Kiki Toothbrush
Purpose
Eylin Mabel Pardo Ayala “KikI”, who lives with FOP in Panamá, created this adapted toothbrush with the help of her mom. Eylin has limited hand mobility and can lift her hands to the level of her navel. She says,” It fills me with joy to know that I am still able to perform these tasks on my own. It has been a tremendous help. Even with the limited movement in my hands, this homemade tool has allowed me to maintain my independence and continue brushing my teeth using my adapted “hand.” I owe a big thank you to my mom, who is always there to motivate me.”
How to make
Items Needed: A small wooden hand model or back scratcher, Clear Tape, A Toothbrush, Elastic Bands, Pipe Cleaners
- Take the small wooden hand model or back scratcher and place the toothbrush on top of the hand.
- Use clear tape to wrap around both the toothbrush and the hand, securing them together to ensure stability so they don’t shift.
- Wrap the elastic bands around the assembly from top to bottom, making sure they are snug.
- As a final step, the pipe cleaners are optional; they can be added to provide even more stability.
This tool was created as part of the 2026 Ability Toolbox Homemade Tools Contest. More information about the contest can be found on the IFOPA Webpage. The IFOPA would like to thank The Radiant Hope Foundation for their generous financial support of this program.