Tetraplegic professional inclusion through assisting devices that allow access to workstations

摘要

We have developed devices that help tetraplegics to perform some professional activities adapted to their capabilities, in an attempt to promote their social reintegration and also to provide them with a source of income. As tetraplegics lack the movements of their upper limbs, few options of work are available for them. We have gathered a group of tetraplegics into different categories, according to their preserved movements. We have then analyzed in the market which professional activities required less amount of adaptations in order to be performed by these subjects. A photo studio, a print shop, and a fast food store were found to be the most appropriate places for these groups to work. Some adaptations were developed in order to facilitate access the workstations. Sensors, settled in determined places of the workstation, may allow the activation of a gear system by the remaining movements of the tetraplegic subject, in order to perform some specific task such as moving a photographic camera or emulating a computer mouse to select determined functions, as the edition and impression of pictures, post cards, invitation cards, and printable films. The system also allowed them to digitalize pictures and images of items displayed on a computer screen. The devices were successfully tested by non-tetraplegic volunteers and then by the tetraplegics themselves. The system has been found to be very practical and easy to use, without requiring great effort by the user.