Thanks! Good to know. 
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Decent Christmas movies that are not on Netflix? I have Prime, Appletv, and maybe Hallmark?
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Is there somewhere I can find assistive/adaptive products for someone with weak hands? I tried a google search the other day but the results were not helpful. Right now I’m wondering if there’s such a thing as a helper for getting a seat belt buckled (unbuckling is not a problem), but if there’s a general menu of helpful things that would be nice. Kiddo’s hands don’t go full on claw-hands but he’s like the opposite of that person you call when a jar lid is stuck.
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I’m extremely fortunate in that my hand dexterity is not impacted by my disability at all, but my upper body is very weak compared to normal, so the hand stuff I use is all in that direction (eliminating the need for strength).
Does he know if the problem is directly his hands (like is grasping and dexterity the issue) or is it that he’s not strong enough to physically push the buckle into the clip? Like I can’t open a can with a normal can opener; I can grip it just fine, but I’m not strong enough to turn it.
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Dexterity and also he prefers to stare off into the middle distance instead of looking at the goddamn freaking buckle unless I remind him at least once.
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@Smacky may be of more assistance in this department in that case, and perhaps @Marcela. I understand workarounds for weakness very well, but since I’ve not experienced the dexterity problem myself I’m not convinced I’d know what is helpful.
My best route for figuring my random disability things is finding out the most common disorder that causes a similar effect and then searching “assistive devices” or exact thing like “jar opener” based on that. So like for me I find arthritis is often an ok stand-in since people with severe arthritis often also have weakness issues. My bff who has had a stroke has major finger dexterity issues, so perhaps searching based on that kind of thing would help? Stroke forums might be a decent place to start. I also sometimes look at stuff recommended for elderly people.
Another route might be YouTube for people with partial paralysis or stroke or just hand issues specifically. There are loads of videos on stuff like how to get back in your wheelchair if you fall out, how to cook with limb differences, etc, so there may already be videos on workarounds. For me, if I had trouble with seatbelts I might look for an extender which makes the part you insert into longer, so I could hold both parts in my hands right in front of me rather than have to pull the belt over and clip it at my side. If that makes sense? I think that would require a lot less dexterity because you could kind of push them into each other rather than guiding one into the other.
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I have an ENTIRE packet with product lists from my OT. Let me see if I can find it!
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Oh and I just found this:
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Crap, I can’t find it despite being certain I knew exactly where it was, I just found my other OT exercises. But I got like heaps of product recommendations for specific stuff for limited hand motion from my OT. I’ll see if the packet they give is downloadable since I can’t find the folder WHERE IT SHOULD BE
This is where I get a lot of products from:
and
and wraps
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Two seat belt products
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My biggest life hack by far is attaching zip ties and bungie cords to things. Zip tie loops are often bigger than tiny fingerholds for opening things so are easier to use without manual dexterity. Bungie cords for laces so I don’t have to tie my hiking boots. Foam grippy things for pencil / pen holders.
Also I love the OXO line of products in general, i.e. their single push-button containers for food stuff since I can’t open jars all the time.
I think the Arthritis Foundation also endorses some products like single-touch easy open binders, special spring loaded Fiskars scissors, etc.
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For tube like objects: foam around the thing can make it a lot easier to hold and manipulate narrow cylinder ish things.
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Putting tubes on things is my favorite life hack. Seconding the OXO products. My mom has RA too and everything in our house growing up was OXO and I’ve carried on the tradition on any kitchen product I can afford.
I also use this kind of pen:
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I also have this blue sticky stuff that is AMAZING for gripping to open jars. It was brought to me as a host gift by an MMMer who is also an OT and now I can’t find it again anywhere and the internet searching is not turning it up. But if I ever find it, I will let you know. Doesn’t work on the toughest stuff or worst days, but I can open a few things on my own with it, unlike without
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His school OT is going to try a bunch of different grips in January to see what works for him and then will let me know and I’m going to order a bunch. The kind I already have apparently is for an earlier stage in his learning to write journey and now would be encouraging the wrong kind of pencil grip, which I learned last week.
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Maybe it’s time for him to start writing like Taylor Swift
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I didn’t know that! Very cool.
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Crazy! I started holding pencils like that in college for a while when I had some achy joint weirdness it felt better on. I still do occasionally mainly because it feels nice if it’s a very smooth pen haha. Didn’t know it was an actual thing!
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That OT’s name made me double take.
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I know! I had an exchange with her in the comments actually lol.
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