For anyone as yet unfamiliar with M.I.L.B.A.T- The Israel Center for Technology and Accessibility - This is the oldest and leading organization in Israel providing consultation, information and guidance on technologies that assist the people of all ages with disabilities or people with special needs. This non-profit organization has been active since 1981 (!) in the Tel Hashomer Hospital complex.

The unique contribution of MILBAT lies in the fact that they incorporate the development and manufacture of original special assistive devices for disabled people of all ages, including children, adults and the elderly. These devices try to address to manner of everyday functions (personal therapy, mobility, sitting, supportive and alternative communications systems, environmental control, use of computer, leisure activities, games, work and more). These devices are meant to help people become more independent, to improve their quality of life and ease their absorption into community life.

While visiting the MILBAT organization I met with executive director Mr. Nachman Plotnizky and with Alon Kimhi, an occupational therapist and manager of the volunteer team that described MILBAT activities and the unique assistive devices they use for their activities - all developed by volunteers that invest their time in the association with no pay, providing the planning and design services for each and every product.

A bit of background information...
As already mentioned, MILBAT provides consultation, information and guidance on technologies that assist the people of all ages with disabilities or people with special needs, especially motoric problems. One of their central projects is the Mamale Center. The center searches for ways to enable children with special needs to enjoy playing and to make quality use of leisure time by using technology appropriate for the children. Mamale (MILBAT game center for children with special needs) was also developed and operated by MILBAT professional staff and volunteers.

Floating ball and basketball hoop
An accessible game station which enables moving the floating ball in the air and into the basket through air pressure coming out of a valve. The ball is easily moved in space via a handle accessible to children with various disabilities.

The devices
In MILBAT they do not manufacture existing/commercial products but rather develop new devices adapted to specific problems and personal use - for outside and home environments, work environments and leisure. These devices address all manner of everyday functions for children, adults and the elderly which all live with special needs to improve their quality of life.

Executive director Mr. Nachman Plotnizky explained that most of the personal devices are simple and made on a relatively small scale due to their complexity, their safety requirements and budget constraints (they are bought for nominal prices), such as the device that helps people put their socks on. Along with these MILBAT sometimes develops more complex devices that require computerized controls such as the painting easel developed for people who can only paint with their mouths.

The MILBAT volunteers use a wide variety of existing technologies while adapting them or combining them with other solutions without actually creating or developing new products.

MILBAT volunteers
"There are currently 300 people from various fields of electronics and engineering, health services, computer design, management and others who volunteer for the organization", Plotnizky explains. "Volunteers focus on developing and adapting the personal assistive devices to specific needs. This unique activity is conducted in very few places around the world and receives great professional regard. The volunteers all come from different backgrounds, including organized groups from the arm that come and help out (usually from various development units and the air force) and other groups from RAFAEL and NASA, including individual volunteers (pensioners and professionals from the high-tech industry, master carpenters, metalworkers, designers and artisans".

The product development process

This process is conducted on two levels:

1. Developing unique devices on demand -
Alon Kimhi explains that "when a person first comes for a consultation with us they meet with various healthcare professionals - occupational therapists, physiotherapists or communications clinicians. These evaluate the problem and the needs of that person. In subsequent sessions our staff tries to find existing devices that may address these needs. We have a large base of assistive devices that you may view on our AZARIM website (this database includes a description of thousands of assistive devices from Israel and abroad). If no current device is suitable then the staff makes a request to the volunteer team to try and come up with a unique solution on demand specifically designed to meet that persons needs".

The development process and the manufacture of the device is a joint effort of the person who needs the device, the therapist responsible for his/her care and the volunteer who takes on the project. In most cases this is a long-term process of trial and error and several variations are made before arriving at a device of optimum effectiveness. This process can take anywhere between several work hours for the simplest devices to many weeks of labor for complex designs (often thee devices are first made for one specific person but are then adapted to address the needs of many people with similar problems, later manufactured in greater series).

A device for helping thread a needle

2. Developing devices for the Mamale Center playroom -
Most of these devices are the product of new ideas by volunteers or the organization staff. Many are made through the collaboration of over ten people all working together to create the complex design and overcome the structural difficulties inherent in manufacturing these devices.

First they build a prototype and send it to the playroom to see how the children interact with the new game. They draw their conclusions from these observations, make the necessary adjustments and oversee the safety precautions that must be taken in the planning and making of the game.

On the way to the final manufacture of the game, and before its dispersed to all the various playrooms, the game goes through several stages of readjustment and additional changes are made. When the final design is agreed on the different pieces are sent to be manufactured by the companies that work with MILBAT (most are made in small series of five to ten units). It is then assembled and sent to playrooms for the children to enjoy.

Development process of a musical organ:
Stage A- Adapting a regular organ with many small keyboards that make concentration very difficult to an organ with larger keyboards. A special organ with large sturdy switches. A child can play it by pressing on the switches instead of the regular, crowded keys. To enable a child to play melodies easily, the notes have been transposed to colors and numbers corresponding to the switches.
Stage B - Situating the organ on an electric base making it adjustable and accessible for children in wheelchairs. Easily adjustable to different heights.

Safety
All of the devices made by MILBAT are monitored by engineers for safety. They are also all overseen by occupational therapists/ physiotherapists that examine whether they are suitable structurally and functionally for the people they are designed for.

So what's our role in this entire project!?
The organization representatives say there is a great need for volunteers from various fields and backgrounds (industrial design, interior and landscape design, graphic design, illustration and more). They stress that many devices (mostly those designed for the children) really need a designers touch to make them better on a conceptual, design-wise and aesthetic level. These aspects are often lacking in devices currently being made.

Volunteer work for the organization is by a project-by-project basis. Anyone wishing to volunteer is assigned to a specific project where their unique talents can be utilized.

For those interested in volunteering in MILBAT, or for any additional questions or information please contact Alon Kimhi- 050-9303742 / alon@milbat.org.il

To the MILBAT Site

Article by: Inbal Yahav
Photographs by: MILBAT

* A short clip about the MILBAT projects and activities

A device that helps you eat a sandwich one-handed


A device for squeezing a washrag dry


A toothpaste tube squeezer


A support table for the computer mouse


Grab handles that help people with difficulty moving their hands or arms turn the key


A device that helps you open the car door


Game dice with raised numbers for the blind


A device that helps you don your socks without using your hands


Top: Remote Control Racing Cars adapted to the children's special needs: the regular remote control has been replaced by one with special switches, an enclosed arena has been created so that the child can easily find the car and control it, and an obstacle course can be placed in it.
Bottom: A computer game of "funny sounds" with special buttons. The height of the screen and keyboard are adjustable to the height of the child and are wheelchair accessible.