Sometimes a small, personalised product can make a significant difference to everyday life. For clients of STEPS Rehabilitation we offer a bespoke design and manufacturing service that creates tailored assistive items designed around individual needs.
From adapted drinking supports and stabilising grips to wheelchair phone mounts and custom interface components, we create discreet, functional solutions that improve everyday independence.
Improves touchscreen accuracy for users with limited motor control by reducing accidental inputs.
This screen mount was developed for an in-house user who experienced difficulty interacting with a standard touchscreen due to limited precision and control. Accidental presses made it challenging to reliably use apps and communication tools. The design introduces a customisable overlay system that segments the screen into defined sections, helping guide user interaction and reduce input errors. By providing physical boundaries, the user can engage with the device more confidently and accurately. The result is a simple yet effective solution that enhances digital accessibility and supports more independent device use.
Allows wheelchair users to carry essential items without occupying their hands, enabling uninterrupted mobility.
This attachment was developed for an in-house user who had no practical way to carry a water bottle or phone while using their wheelchair. Existing solutions required items to be held in-hand, preventing effective wheelchair operation and limiting independence. The design mounts securely to the side of the wheelchair, providing dedicated storage for both a bottle and a mobile device within easy reach. Its layout prioritises accessibility and stability, ensuring items remain secure during movement while being quick to access. The result is a simple, integrated solution that frees the user’s hands and supports more independent, uninterrupted use of their wheelchair.
Enables powered wheelchair control for users who are unable to use their fingers or grip traditional joysticks.
This joystick was developed for an in-house user with no functional hand grip, limiting their ability to operate a standard powered wheelchair control. Conventional joysticks rely on finger-based input, making them inaccessible for users who can only generate movement through the palm. The design introduces a palm-operated interface, allowing directional control through broader hand contact rather than precise finger movement. An adjustable mobility range enables sensitivity to be tailored to the user’s capabilities, improving control and confidence. The result is a highly personalised solution that restores independent mobility while remaining intuitive and reliable in daily use.
Allows users with limited dexterity to operate standard game controllers by increasing control size and leverage.
This joystick adapter was developed for an in-house user who struggled to manipulate small analogue sticks due to limited dexterity. Standard controllers require precise finger control, making them inaccessible for users with reduced fine motor function. The design extends the analogue input into a longer, gear stick–style joystick, enabling control through larger, more natural movements. This increased leverage reduces the need for precision while maintaining accurate input. The adapter attaches directly to an existing controller, preserving familiarity while significantly improving accessibility and usability.
Enables users with limited mobility and range of motion to securely hold and use everyday items without requiring grip strength.
This modular hand aid was developed for an in-house user with restricted upper limb mobility, limiting their ability to hold and position small objects. The design features a top-mounted attachment interface, allowing items such as a toothbrush, pen, or e-cigarette to be securely fixed in place. The form is optimised for comfort and stability, enabling control through gross arm movement rather than fine motor function. Originally developed for e-cigarette use, the design was intentionally kept versatile to support a range of daily tasks.
Enables users with a closed hand grip to open drink cans independently without requiring finger strength or fine motor control.
This product was developed as a complementary solution to the assistive drink holder, addressing the challenge of opening cans for users with limited hand function. Standard ring-pull cans require pinch strength and precise finger control, which can be inaccessible for individuals with a closed hand grip. The design allows the user to engage and lift the tab using a simplified, palm-driven motion, removing the need for dexterous interaction. The outcome is a discreet, everyday assistive tool that restores independence in a common daily task without resorting to clinical alternatives.
Improves usability of transanal irrigation systems for users with limited dexterity, enabling independent bowel care.
This assistive grip aid was developed to address handling difficulties with existing transanal irrigation components, which often require fine motor control and precise grip. For users with reduced dexterity, this can make independent use challenging or impossible. The design introduces a palm-based grip interface, allowing the user to control and position the device using gross motor movement rather than finger strength. Its form was carefully shaped to sit securely within the hand, improving stability during insertion and overall confidence during use. The result is a discreet, user-focused solution that enhances independence, dignity, and ease of bowel care.
Allows users with a closed hand grip to independently hold and drink from standard cans, removing the need for clinical-looking alternatives.
This product was developed for an in-house user with limited hand function, specifically an inability to open the hand to grip a can. Existing solutions, such as sippy-style beakers, were functionally effective but visually clinical and stigmatising. The design enables passive retention of a standard drink can, allowing the user to insert and remove it without requiring grip strength. The form was carefully developed to be both intuitive and discreet, prioritising independence while maintaining a contemporary, non-medical aesthetic. The result is an assistive product that integrates seamlessly into everyday environments without drawing attention to the user’s condition.