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Well you're right.  The products are expensive.  And I don't believe the
prices are always justified.  Some of it I would think is simply related to
supply and demand issues.  In Italy the door knobs ARE NOT predominantly
round, but are the straight-handled type (lever-handle I should say - the
easiest to use).  There are some beautiful plastic alloy handles which are
incredibly hard, but have really nice
finishes and are cheap because they are injection molded.  I would need to
consult one of my reference books, but even if you bought the cheapest lever
handle (costing no more, or even less than a round handle) it would probably
cost a few hundred dollars to replace all of the handles in one's house.
I'll look into it, and when I come across a source, I'll let your know.  The
biggest problem is probably a cultural one.  It is just part of our builder's
tradition to put in a round handle when building a new spec house.  It is my
belief that the average builder or housing developer has the round handles
put in because no thought is given to it.  It is what everyone else is doing,
so "let's do what everyone else is doing" is the attitude.  I think with a
little pressure that could be changed.  I've never seen one, but I'm sure
that someone could compile a listing of building hardware and household
products which consider disabilites.  If anyone knows of one, I'd appreciate
your passing it along.
 
Regarding my product:  I developed a new line of eating utensils - I hesitate
to say flatware, because they have an interesting curve to them - so I call
them CurvedwareTM!  Even though they resolve the vast majority of the
problems
of anyone with almost any kind of hand impairment, they ARE NOT "Adaptive
Utensils".  They don't have cuffs or straps, but require only minimal gross
motor movement to use effectively.  They are also made of the highest quality
stainless steel with great attention paid to the details.   I designed them
for some relatives with
arthritis and MS.  As it happens a handle requiring minimal finger and hand
movement (starting with the hand in the natural, relaxed position) is useful
for
anyone.   The reason this is so important, it that stress in the hand not
only makes using a utensil more difficult, it worsens the condition of almost
anyone who has a disease which is central nervous system related.  That
covers most of them.   I must say I was surprised when doing the patent
research that a handle of this sort had never been patented!  In the 500
years that flatware has been around, they haven't changed from the basic
"stick with a head on it".
 
As a product designer, I have always found it fascinating that the cockpit of
an F-16 is designed better for a person with mobility problems (of any sort)
than most (probably all) cars!  They have "headsup" display for all
instruments so that they don't have to  move their eyes to look at the dials;
they have a stick with various controls requiring almost exclusively gross
motor skills to use to do a whole series of things.  The design team knew
they needed to make things easy, non stressful, etc. etc. It is a paradox in
some ways, that so much attention and sensitivity is shown for the use of a
war machine and yet so little sensitivity is shown in products we use every
day.
 
ANYHOW,  I would be happy to send literature to anyone interested. I made a
GIF file that I could email,  otherwise I would be happy to send literature
by snail mail.  They are not ready to market yet.  We should have the first
stamped sets in about two weeks. If things go as planned, we will start
selling them the beginning of April.