Competition launched to design new independent living aid

Disability Rights UK and law firm Irwin Mitchell have teamed up to launch a competition that invites people to suggest ideas, solutions and products that would help adults and children with mobility difficulties. Whilst many people find stairlifts, walk in showers and other aids to significantly ease their mobility problems, the competition could result in a new independent living aid being launched.

The competition, ‘Design for Life’, looks set to create further mobility technology to work alongside reconditioned stairlifts and other such existing aids to create independent living solutions. UK based firm Irwin Mitchell has offered to fund the project up to the value of £10,000 to get the design and build of the winning design entry on its way to production where it could potentially help thousands of individuals across the country.

‘Turn your idea into reality!’

The competition is open to designers of all ages with two categories, ‘17 and under’ and ‘18 and over’ where it is hoped that a great variation of design ideas will be submitted in the hope of making production and better helping those with mobility difficulties or a disability live independently.

Idea categories for the competition are as follows:

- Daily activities

- Preparing meal, eating and drinking

- Gardening, hobbies or leisure

- Tasks around the house

- Personal care

- Interacting and communication

- Memory or mood

- Dressing

- Shopping

As well as designing an independent living aid that could work in the home to offer greater independence in daily tasks alongside the installation of walk in baths showers and other such safety features, the winner of the competition will be awarded £500 worth of gift vouchers with the other age category winners to receive £150 in vouchers.

The competition is set to open online from the 22nd September and close to entries on the 1st December. To take part in the competition or to read further information on the project click here.

Image Credit: Joey Gannon (flickr.com)

This content was written by Emily Bray. Please feel free to visit my Google + profile to read more stories.