Nicolas Vaagen is utilizing 3D printing to assist folks with disabilities dwell life to the fullest.
He was a pc science scholar in 2020 when a automotive accident left him with a mind damage. He has restricted use of the fitting facet and reminiscence points.
“I spent plenty of time in rehab,” he stated in an interview at his dwelling in Warman, north of Saskatoon. “I don’t bear in mind a lot about that point and I used to be in outpatient remedy for some time, however after all of the therapies I went again to attempting to dwell with a big incapacity.”
Vaagen grew to become annoyed with among the duties that many individuals with out disabilities take into account routine — issues like reducing nails and studying books. He additionally found that there are usually not all the time simply accessible instruments for these duties.
“There’s plenty of assistive know-how, nevertheless it exists with the caveats of getting to make use of this primary program or precisely this software program,” he stated.
“The scope could be very restricted. And I do not like being restricted.”
A Saskatchewan man is utilizing 3D printing to assist folks with disabilities dwell life to the fullest. Nicolas Vaagen started making instruments to assist folks with disabilities carry out on a regular basis duties after a 2020 automotive accident led to restricted use of his proper facet and reminiscence issues.
He found Makers Making Change, a program run by the Neil Squire Society, a nonprofit that makes use of know-how to assist folks with disabilities. Makers Making Change connects makers with folks with disabilities who want adaptive know-how.
Vaagen noticed that it affords grants for folks to purchase 3D printers to make instruments.
“I believed, ‘I need to do assistive know-how.’ So I utilized and obtained accepted,” he stated.
At first, Vaagen relied on schemes offered by Makers Making Change. The very first thing he printed was a assist the place you possibly can place a nail clipper, making it simpler to make use of along with your proper hand, which lacks dexterity.
“It isn’t that I could not do it. I could not do it with out this particular factor. And getting this particular factor was nice, as a result of it elevated my independence,” he stated. “I used to be capable of do it 100% alone, which was empowering.”
Vaagen needed to go additional by designing the instruments himself. He acquired some 3D modeling software program and, after slightly studying, began making his personal tasks.
His first creation was a modification of an present instrument that helps folks with double imaginative and prescient concentrate on particular strains of textual content. It did not work out very effectively, however he wasn’t discouraged.
He went on to design and print quite a lot of instruments, from an adapter that lets him play Nintendo Change with one hand, to stands for individuals who cannot maintain taking part in playing cards.
He highlighted that instruments like these, for all times’s much less important duties, are nonetheless essential.
“Simply because you’ve got this completely different degree of talent doesn’t suggest you should not be capable to get pleasure from life the identical means,” he stated. “It is best to know how one can play playing cards.”
A 2022 Statistics Canada survey discovered that 32.7 % of individuals with disabilities had unmet wants for assist with on a regular basis actions.
These actions vary from family chores and private hygiene to getting ready meals and caring for private funds.
Makers Making Change states on its web site that its purpose is to assist fill this hole with DIY assistive know-how – community-created gadgets made by volunteer makers.
Vaagen’s newest challenge is an adapter that may make utilizing doorknobs simpler for a girl whose arthritis prevents her from holding a standard doorknob.
He stated he is in search of extra folks from Saskatchewan to assist and needs to unfold the phrase.
“I’ve extra need to work on issues than I’ve issues to work on,” he stated.
“I’m in search of folks to contact me and I’ll work with you.”
He may be contacted by e mail at nicolasvaagen@gmail.com.
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