Keith Everett from Remap tells us more about his organisation and invites those who may have need of their services to get in touch. Ed
Remap is a little-known organisation operating on the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately it’s not meant to be.
Remap is a national charity with 1,000 volunteers, mainly retired professional engineers and occupational therapists. Their aim is to design and manufacture unique pieces of equipment to assist disabled people who can’t find a commercial solution to their problem.
The group on the Island has been operating for over 40 years, but because we don’t advertise, the public, and the people we are trying to help, don’t know about us.
Over 3,500 solutions produced each year
Over its history nationally, Remap has produced a large number of solutions, at present about 3,500 a year, mainly as mechanical devices, but with the change in technology we now have capabilities with electronics and computers.
We look at the full range of problems from the simple to the very complex. Simple devices such as a shaped wooden pole to allow a wheelchair user to operate a light switch effectively, or a modified child’s plastic ball which allowed a man with bad arthritis in his hands to hold a tissue to wipe his nose.
Not life changing perhaps, but a relief from considerable frustration.
It’s the small things in life that can make a big difference. Or complex devices such as voice 
operated book readers or a device to tell a blind person when the house light is on, without being affected by daylight.
A major area of involvement has been in disabled sport, designing throwing chairs for people missing limbs to be able to throw discus or shot putt, adapting archery bows and golf clubs. Or for more personal exercise a device for a wheelchair user with no arm strength to throw a ball for their companion dog.
Do you need help with something?
Right now, we have been recruiting volunteers, but we also need to reach out to people we can help.
Anybody can contact us, but if the person is severely disabled we do like a medical professional to be involved.
What Remap can do
The trick is to be aware that we are available and that an application may not be an obvious problem, but more of a frustration that detracts from the quality of life.
We will then send an engineer or occupational therapist to assess what’s needed, or direct the client to a commercial solution if one is available, and then design and make with no charge to the client.
If you know of anybody who could benefit from our free service please contact Alan Hart (chairman) 01983 873300 [email protected] or Keith Everett 01983 883800 [email protected]
