Walking Aids
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In designing aids for a child, we need to think not only about her type and amount
of disability, but also the stage of progress she is at. For learning to walk, she may
progress through a series of stages and aids. Here is an example:
1. Parallel bars
2. Wheeled walker
3. Crutches modified
to form walker
4. Underarm
crutches
5. Below elbow
crutches
6. Cane with
wide base
7. Walking stick 8. If possible,
(cane)
no aids at all
In this chapter we show a variety of aids for walking. Most can be made easily
out of tree branches or wood. Some can be made from building construction
bars (reinforcing rod) or metal tubing, and may require welding.
We include these ideas not to ask you to copy them, but with the hope that they
will ‘trigger’ your imagination. Take ideas from these designs, and use the materials
you have at hand. When possible, make your aids to meet the needs of the individual
child.
At a village rehabilitation center, it helps to have a wide selection of aids on hand,
so that you can try different ones on a particular child to find out what works and
what she likes best.