Disabled Living Foundation

Anglia Television: The Disabled Living Foundation's innovative designs to allow disabled people to live independently.

Shot of traffic as the camera pans across Kensington High Street. Close up of the sign on the ‘Disabled Living Foundation’ building. ITV reporter Ellis Hill demonstrates a ‘stand-you-up’ bed which rises from the floor to a standing position. It is designed for the severely disabled who find it impossible to get in and out of bed. She explains how in addition to designs in the bedroom to assist people, there are also designs in the bathroom. Shot of taps with levers attached to them. Ellis Hill demonstrates how you can push the levers with your wrist in order to turn on the taps. She then explains and demonstrates the bath bench which has been designed for people who have lost the use of their legs. She lifts up the bench to demonstrate how light and portable it is, whilst also stating that the Foundation is hoping that hotels will buy them for their elderly and disabled guests. Close up of a brush as Ellis Hill explains that this inexpensive item is designed for someone who finds it difficult to raise their arms to brush or comb their hair. She holds up a piece of wood with holes in it, demonstrating how the comb fits onto it to form a convenient extension arm for people with limited mobility. Shot of Ellis Hill walking towards a man dressed in a suit. She shows how the jacket has Velcro and zip openings in the back and sleeves in order to assist people who have arthritis and so can’t put on their jacket very easily. Shot of a white shirt with a yellow tie attached with Velcro. Ellis Hill explains that this is another ‘do it yourself’ idea. She then demonstrates that the shirt is also fastened with Velcro for people who can’t undo fiddly buttons. Shot of her demonstrating an appliance used to assist people with putting on stockings. Shot of Ellis Hill in a wheelchair in the kitchen. She explains that there are nearly 30 different types of wheelchair at Foundation which range from hand driven ones which you can get for free under the NHS, to motorised ones which cost £250. The one she is riding is especially narrow which is good for getting around kitchens. Shot of lever taps on the kitchen sink. Ellis Hill demonstrates various other tools used to turn taps. She then demonstrates tools designed for people who have lost one hand completely, such as a potato peeler and washing up brush clamped to the work surface. She then explains various other specially designed equipment such as saucepans with large wooden handles, vegetable baskets, mixing bowls, a strap to grip cutlery and a one handed can opener.

Featured Buildings

Disabled Living Foundation building- Equipment Demonstration Centre.

Keywords

Charities; Disability Aids; Disabled Living Foundation; Disabled People; Occupational Therapy; Wheelchair;

Background Information

The DLF (Disabled Living Foundation) was one of the first organisations to recognise the multiple problems disabled people experience on a daily basis.