Disabled Model Engineers

[SpringbokParticipant @springbok]

Are we all just ignoreing them !

[SpringbokParticipant @springbok]

Hi everyone
I was reading on another forum this morning about disabled ME's,
and I thought I have never seen a forum post or an article in ME about the subject.
So can I get the ball rolling, I have a form of Parkinson’s and have trouble (without all my little aids)
threading say an 8ba nut and bolt. (3/4 way through my build on a B1). My dad was the same but still got a model of a Glasgow Tram into the Kelvenside museum.
I use lots of little aids to help me and also have inherited Dad's gadgets.
I also inherited amongst other things a part built schooner, (I am still trying to work out how the hell he got these tiny rivets in).

Dainne; You are looking for new subjects for your ME well here is one

a) It may help our fully fit colleagues to understand a bit better.
b) Contribute to a hopefully lively discussion.
c) Quite a number of years ago I helped disabled people do wood turning and sell their items.
Sadly the unit is now part of a Liddles.

Bob

Edited By Springbok on 08/09/2013 07:34:53

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

Have you heard of REMAP?

There are Remap panels all over the country (roughly one per county) and many have members who are model engineers. My panel, for instance (Coventry & Warwickshire), has two. I'm one of them.

I'm pretty certain that your local panel (contact details can be found on the website) will be able to help.

Caution! AD coming up.

If you have the desire, skill, and aptitude to help people by making and/or designing things to help disabled people then please get in touch with your local panel. The panels hold monthly meetings where new cases and progress on existing cases are discussed. There is no commitment on members other than, if you accept a case you should try to finish it. Other panel members will help if required.

Cases can be mundane or very challenging, and can give the little grey cells a great workout.

Oh, you will, of course, need your own workshop.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

There have been articles in ME over the years about REMAP, and some of the things that have been made to assist needy modelers, and others requiring some sort of assistance. Ian S C

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I'd like to see articles by disabled model engineers about how they work. I interested in articles about how people do things and their ingenuity in solving problems, regardless of the actual topic.

I recall Keith Wilson describing some of the things he did to keep working after a stroke temporarily left him without the use of one arm.

Neil

[SpringbokParticipant @springbok]

Thank you everyone so far but I do know about REMAP but I think it is time for members of this forum and ME to encourage people.

Bob

[cliff leachParticipant @cliffleach79290]

Hi, I'm an engineer and since 1977 a paraplegic, I think it might be a good idea if we started an ME forum on this topic; disabilities are all different and therefore the person's needs differ too but this could be the source of much useful advice and support.

Views?

Cliff Leach

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by cliff leach on 08/09/2013 18:31:56:

… disabilities are all different and therefore the person's needs differ too …

Views?

Cliff Leach

.

An excellent point, Cliff

I think it would be unproductive for anyone to attempt to cover the subject in a magazine article … Much better to use this forum; where people can present a specific problem and canvass advice.

It happens already … in the sense that we are all "differently abled" … let's just welcome a wider range of questions.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 08/09/2013 18:50:40

[Jens Eirik Skogstad 1Participant @jenseirikskogstad1]

To be honest, i am deaf since i was born.. i can not see what is the problem to be deaf in a work environment as a car mechanic ( i am car mechanic and worked near 20 year now). Some time the mechanic in our car work shop asked me where the noise came from to exampe in gear box, engine or other places in the car where the noise is there,.. how can i do it with the noise?? Yes, i am using my hands, body and the stetoscope with steel rod (i has a little rest of hearing, 80% dB in right ear and 120 dB in left ear) + try to drive the car in a tour to learn out where the noise came from. I can answer where the problem with noise can be in the car out of my years of experience. Also no problem to be deaf in a workshop with people who is hearing.



For some year since the foreman in workshop had tried the car who had problem with gear box. I asked him what was problem with the car, he told the gear box had noise. Then i asked him how he drove the car and how the noise came in and out etc.. The foreman drove the car with noise and disappeared each time when he pressed the clutch pedal down. My answer: Worned ball bearings in gear box. He did not believe me until another mechanic repaired the gearbox and found worn bearings. The reason was that the chairman was a new employee.



It is not too late how to learn out how to search noise in a machinery too example when the people has lost the hearing in the ears later in life.



Is it someone there as model engineer in UK who is deaf in whole life? Not sure a lot of there.. Nice to meet the folks here who has respect for peoples with disabilities. Never underestimate the folks with disabilities! They may be smarter than you can imagine ..

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