The IFOPA will be holding a contest for members of the community to submit their own homemade tools. This contest will help grow a homemade tools section of the Ability Toolbox Online Guidebook and showcase the creativity of our community. The Homemade Tool Contest will be open to the FOP community for submission from May 1 to May 31.  

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 Services 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.

Winners

Award Category	1st Place	2nd Place	3rd Place
Most Creative Homemade Tool	$200	$150	$100
Most Useful Homemade Tool	$200	$150	$100

 

The IFOPA would like to thank The Radiant Hope Foundation for their generous financial support of this program.