Accessibility Aids from Tetra Society
Innovative Solutions Enhance Quality of Life for Disabled Persons
Oct 16, 2009
The Tetra Society, based in Vancouver, BC, seeks to eliminate physical barriers to give persons with disabilities greater independence and an enhanced quality of life.
Sam Sullivan, a C4-C5 quadriplegic, founded Tetra in 1987 when he needed adaptations to open his living space and allow a measure of independence. Tetra’s first volunteer, Paul Cermak, created low-tech adaptations to Sam’s apartment, inspiring him to form Tetra so that others could benefit.
Tetra uses skilled volunteers (including engineers and technicians) to create unique, custom devices to meet specific needs not served by commercially available items. The focus of Tetra’s accessibility solutions is to enhance quality of life, i.e. one’s ability to participate in all aspects of life, including school, work, family, community affairs, and recreation. Though often simple, Tetra solutions change lives.
Tetra’s Accessible Solutions for School, Work, and Play
Tetra helps people with a wide range of physical disabilities and medical conditions. The organization serves all people of all ages and needs, including infants, students, adults, and seniors. Tetra works closely with health care professionals, caregivers, and family members who are assisting those in need.
Previous Tetra projects that directly relate to children include:
- Adding larger switches to enable a child to control a battery operated toy
- Adaptations for bicycles, e.g. training wheels, seats
- Wheelchair trays for organizing notes, textbooks, and laptop
- Wheelchair cell phone mounts
- Book holders to keep study materials open.
Previous Tetra projects that directly relate to adults include:
- Camera mounts
- Cell phone holders
- Computer desks
- Door remotes
- Power tool adaptations
- Table risers.
Previous Tetra projects that directly relate to seniors include:
- Cane modifications
- Commode modification
- Raised bed
- Scooter modifications
- Stove timer shut-off.
Tetra volunteers do not:
- Fund the purchase of commercial assistive equipment
- Copy existing, commercially available devices
- Install ramps.
In general, if a carpenter or contractor can provide an accessible solution, then it’s not a good use of Tetra’s technical volunteers.
Tetra's Accessibility Solutions Encourage Choices, Community Involvement
Tetra does not aim to “make things easy” for people with disabilities, but rather seeks to provide solutions that foster independence and choice so individuals can have greater involvement in their community and, ultimately, new opportunities.
Information on past projects is shared system-wide and requests for assistive devices can sometimes be filled remotely in areas not served by a Tetra chapter.
To learn more, use the Find a Chapter feature on the Tetra website or contact the head office at 604.688.6464.
One thing that distinguishes Tetra Society solutions from those of other disability organizations is their ad hoc nature: they are created to address specific needs that individuals discover in their daily lives, helping insure that a customized, assistive device will immediately impact one’s quality of life.
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