Remap – custom made equipment for disabled people

Have you heard of Remap? If the name sounds familiar, it might be that you noticed that one of our Digital Volunteer of the Year Award finalists at this year's Tech4Good Awards donates his professional skills at the charity. Read more about volunteer and Tech4Good finalist Robert Powell.

Remap is a unique national charity that brings together two communities of people: volunteers who are skilled at making things, and disabled people who find themselves needing a specialist piece of equipment. The result each year is around 4,000 pieces of custom-made kit which help transform the lives of disabled people.

Making things possible

Thankfully, you can buy lots of equipment off the shelf these days, but often a “made to measure” solution is what’s needed. This is where Remap’s army of ingenious inventors comes in. They design and make equipment and gadgets for young and old alike and these are then provided free of charge.  The aim is always to help people achieve independence and quality of life, filling the gap where no suitable equipment is available commercially.

So whether it’s helping Ian overcome his virtual blindness to watch a football match or enabling Robert’s wheelchair to turn in a tight corner, helping four year old James to be heard in class or fixing toys so Oscar can play with them, Remap is there to provide a solution.

James speaks out

When James (who has vocal cord palsy) and his family met Remap at a local event, they didn't realise how much their lives would be changed. Find out how Remap helped James talk to his friends.

Sarah’s super sensor

Cerebral palsy sufferer, Sarah, asked Remap if they could develop a piece of equipment that could alert her when she's leaning on her left arm too much whilst sitting. Here's what Remap volunteer Akshaya came up with... 

Ian watches the action

Ian is an avid football supporter but significantly visually imparied due to mitochondrial dysfunction. This means that his sight is only good for short range and large, high-contrast, images. Although he visits Anfield to watch Liverpool play, he is unable to see the game itself. He simply listens to the radio commentary and soaks up the atmosphere from the touch line. Find out more about how Remap helped Ian watch football live.

Ingenious solution for ten-pin bowling team

A local team of ten-pin bowlers all have visual impairments and are taking the Basingstoke bowling scene by storm. Their only problem was finding their way from the return box, where they pick up a ball, to the start of the bowling lane and the throwing line. Find out what solution Richard Brown came up with for the team.

Learn more about Remap

Visit the Remap website to learn more about their mission, the great volunteers behind their successes and how you can request their help.

AbilityNet has super-hero volunteers too

Don't forget that we also have an army of eager helpers. AbilityNet's volunteers provide free IT support to older and disabled people. Contact us on 0800 269 545 or use the form on our website to request free IT support at home