I have long held a fascination with objects designed for  ”special needs” populations.  Collectively, the range of our special needs is unspeakably large, but several companies are determined to satisfy them, with designs and objects that I find heartening; someone has considered our daily challenges and came up with a 4-foot shoehorn for those who can’t bend down, an automatic card shuffler for those whose fingers aren’t deft, a hug machine for those who crave deep pressure but also face social phobias and need to control that pressure. This particular design field continues to grow: what are your favorite objects? What are your pressing needs?

Temple Grandin’s Hug Machine, made by the Therafin Corporation.

A sock aid

LoVision Playing Cards 

Tags: , hug machine, special needs, temple grandin