Reaching Stick
Purpose
FOP Community Member Jessica Scully created this reaching stick to help her independently reach objects and open doors. She and her mother first came up with the idea when she was a teenager and it was a trial and error process to develop the perfect tool. Jessica says ” I have been using these sticks for over 45 years. It has been able to help as I’ve lost mobility in my arms, wrists and elbows. My stick is always with me.”
How to make
Items Needed: 24 inch Dowel Rod, 7/8 inch 2 L screws, Rubber Bands, 7/8 inch furniture caps, hot glue gun or super glue.
- Take the dowel rod and glue the furniture cap to one end
- On the other end, one at a time, screw in, 1cm apart, each L screw
- Wrap rubber band around L screws for grip
This tool was created as part of the 2025 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.