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DIY-AT (Do it Yourself - Adaptive Technology)

DIY-AT is a grassroots movement to adapt widely available and affordable consumer products into assistive technology on an individualized basis in an open source manner.

The following devices are not products for sale. They are DIY devices or experiments designed to prove the viability of a concept for others to expand upon.

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The Wheelie Scale

Innovator: Erik Kondo, Authur Torrey - 2019

The Wheelie Scale allows manual wheelchair users to weigh themselves on an inexpensive bathroom scale through using the wheelie position.

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Adapted Wheelchair Scooterboard

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2018

Create a wheelchair electric scooterboard by making modifications to a 3-wheel lean-to-steer Cycleboard electric scooter.

Angulation Blocks

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2017

The Angulation Block creates a pivot point that enables a monoski bucket seat to hinge and create more angulation for monoskiers without trunk control.

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Pocket Mount

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2014

The Pocket Mount is a block type device that creates a depression to loosely attach a non-folding manual wheelchair's footplate to the deck of an electric scooter.

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The Mini WCSB

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2020

The Mini-WCSB is an adaptation of the KXD electric scooter. It uses a cut skateboard deck and rear truck for stability when not in motion.

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Wheelchair Wheel-Well

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2019

The Wheelchair Wheel-Well is a PVC frame which holds the rear wheels of a wheelchair in place for activities that require a stationary position when it doesn't have brakes.

Skateboard Wheel-Rails

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2014

Skateboard Wheel-Rails are angle brackets that use gravity and "blocking" to secure the rear wheels of a wheelchair to the skateboard deck for wheelchair skateboarding.

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Skimboard Wheel-Bracket

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2015

Skimboard Wheel-Bracket is a bracket system that uses gravity and "blocking" to secure the rear wheels of the wheelchair to the skimboard for ocean skimboarding. A tow system is used to move forward.

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Snowboard Wheel-Bindings

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2015

Snowboard Wheel-Bindings are bindings that fasten the wheelchair's rear wheels with "blocking" and bungee cords to the snowboard deck for wheelchair snowboarding.

Suspension Anti-Tipper

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2020

This anti-tipping device uses progressive suspension on a swiveling caster wheel to "push back" against the wheelie position. Thereby making it more difficult for the users to inadvertently flip over backwards due to loss of balance.

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Wheelchair Balance Boards

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2019

Wheelchair Balance Boards are designed to facilitate the development of the person's neurological skills in terms of balance, proprioception, and coordination. The boards in the photo are adaptations of traditional balance boards.

The Pole Elevator

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 1992

The Pole Elevator is a pole based system that allows a person to ascend and descend from one floor to another by climbing up and down the pole. It is based on the popular "fire pole method" used in fire stations around the world. I used this system for ten years.

DIY-Nature Trike Wheel

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2021

The DIY-Trike Wheel is a compact and removable front wheel that transforms a manual wheelchair with two front caster wheels into a tricycle configuration. The wheel is 6.5" in diameter and sits as close to the footplate as possible.

DIY-Fat Tires

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2021

The DIY Fat Tire is a simple adaptation to make a standard mountain bike tire wheel into a FAT tire wheel of about 4" wide for beach access. The wheels I am using have a diameter of 24", but the same method should work for 26" wheels.

PVC-X Wheelchair

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2022

The Do-it-Ourselves PVC-X is designed to illustrate that a functional self-propelled wheelchair capable of handling rough terrain can be built with basic tools and locally sourced materials as long as it incorporates a user centric design.

2x3-X Wheelchair

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2023

The Do-it-Ourselves 2x3-X is made primarily out of 2x3"s and 1/4" plywood. It uses the WC-Xframe design. It can be made at low cost using locally sourced materials with hand held tools.

2x3-x2 Wheelchair

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2023

The Do-it-Ourselves 2x3-X is made primarily out of 2x3"s and 1/4" plywood. It has two caster wheels rather than a trike wheel. It can be made at low cost using materials from common hardware stores.

PLASTIC-X Wheelchair

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2023

The Do-it-Ourselves PLASTIC-X is made primarily out of PVC (plastic) boards. The boards were purchased at Home Depot. It uses the Trike wheel like the 2x3-X.

Caster Carry

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2023

The Caster Carry is a simple dolly that enables wheelchair users with fixed footplates to carry awkward and bulky items on the front of their wheelchair.

Pool Noodle Cushion

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2023

The Pool Noodle Cushion is about as simple and cheap as it gets. After cutting the pool noodle into the desired size, you run a cord through all of them to connect them.

This DIY cushion is intended for temporary use at pools and beaches.

Trikester Wheelchairs

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2023

The Trikester wheelchair is a trike wheelchair that has been either made from scratch, or is the result of replacing the two front casters on a traditional "quad" wheelchair with a single trike wheel.

SQUARE AL Wheelchair

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2023

SQUARE AL is a rigid wheelchair made out of square aluminum tubing from Home Depot. The rear wheels use quick release axles.

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Wheelchair Electric Skateboard

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2015

The wheelchair electric skateboard is designed for tight turning, but is much less stable than a longboard or landboard.

Balance Scooterboard

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2021

The Balance Scooterboard uses a linear actuator to raise the wheelchair's rear wheels off the ground to enable significant leaning into turns.

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Off-Road Hoverboard Adaptions for Wheelchair

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2018

Proof of Concept to create adaption brackets in order to enable a wheelchair user to ride an off-road hoverboard.

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Wheelchair Electric Longboard

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2015

The wheelchair electric longboard can be used on roads and bike paths and is suitable for longer distances than the skateboard.

Wheelchair Electric Landboard

Innovator: Erik Kondo - 2016

The wheelchair electric landboard can be used on gravel roads, dirt trails, and moderately rough terrain. It is the most stable of the wheelchair skateboards.

DIY Trailwind-Maxi

Innovator: Max Fan and Erik Kondo
2024

The DIY Trailwind-Maxi is a off-road wheelchair power assist push drive that is designed for use on nature trails and rough terrain.

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DIY Urban Trike Wheel

Innovator: Erik Kondo 2024

The Urban Wheel is designed to make an active manual wheelchair more functional in urban environments with pavement cracks, potholes, cobble stones, uneven sidewalks, etc.

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Wheelchair Hoverboard

Innovator: Erik Kondo, Arthur Torrey, Jim Papadopoulos 2018

The wheelchair hoverboard is a modification of a typical consumer hoverboard. It enables a wheelchair user to mount and ride it using a wheelie for control.

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KartBOT

Innovator: Erik Kondo, Arthur Torrey, Jim Papadopoulos 2018

The KartBOT is a modification of the standard consumer Hoverkart to enable an adult rider to control and ride it on rough terrain. It is powered by an off-road hoverboard.

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