Here is another gadget - this time from Japan.

If you can't grip things (like grabbing crisps from a bowl or picking popcorn etc) because of weakness in you hands, joint mobility etc then you may be missing out on getting obese like the rest of the nation..

In the interests of equality (I have the right to eat tons of popcorn at the cinema and put on weight like everyone else, right?) this Japanese gizmo might work for you if you can operate it.

If you can't see it - think six inch stick with two pincers at one end and three at the other that pinch together when a slider button is pushed in bright yellow and black. I'd want a small electronic version of course for the complete cyber look.

The video clip commentary is in jest - but crank up the price and show it at Naidex.... sell out.

Tags:Daily living | gadgets | inclusive design | food

I came across this today



Basically, you put the box in the freezer and once removed you have about 30 minutes to make your own ice lollies.

Now, I don't know about you, but I find holding a conventional ice lolly virtually impossible because of the small stick to grab onto that is flat and difficult to grasp. Result - your Magnum drips all over you or you drop the whole thing on your lap. Cue the Cornetto as the solution or one of those ice lollies in a paper tube that freezes your fingers off or shoots out of the packet as you squeeze it....

Anyway, this appealed to me because the sturdy unit means you just pour in your mix (i.e. water and juice or a recipe to make frozen yogurt or frozen smoothies) and drop one of the inserts (sticks) which has a reasonable area to grasp and is a nice round shape to make holding it a lot easier. Away with the mess of the 80's and in with some tech! Your lolly is ready in 7-9 minutes and making them yourself of course helps if you have particular dietary requirements.

It's available from firefox and Lakeland and costs around £39.99 (I never said accessible lollies were going to be cheap!)

Tags:Daily living | gadgets | inclusive design | food

A few days ago I got round to asking Access to Work if they would fund a voice amplifier so that people on my courses could hear me clearly. The only reason I need one is because my lung capacity is not large enough to get enough air through my vocal chords for a decent amount of noise. It was either that or provide everyone with a hearing aid - I thought this would be easier all round!

I thought it might turn into a saga and found a piece of equipment, e-mailed it to Access to Work with the price and basically explained why I needed it and what it would cost. Within 24 hours they said I could go ahead and order it. Brilliant.

Then I thought, would I be able to save Access to Work a bit of money by seeing if I can get the VAT off it?

My quest to get the VAT off

I wrote to the company (Connevans) and got quite an abrupt reply saying no. They said they had labelled their products with happy faces or red sad faces as to whether they were VAT exempt or not and told me to read their web page.

Mine was ‘sad face’ product and felt like they thought I had a learning difficulty or something.

“As per VAT Notice 701/7 published by HM Customs & Excise, certain specialised goods and services needed by disabled people may be zero-rated for VAT – when purchased by a disabled person for domestic or personal use or by charities who provide care and facilities for disabled persons. “
 
I wrote back saying I had read the paragraph and indeed knew of that some people had had communication equipment and voice amplifiers with the VAT off.

I was the disabled purchaser (one tick in the box)
It was for personal use (second tick)
I chose it because it had design features like buttons that I could use etc. - to me it was specialised.

They manager quoted Revenue and Customs saying the equipment was not ‘specialised’ enough and that their must be a ‘design intent’ in relation to disability. He said I should contact the VAT office. I did and they have so far refused to comment.

Quest thwarted.

So, considering we are in an age where inclusive design should be the norm (i.e. build accessibility and usability into everyday products so all people can use them), the government is saying that disabled people who identify a product that they only need because of their impairment will have to pay full cost because of the ‘inclusiveness’ of that product.

This ensure financial discrimination - for some people the VAT addition may make the item too expensive to purchase and it becomes yet another disability related expense on essential equipment and services.


Ironically Connevans deal in ‘disability’ products and were selling it knowing that it was something particularly that disabled people would use. Individual companies appear to be getting different advice on whether to charge VAT or not to disabled customers. This is inequality.

One arm of the government has given me a grant because they recognise that I need this equipment because of my impairment. On the other hand, they also seem keen to take it back through their own tax system. Now why should that surprise me!

Update 1- since posting (LOL I’m sure they are watching me) the VAT office have confirmed that products designed for general use or for use by disabled and able bodied people alike are not VAT exempt. So all products which have inclusive design and benefit none disabled people also will be charged at full price.

Update 2- Access to work lost my claim form and said I had to resubmit all over again - I decided to not claim the money back and hence bought the item myself.

Tags:employment | equipment | inclusive design