Over the years while I was growing up, my family and I have done everything possible to make it easier for me to things for myself because of my disability. One of the prime examples of equipment that my Mom made years ago is a lap tray she got while shopping at Ikea. When she originally bought the tray, that's all it was-just a tray.
Now you might imagine that for someone like me, it would be somewhat difficult to use a tray while worrying about whether or not it slip off my lap and fall to the floor, but my thanks to my Mom's good skills at adapting special equipment for me over the years, she thought of this beforehand while designing it for my use.
To make thing easier for me she did two things. First, she put a pillowcase cover on it so that whatever we would put on it, I would be able to move it around easier with my hands since the surface of the tray was originally much more grippier that before the pillowcase was added. Secondly, she added a pair of hook straps to the tray so that it could be tied around the armrests on my wheelchair.
The train sits on my lap and I loop the straps around the supports for my wheelchair's armrest.
The train sits on my lap and I loop the straps around the supports for my wheelchair's armrest.
Then, I hook the straps together to keep the tray from sliding off.
As for how the tray itself comes in handy for me, its main purpose is for the TV and sound remote controls while watching television. I also use the tray to put my snack plate on during the day when I'm feeling hungry for a snack as well as my cell phone when my Mom goes for her morning run. Without it my hands and arms would definitely get stiff and tired from holding these various objects myself.
The Handy Lap Tray has definitely proven its worth and value to me ever since I started using it many years ago. I would say my favorite thing about it is that I don't have to roll up to the TV and change the channel like people had to in the old days. So if you are in a family of someone who is disabled, a lap tray like mine could be useful in allowing those members of the disabled community some freedom and independence while either watching the local news or a Sunday football game in peace.
Tim Musick
Copyright 2016
All Rights Reserved.
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