto Bock

Socks
'Smartknit' socks suitable for AFO and KAFO interfaces
Gilbert and Mellish Ltd

Therapeutic Shoes
Available in pairs or as individual shoes to match requirements. A constantly updated range.
Otto Bock

Wheelchair Clothing
Warm clothing and waterproofs for wheelchair users
Able2Wear

Miscellaneous

Beds
Cotswold Cots make beds to order

Card Curve
Holds a "hand" of cards in a curved shape.
Lakeland

Card Shuffler
An electronic device that shuffles one or two packs at a time.
Keep Able, Homecraft and Brookvine Home Shopping

Exercise ball
Great for improving circulation and building strength in the hand.
Keep able

Exercise putty
For finger and hand exercise, easy to handle non oily putty
Homecraft

Hot water bottle stand
Holds the hot water bottle so it can be filled safely.
Homecraft

Microwave Hot Water Bottle
Cotton quilted cover with non toxic reusable gel pack heated in the microwave.
Scotts of Stow, Homecraft and Brookvine Home Shopping

Needle threader
All standard needles can be threaded on this simple plastic device.
Homecraft

Twiddler hand exerciser
Chromed metal spring for exercising fingers and hands by stretching and squashing.
Homecraft

Useful addresses

Ace Centre Advisory Trust
(Aiding Communication in Education)
92 Windmill Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7DR
Tel: 01865 759800
Email: info@ace-centre.org.uk Website; ace-centre.org.uk.
Or Broadbent, Watershedings, Oldham OL1 4HU
Tel: 0161 627 1358
Assessment, advice and information for young people in education who have communication difficulties. Good Leaflets.

AWEAR
Website: www.awear.org.uk
Charity offering advice to disabled people regarding clothing as well as to retailers about how to make themselves more accessible

Anything Left Handed Ltd
18 Avenue Road, Belmont, Sutton, Surrey SM2 6JP
Tel: 020 8770 3722
Fax: 020 8715 1220
Email: alhleft@aol.com
Web Site: www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk
Specialist mail order company which provides properly designed, fully left handed versions of everyday items such as scissors, pens and kitchen utensils which, in their original form, are far easier to use with the right hand.
There is also a shop at:
57 Brewer Street, London W1F 9UL
(tel: 020 7437 3910 call for opening hours).

Beesneez
PO BOX 25, Ossett, WF5 0YW
Fax: 01924 264558
Website: www.beesneez.co.uk

Benefits Now
Tel: 01983 539954
Website: www.benefitsnowshop.co.uk

BIME (Bath Institute of Medical Engineering) Wolfson Centre, Royal United Hospital, Combe Park, Bath, BA1 3NG
Tel: 01225 824103
Fax: 01225 824111
Email: bime@bath.ac.uk
Web Site: www.bath.ac.uk/Centres/BIME
Registered charity carrying out design and development in medical and rehabilitation engineering. Works with both users and medical professionals. Informative web site.

Brainstore
Brainstore Ltd, PO Box 8908, Witham, Essex, CM8 1WY
Tel/Fax: 01376 501000
Website: www.brainstore.co.uk
Products aimed at ages 8-16 to improve learning performance

Brookvine Home Shopping
Copsham House, 53 Broad Street, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 3EA
Tel: 01494 773395
Mail order catalogue with a vast selection of household equipment

Children Today
The Moorings, Rowton Bridge, Christleton , Chester, CH3 7AE
Tel: 01244 335 622
Fax: 01244 335 473
Email; childtoday@aol.com
The provision of equipment and aids for helping children and young people to overcome their difficulties.

Cotswold Cots
Gravins, Rock Close, Casterton, Oxon, OX18 3BP
Tel: 01993 842885
Website: www.cotswoldcots.co.uk

Disabled Living Foundation
380 Harrow Rd, London, W9 2HU
Tel: Helpline: 0870 6039177 (10am-4pm). MiniCom:0870 6039176
Email: advice@dlf.org.uk and sales@dlf.org.uk
Web Site:www.dlf.org.uk
Huge amount of information about useful gadgets, plus an equipment centre

Dressing Made Easy
The Maybird Suite, Maybird Centre, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 0AZ
Tel: 01789 292078
Clothes designed with disability in mind, so for example the boys school trousers have elasticated waists and velcro flies, but look normal. Leg length made to order.

Equip for Life
Website: www.equipforlife.org.uk
Free ads online for second hand equipment for disabled users

Filaspun
1 Parkwood Street, Keighley, W.Yorks, BD21 4QR
Tel: 01535 210426

Fledglings
6 Southfield, Ickleton, Saffron Walden, CB10 1TE.
Tel: 0845 458 1124
Fax: 0845 458 1125
Email: enquiries@fledglings.org.uk
A search and supply service, particularly for unusual items designed for children with special needs.

Great Little Trading Company
Pondwood Close, Moulton Park, Northampton, NN3 6DF
Tel: 0870 850 6000
Fax: 01604 640107
Ingenious household gadgets and clothing aids

Gilbert and Mellish Ltd
3 Lightning Way, West Heath, Birmingham, B31 3PH
Tel: 0121 475 1101
Fax: 0121 478 0163
Website: www.gilbert-mellish.co.uk

Handi-care
1 Glenville Parade, Hucclecote, Gloucester, GL3 3ES
Tel: 01452 610448 or 0800 243469
Mail order household equipment for disabled people. Also four stores, and a freephone helpline for advice.

Help at Home
08700 552222
Inexpensive range of household equipment. Phone for a catalogue

Homecraft
PO Box 5665, Kirby in Ashfield, Notts, NG17 7QX
Tel; 01623 721000
Fax: 01623 755585
Website: www.homecraftabilityone.com

Hotter Comfort Shoes
Liverpool Road, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 8AX
Tel: 0800 083 3083
Web Site: www.hottershoes.com
Velcroe boots and shoes approx £49

In-Car Safety Centre
Unit 25, The Auto Centre, Stacey Bushes, Milton Keynes, MK12 6HS
Tel: 01908 220909
Fax: 01908 317536
Website: www.in-carsafety.com
Children’s car seats etc

Keep Able
Unit 38c, Telford Way Industrial Estate, Kettering, N16 8UN
Tel: 01536 525 153
and 01384 484544
Fax:01536 515077
Web Site: www.keepable.co.uk
Mail order household equipment for disabled people. Also nine stores, some with qualified therapists to give advice.

Kevin’s Outfitters
436 Greenford Road, Greenford, Middlesex
Tel: 020 8578 1210
Suppliers of grey school trousers with elastic waistband

Keytools
PO Box 700, Southampton, SO17 1LQ
Tel: 023 8058 4314
Fax: 023 8055 6902
Website: www.keytools.com
Keytools supply a range of computer equipment for special needs

Lakeland Ltd.
Tel 015394 88100
Web site: www.lakelandlimited.com

Lodgesons
Units 9-12 Douglas Buildngs, Royal Stuart Lane, Cardiff, CF10 5EL.
Tel: 029 2025 1331
Fax: 029 2025 1341
Email: sales@Lodgesons.co.uk
Web Site: www.Lodgesons.co.uk
Gadgets for the disabled driver, such as infra red controls, bleeper systems and steering balls.

MERU (Medical Engineering Resource Unit)
8 Damson Way, Orchard Hill, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 4NR
Tel: 020 8770 8286
Fax: 020 8770 8398
Website: www.meru.org.uk
MERU design and manufacture bespoke equipment and devices to meet the needs of disabled children where there is no commercially available alternative

NES Arnold Ltd
Novara House, Excelsior Road, Ashby, Leicestershire, LE65 1NG
Tel: 01530 418901
Web Site: www. nesarnold.co.uk
Part of Nottingham Rehab Group, for schools and colleges.

Nottingham Rehab Supplies
Ludlow Hill Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 6HD
Tel: 0115 945 2000
Web Site: www.novara.co.uk
Enormous catalogue of products for the home, educational toys, hobbies and haberdashery.

Otto Bock
32 Parsonage Road, Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0LD
Tel; 01784 744900
Website : www.ottobock.co.uk
Catalogue of mobility aids especially for children.

PCD Maltron Ltd
15 Orchard Lane, East Molsey, Surrey, KT8 0BN
Tel/Fax: 020 8398 3265
Website: www.maltron.com
The range of computer equipment includes one handed keyboards and the single finger keyboard

Peta UK Ltd
Marks Hall, Marks Hall La, Margaret Rd, Dunmow, Essex CM6 1QT
Tel/Fax:01245 231811
Email: peta@peta-uk.com
Web Site:www.peta-uk.com
Manufacture all kinds of scissors, including push down scissors and those for left handers. Manual available, 'Developing Scissors Skills', produced in conjunction with 'paed occupational therapists.

Philip & Tacey Ltd.
POBox 468, North Way, Andover, Hants, SP10 5BA.
Tel: 01264 332171
Fax: 01264 384808
Website: www.phillipandtacey.co.uk

Posturite
10 Diplocks Way, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 3JF
Tel: 01323 847777
Web Site: www.posturite.co.uk/products
Producers of sloping boards, with magnetic facility.

Promedics Ltd
Moorgate Street, Blackburn, BB2 4PB
Tel: 01254 619 000
Fax: 01254 619 001
Email: enquiries@promedics.co.uk
Run Functional Solutions. Producers of orthopaedic and electromedical products.

Remap GB
Hazeldene, Ightham, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 9AD
Tel: 01732 883818
Fax: 01732 886238
Email john.wright@remap.org.uk
WebSite:www.remap.org.uk
Teams of engineers who make up one off pieces of technical equipment or modify commercial equipment free of charge.

SEMERC – Granada Learning
Granada Television, Quay Street, Manchester, M60 9EA
Tel: 0161 827 2927
Fax: 0161 827 2966
Website: www.granada-learning.co.uk
SEMERC sell the five fingered typist software for learning to type one handed

Scotts of Stow
Order line 0990 449 111
Enquiry line 0990449 449

Schein Paediatric Footwear
C/o Salts Healthcare, Lord Street, Birmingham, B7 4DS.
Tel: 0121 333 2000
Shoes, sandals and bootees in various colours and patterns. Open to the toes and extra depth.

STEPS (Special Toys Educational Service)
7 Chatto Road, Torquay, Devon
Tel: 01803 311322
Website: www.stepscharity.org
Adapted toys which can be borrowed on long term loan

VM Marketing
St Peters Church, Ubbeston, Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 0EX
Tel: 01986 798120
Fax: 01986 798040
Website: www.vmmarketing.co.uk
Suppliers of Limbo protectors to use over splints when bathing, washing and even swimming

Wearable Clothing
Tel: 0141 774 9000
Website: www.wearableclothing.com
Mail Order Catalogue predominantly for wheelchair users but also stock elasticated waist school trousers up to adult size, and clip on ties

Welcome Mobility
Website: www.welcomemobility.co.uk
The Welcome Mobility website sells a range of mobility aids for the household, bathroom, kitchen, work and leisure. They have a Children's section.

Whizz-Kidz
1 Warwick Row, London, SW1 5ER
Tel: 020 7233 6600
Website: www.whizz-kidz.org.uk
Customised mobility equipment, training and advice