Every year Hirshfield’s donates Rust-Oleum® Ultimate Water Based Polyurethane and Skid-Tex, an anti-slip paint additive, to the Minneapolis Schools Assistive Technology Program. ATC sent us some photos of the equipment where they used our products and we had to share.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:  The Assistive Technology Center (ATC) provides help with evaluations to determine if a student requires AT and, if so, what kind. After such a determination is made the ATC assists school staff to acquire equipment and training in order to make use of the AT to the fullest extent possible to support the students IEP goals. A variety of hardware, software and special equipment are available to students at any site in the district for as long as it is needed.

The Assistive Technology Program has been in business for 32 years and relies on their volunteer base who come from all walks of life. Some volunteers have been with the program for 25 years. In addition to volunteers building and finishing the positioning equipment for students, they also write how-to manuals for every piece of equipment in the program. As of April 15, 2018 ATC had over 700 work requests for adaptive equipment.

Designed in cooperation with Mechanical Engineering students from the U of M, this ball thrower can launch a tennis ball when a switch is depressed and is used by students with physical limitations to participate in gym.

 

A modified sled for a student who uses a wheelchair so she can go on walks through the snow with the rest of her class.

 

Custom chair for preschoolers who need extra side support.

 

Mounting system for coronet used by student with only one functioning arm.

 

A production run of special chairs for students requiring custom seating. Each chair has a commercial value of $700, but volunteers make them for about $60. They use Skid-Tex, an anti-slip paint additive, on the footrest and the chairs are varnished with Rust-Oleum Ultimate Polyurethane.

Minneapolis Public Schools is fortunate to have such a dedicated group of volunteers in the ATC!

Since Frank and Elizabeth Hirshfield opened their first store in 1894, it has been our mission to do the best job possible meeting customer needs and solving customer problems. Hirshfield’s. People and products you can trust.