For those having difficulty swallowing small pills, or perhaps having difficulty keeping track of them in their mouth, try buying empty pill capsules and put the small pills in the capsules. Size of capsule depends on how big and how many small pills there are.

After asking about what to do about cold feet, I remembered I had made a warming pad for a friend with FA, years ago. I headed out to the fabric store today and bought 1/2 yard of a cute cotton print, and a 1/2 yard of a light weight polar fleece to make a cover for the pad.  Finished foot warmer will be about 18 inches square. Here's the construction diagram.

When I got home, I sewed the selvages together on the cotton and turned it right side out and pressed it flat. I then stitched midline from the fold to the selvages, to divide it in halves. I made "channels" by stitching side to side, across my midline stitches, and leaving the ends open. I made about 6 channels, but it isn't critical how many. I didn't want the rice stuffing to shift to leave empty areas. Then I took basic old dry rice, and a bit of rosemary leaves and some lavender and mixed them together in a bowl. I put about 1/2 cup of the mixture into each channel on one side. I waited to do the other half until this side was finished. Being careful not to spill, I took this back to the sewing machine, and rolled the open edge to close it and top stitched it to seal it all together. I lay the pad flat and smoothed out the rice evenly and then carefully smoothed the rice away from the middles of the channel so I could stitch one more row across them (in the same direction as the "midline" stitches) to hold it in place even better. I repeated these steps with the other half or the pad.

I took the polar fleece and made an envelope by folding it up at one end, enough to cover the rice packet, and stitching the side seams on that area. That left a long piece as a flap. I left that to either put under her feet, in bed, with the rice packet over her feet, or over her feet if the rice packet is under her feet to help hold the heat in. 

Note: There should be a dotted line in picture 2 from the top line to the bottom line seam to fold.   

-- submitted by Wendy 

My daughter used to have trouble transferring in the bathroom because the arms that fasten to the lid bolts and rest on the floor using rubber feet would move around and lift as she transferred. Not having a solid frame to work from was scary and dangerous. Here's an easy way to fasten the feet of those toilet arm supports so the feet don't lift up under use and the frame will be solid:

- In the plumbing section of a hardware store you will find a cast iron floor flange used to anchor outdoor railings. The part looks roughly like the classic martian spaceship; round, flat on the bottom, a half inch or so circular flat area on the outside of the other side (4 mounting holes are spaced equally around this area, the center of the   other side is rounded, and there is a threaded hole through the center (half inch pipe thread).
- Take the floor flange to the electrical section of the store and find a compression fitting. This is a cylindrical piece with a half inch pipe thread on one end (comes with a nut; throw it away) and the other end will properly force fit into the floor end of the arm (take off the rubber foot first!).
- You'll need wood or concrete screws for the flange while you are in the store. I only used 2 per flange but the bigger you are the more screws you'll need (my daughter is a lightweight).
- Be sure you take one of the arms with you to the store to confirm the fit while you are there.
- On installation: 
* Screw the floor flange and compression fitting together, put it on the floor in an open space and then push the arm down onto the fitting using small circular movements at the top of the arm while pushing to help the progress. If you are a nitpicker (like me) align the mounting holes to the arm before you push the arm on so that the hole pattern will look straight/square/nice when you put the arm back in place. 
* Now reinstall the arm to the commode and adjust the arm to the best height/angle. Now screw the flange to the floor.  

-- submitted by Paul Konanz

Yesterday I got the "Iron Quick Ironing System." It is advertised to 'cut your ironing time in half'.  I don't know about the rest of you, but it takes me forever to get something ironed and I've been avoiding it as much as possible. This 'system' includes a reflective heat ironing board cover and an iron 'shoe'. It was kind of tough for me to get the self adhesive ironing board cover on, (perhaps this should have been done by a non-ataxic person) but the ironing part is a breeze with this stuff. I highly recommend this to EVERYBODY. Especially those parents worried about their ataxic kids at college or even just fiercely independent types.

I got it from Sears. They call it 'The original Iron Quick System'. It is also available on the internet for a slightly higher price, plus shipping, as "Iron Wonder".

-- submitted by Joan

I have seen this advertised at Target. -- Sue Kittel

[1998] My son *Aaron-21, who has FA , has been having trouble with his transfers because his ankles sometimes buckle. We have found some ankle splints/braces that are really helping.

They are called "Sure-Step" articulating ankle/foot splint. His orthotist said that they are especially helpful for varus-valgus control of the ankle. I guess that means that they hold the ankle firm side to side, but still allow for flexion of the toes up and down. Our insurance covered them with a doctors prescription, but for someone who doesn't have insurance coverage, they would be $62.00, at the clinic we went to (Rehab Designs of America). They are molded plastic with foam/felt liners that can be replaced. There is a hinged molded heal plate that is attached, as well as two velcro closures.

I'm not endorsing this product for everyone, but they sure were the right thing for Aaron at this point in time.  *Note: as of 2004 Aaron is wearing AFO's that fit high calf.

They are manufactured by:
Joint Solutions, Inc.
2650 Walnut, Unit H
Tustin, CA 92780
USA
(714) 731-8359

-- submitted by Sue Kittel

*Note: Brianne Konanz has used Sure Step ankle braces, as well.

Brianne used Ankle Huggers for some time to stabilize her ankles in the chair. They worked well.

-- Paul

On the subject of footrests: Yes I agree that because footrests add considerable length to the wheelchair, decreasing it's maneuverability, it is tempting to leave them off indoors. The downside is that while your toes or the balls of your feet may still rest on the floor, your heels (or at least mine) do not. As we should sit with our heels slightly lower than our toes, this is bad practice, and will encourage your calf muscle to contract and the toes to point.

I've got two suggestions....I use an ergonomic footrest beneath my computer desk to keep my feet raised in the correct position. I got my dad to make a footrest from a piece of thin rope threaded through a hard plastic tube (cold water pipe) about 14" long. The rope has a loop at either end and hangs onto the normal footrest support bits leaving the pipe about 2-3" off the floor.  I can rest my feet on the pipe in the normal "out in front" position or they will tuck beneath when necessary for moving through tight spaces.

-- submitted by Chris

Just thought I had I share a handy hint using velcro that I saw. I recently went some friends' place for dinner (they are not ataxic or anything either!) and I noticed a strip of velcro (the 'hooked' side) fastened to the wall in the kitchen. I asked what it was for, and they replied "tea-towels".

Apparently they just "slap" towels and cloths in the general directon of the velcro and it sticks - when they want to use it again, they just pull it off and slap it back again when finished! I thought this idea was so cool! - and of course the idea would be so useful for those of us with ataxia too - say in the bathroom, kitchen or even wardrobe.

I have a large button on a tab tied onto my towels in the bathroom and this tab threads through the towel rack and then the button slides through a buttonhole on the tab, so the towel ends up being 'tied' onto the rack - that way it NEVER falls down and is easy to replace when dirty. However, now that I've seen the Velcro idea, I'm thinking of other applications for it! (There is of course the problem of the 'hooked' side getting clogged up with fluff and loose thread, but the advantages I think are better!)

-- submitted by Michael Edmonds (FA), Auckland, New Zealand

Followup:
I use the same idea you have of the tea towels with the button etc..., but for my son with FA, in wheelchair and living alone, I've made his towels with the strap that goes through the towel wrack or bar, and on the oven door, and bathroom, I've used Velcro, at each end of the strap, one hook side and one of the loop side, so they close on each other. When dirty he pulls them apart, and puts them in the wash and they are easy to re-connect.

I liked the hint on using a wire brush to clean the hooked side of Velcro!

-- FAPG Mom

I have created a cover for the scoli-brace so the kids don't have to wear a t-shirt.   Kids can even wear tank tops. Those under shirts always slide up and around.  If any one is interested call me or email me.

-- submitted by Maureen

We recently purchased a Multichair 5000 (by Nuprodx) as a Christmas present for the girls.  After using it I feel it is a wonderful thing for my husband and myself. We had looked at 3 different products that were similar.  The thing that made this particular chair stand out was that it was easy to dissemble and travel with.  We took it with us over the holidays and it made the bathroom accessible for the first time at my in-laws.  We had to take out a loan to purchase it but it proved to be a blessing the first day we had it.

-- submitted by Ruth (FA Parent)

I was in Bed Bath and Beyond and found a Tervis tumbler -- a mug shape with a handle and a good tight-fitting lid. Amazing! Not very cheap but I think it is going to work. Tervis makes all kinds of insulated glasses, etc. and they have a lifetime guarantee.

-- submitted by Nelda

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