{"id":6589,"date":"2022-10-20T00:52:09","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T14:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ourimpact.northcott.com.au\/2022\/?p=6589"},"modified":"2022-10-26T18:27:43","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T08:27:43","slug":"improving-kyles-quality-of-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourimpact.northcott.com.au\/2022\/improving-kyles-quality-of-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving Kyle\u2019s quality of life"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”6″ bottom_padding=”16″ top_padding_tablet=”6″ bottom_padding_tablet=”16″ left_padding_tablet=”5″ top_padding_phone=”6″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” class=”section_content” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bottom_padding=”7″ bottom_padding_tablet=”7″ bottom_padding_phone=”7″ text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”]
Housing<\/span><\/div>[vc_custom_heading text=”Improving Kyle\u2019s quality of life” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%231d4e97″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”title_element mar_bot_8″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_video link=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=NUq9raYZoxA”][nectar_btn size=”small” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Extra-Color-2″ solid_text_color_override=”#1d4e97″ icon_family=”none” el_class=”btn_dl” text=”Download descriptive audio transcript” url=”https:\/\/ourimpact.northcott.com.au\/2022\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Descriptive-audio-transcript_Kyles-story.docx”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” top_padding=”60″ top_padding_tablet=”50″ top_padding_phone=”35″ text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” class=”content_inner” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”After years of collisions in her wheelchair and frustrating repair waiting periods, Kyle is enjoying greater independence thanks to a custom-designed wheelchair joystick.” font_container=”tag:p|text_align:left|color:%231d4e97″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”font_26″][vc_column_text]\n

Kyle\u2019s frustrating situation<\/h4>\n

Northcott resident, Kyle loves her independence, but for several years she has had difficulties getting around in her wheelchair. Due to her disability, Kyle has uncontrollable tremors that cause her to break the joystick on her chair. Her tremors also cause her to drive uncontrollably, often colliding with furniture and people in her path, injuring herself and others, as well as damaging her chair. Her customised wheelchair is constantly in need of repair, meaning she has to use alternative aids, including manual wheelchairs or power chairs not suitable for her needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Kyle to be out of her chair causes her to be upset. She can get frustrated, and it limits her access to the community,\u201d explains Aaron, the Service Coordinator in the Northcott home where Kyle has lived for several years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d rather be able to do things but if they take [my chair] away I\u2019m stuck,\u201d says Kyle, adding that she finds her current joystick \u201chard to control\u201d.<\/p>\n

Having reached the end of the road in terms of the solutions his team and Kyle\u2019s therapists could offer, Aaron turned to Northcott Innovation (NI), a subsidiary of Northcott that uses human-centred design to find solutions for the challenges faced by people with disability.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur priority was to aim for a higher quality of life [for Kyle] by enabling her to drive her chair more independently,\u201d explains Samantha Frain, Executive Director of NI.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\n

\"Aaron,

Aaron, Sam, Michael and Kyle<\/p><\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\n

The solution<\/h4>\n

NI identified that Kyle needed a different way to control her wheelchair. The team reached out to UTS Rapido, who were able to bring their engineering and design-thinking skills to the project.<\/p>\n

With NI coordinating involvement from Kyle, the support staff in her home, and her therapists, the Rapido team was able to observe Kyle and understand the issue. This gave them the information they needed to start developing some concepts, before settling on a low-tech magnetic toggle solution. With magnets as the central feature of the joystick, the team from Rapido measured the power of Kyle\u2019s tremors and matched it to various magnetic variations, testing prototypes internally along the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’ve developed a joystick, which intentionally comes apart when it’s overloaded,\u201d explains Dr Michael Behrens, Principal Delivery Manager at the UTS Rapido.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you push the joystick harder than you’re supposed to, it breaks away and then the chair comes to rest. When everything’s settled down, you can just clip it back on again.\u201d<\/p>\n

After hours of testing and countless prototypes, (not to mention many months of COVID-19 lockdowns), Michael was ready to deliver a 3D printed solution to Kyle in June.<\/p>\n

The NI team and Kyle\u2019s support staff were on hand to see Kyle\u2019s reaction after Michael fitted the new joystick. Despite a few false starts, Kyle quickly worked out how to control the joystick, realising it intentionally would come apart, but is easily reattached. She was soon zipping around her home independently. It was special moment for everyone involved.<\/p>\n

What the team thought<\/h4>\n

\u201cI’ve known Kyle a long, long time and through ups and downs. I know this issue with the wheelchair constantly gets her frustrated and quite upset. To see something new that will give her the opportunity to go out and spend more time outside and do the things that she wants to do almost brought me to tears.\u201d – Aaron Morgan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was amazing. I’m super pleased that the solution worked for Kyle. Kyle seemed really excited, Aaron and the house team seemed excited, the NI team’s excited, Michael was excited!<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that we’ve got a solution that will mean Kyle can be more independent in the weeks, months, years ahead, which would be great. She can get back out in the community, get to the club, which is one of her favourite things and places to go, and live a great life.\u201d \u2013 Samantha Frain.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s always great when we see a solution come together, but in particular, this time I got a great sense of satisfaction because of the vast benefit that it can have for Kyle and her quality of life.\u201d \u2013 Dr Michael Behrens.[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”This project was made possible thanks to a Social Impact Grant from the UTS Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion, an in-kind contribution from Northcott Innovation and donations from Northcott donors.” font_container=”tag:p|text_align:left|color:%231d4e97″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”block_tit_content font_bold” css=”.vc_custom_1666674813537{background-color: #f4f9ff !important;}”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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