cutlery for kids with special needs?

[walkena]

Hi folks, just wondering if anyone might have some suggestions for me? Our DS is 10 years old and has a developmental disability with low tone. We have been using children's cutlery with chunky handles (we found some great kiddie cutlery from Ikea a couple of years ago but it has since been discontinued). Anyways, he is outgrowing the kiddie cutlery we currently have yet he still needs the stability of wider handles. Regular adult cutlery is too big for him (he is petite). I have checked out the youth special needs cutlery available and the styling and quality is yuk (very hospital like). I am wondering if anyone has found a style of regularly available cutlery that works for their child.

Any tips are welcomed. Thanks

 

[scottsod]

hi
my son 8 has cp with low tone after a surgery


he has used some forks i got at a expo
they have round handles on the sides that are bendable to your fingers kind of let u use a pencil grip works well i cant remember the name but i will try and find out you can google adaptive forks and try that

scott

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Hi Walkena,

have you ever heard of Occupational Therapie/ Therapist? These people are great when it comes to assessing what a person with a disability might need when t comes to aids, but also; which small little helpers can I buy at regular stores/look like 'normal stuff' instead of aids (for some kids very important) etc. They can give you an allround scan if desired to look at all of those small things in every day live, from cutlery to pencils, from how to play his favorite games to sitting in the most comfortable but non damaging way. My experience is that they know the most about these things to make every day live the most pleasant, not only for the person with the disability themselves, but also for the person(s) giving them the care they need. No doc or other therapist will come close.

By the way; keep checking Ikea every once in a while. Overhere in Europe they keep coming with more and more of all kinds of stuff (including cutlery) that helps people with disabilities. I only need a special knive, but Ikea has provided me with every type of knive a person might need in both the kitchen and the cutting you'll do while eating. Sometimes I'll find they discountinue something, to find out a couple of months later there is something new that might be interesting on the same scale.

 

[Marie14625]

I did a little looking around and found this site. www.adaptivechild.com They do have utensils, with rounded built up handles. Not sure if this is exactly what you need, but you could take a look. Hope this helps.

 

[mechurchlady]

It took a while but here are some US sites that have disabled cutlery. Once I had one brand then it was easier to find disabled cutlery.

http://www.hnp-life.com/acatalog/Kitchen__Dining.html


http://arthritissolutions.com.au/Eating-Utensils-orderby0-p-1-c-252.html
Caring Cutlery makes a junior spoon and knife.


http://www.brookmiller.co.uk
for the british

 

[walkena]

Thanks for everyones help! I am going to show the Caring cutlery to our OT and see if this might work. It is good to know that youth sizing is available - not just junior and adult sizing.

Have a magical day!!!!