Good Ideas from Jim Fraher
By Wechsler, Kathy; Quest, Vol. 11, No. 1Publication Date: January/February 2004
Article discusses three do-it-yourself home modification designed by Jim Fraher, who is a 74-year-old man with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Fraher has an extensive background in engineering, and has worked on the Apollo program for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and on the Hubble Space Telescope for the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. The three home modifications are: (1) a sheet frame, (2) a flip-up table, and (3) a swivel seat. Fraher designed the sheet frame for his bed to hold the heavy sheets and blankets off his legs, and to keep from getting tangled up in them. He had the base and the sheets constructed out of PVC pipe. The dimensions of the frame depend on the length and height of the bed. He designed a flip-up table from a modified hospital bed by elongating the frame so that he could sit in a comfortable chair and use the table. Modifying the fame allows him to get the table close enough to be useful. The swivel seat was constructed from a barstool. He cut the legs down and attached a wooden base for stability. With an added uplift seat, he can swivel to a comfortable position at the dining room table.
Published by: Muscular Dystrophy Association (Website:http://www.mdausa.org)
Link to text: http://www.mdausa.org/publications/Quest/q111diy.cfm
