Ability Toolbox Homemade Tool Contest

2025 Contest Winners

Most Creative Homemade Tool

First Place: Laura Rossano's Spatula Fork

Second Place: Robert Sherrod "Blake"'s Electric Winch Lift

Third Place: Julieta Sanchez's Lopez Curved Spoon

Most Useful Homemade Tool

First Place: Manuel Robert Adaptive Back Scratcher

Second Place: Mazhar and Aysha Aqib's Adapted School Chair

Third Place: Ana Laura Da Silva Female Urinal

View all the Contest Submissions on the Ability Toolbox Online Guidebook HERE

The Ability Toolbox Homemade Tool Contest is Now Closed!

Submission Rules

Individuals may submit an idea developed with the help of their caregiver or family members. This includes parents who have developed tools for or with their child with FOP and can submit on their behalf.
Individuals may submit more than one tool however you must use a different entry form for each submission.
NO 3D-printed items allowed. While we marvel at the 3D-printed items created by our community, the purpose of this contest is to showcase homemade tools that can be recreated by members of the greater FOP community even when limited resources exist.

Questions? Email Melissa, IFOPA Family and Provider Support Coordinator, at [email protected] or contact her via text or WhatsApp at +1 (605) 877-5289

Criteria

When submitting tools, share detailed information about how the tool is made, materials used, and how it supports your daily life with FOP.
Pictures and/or videos will be required when submitting your application.
Community members will vote on the item's usefulness and also on the creative process used to develop the tool. So be sure to share how you developed your tool.
- Your creation mindset (What task or daily activity were you struggling with that motivated you to create your own tool?)
- Your revision process (Did you create your perfect tool on the first try or were multiple versions created?)
- Impact (How has your new tool improved your ability to complete the task you initially struggled with?)
The following tools are examples of homemade tools created by the FOP community that would fit the creativity and usefulness criteria of this contest.

Vincent’s Adapted Back Scratcher, Sandra's Extended Fork and Manuel's Reinforced Shower Brush

Voting (Begins June 1, 2025)

Online voting will be conducted during the month of June.
ONLY members of the FOP community and their direct family members/caregivers can vote. Voters who are not individuals with FOP or direct family members/caregivers currently involved in the day-to-day care of the individual will be disqualified.
Voters will rank their three favorite items in each category (Most Creative and Most Useful).
Votes will be collected and tallied by the IFOPA team and results will be shared in July 2025.