Disabled Inventors: Necessity Is the Mother of Invention

Inventors are known to tackle problems they encounter in their everyday lives. For disabled inventors solving these problems can have a life-changing impact, not just for themselves, but others who can benefit from their ingenuity.

Find out more about Patents

Trustpilot star rating bar
disabled inventors necessity is the mother of invention

Contents

Updated on: March 27, 2023
Read time: 2 min

For many Americans, disabilities are a reality. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 20 percent of the nation's population—or 49.7 million Americans—are living with disabilities.

Many inventions are created by people with disabilities who have, through their inventions, made their lives easier or regained some of the freedom lost to their disabilities.

Here are the stories of a few of these notable inventors.

Ray Dinham: DinnerUp pet feeder

If you are a disabled pet owner, bending down to feed your pet can be a chore. But inventor Ray Dinham of Great Britain has created a device to change that.

Dinham's cerebral palsy made it difficult for him to feed his pets. So he created DinnerUp, a device that mounts onto a kitchen counter or door. Using a hand crank or clutching system, it lifts the attached bowls to a level that is easy to reach without bending and then lowers them back to the floor.

Ralf Hotchkiss: Torbellino wheelchair

When teenager Ralf Hotchkiss was thrown from his motorcycle, he became permanently disabled. Nineteen years later, this engineer created the Torbellino wheelchair, a state-of-the-art wheelchair with features that make it easier to get into and out of.

Hotchkiss' main motivation was to make wheelchairs more available to wheelchair riders in Third World countries, so upon perfecting his design, he set up small, local factories to produce inexpensive wheelchairs in low-income areas around the world.

He has written a book to guide others in establishing their own local factories in Third World countries and founded Whirlwind Wheelchair International, a non-profit that aims to make wheelchairs available to all who need them.

Temple Grandin: Hug machine

Temple Grandin was diagnosed with autism when she was three years old. As a child, she noticed that she found relief in the physical sensation of being held or hugged, but would become over-stimulated by human interaction. Because autism affects social interaction and sensory stimulation, hugs can cause overstimulation and discomfort in people with autism; however, the deep pressure stimulation provided by hugs is a source of comfort just as it is for those without autism.

At the age of 18, Grandin designed and built herself a hug machine to replace human hugs. That way, she could have the soothing benefits of a hug without the stressful interaction. Today, hug machines are used in autism therapy to relieve stress and tension.

Donald Beyette: Grab-a-Cane

Donald Beyette was born in 1949 with Holt Oram syndrome, a disease that manifests abnormalities of the upper limbs and heart. Then in 2001, he was crushed in an accident in his muffler shop.

As he recovered, he invented the Grab-a-Cane, a grabber and a cane in one. The grabber makes picking up small or out-of-reach items easier, and it's always handy because it's combined with a cane.

Find out more about PatentsStart Now
Twitter logoFacebook logoLinkedIn logoReddit logo

This article is for informational purposes. This content is not legal advice, it is the expression of the author and has not been evaluated by LegalZoom for accuracy or changes in the law.

143 days ago
Trustpilot star rating bar

This is my 2nd provisional patent with…

This is my 2nd provisional patent with Legal ZOOM. This time I dealt with Mak Champ he was Great, went out of his way to make it as easy as possible. Thank You

JoeSnook
169 days ago
Trustpilot star rating bar

Great Experience with LegalZoom

My experience in submitting a Provisional Patent Application has gone very smoothly so far. Customer Service and Support was very prompt and answered all my questions very quickly. I highly recommend Legal Zoom.

Viki Mann
227 days ago
Trustpilot star rating bar

Sandra helped me make the additional…

Sandra helped me make the additional orders on my account for the patent information. She helped me on everything I asked for. Thank you for making a difficult process much easier. thnx.

Rodney Kreinbrink
288 days ago
Trustpilot star rating bar

Tiffany was patient,professional and thoughtfully thorough!

Tiffany was patient, professional and thoughtfully thorough in her assisting me through procedures involving my patent processing!!

Valued Customer DT
288 days ago
Trustpilot star rating bar

Professional and Kind

Carrie was extremely helpful in answering my general questions regarding the trademark and provisional patent application process and fees. She was clear and succinct while maintaining a level of kindness and understanding of my needs. She provided the exact information I needed, saving me time and effort in researching via other routes. Thank you!

Teresa
883 days ago
Trustpilot star rating bar

Did a provisional patent application…

Did a provisional patent application (PPA). Streamlined and professional. Very helpful if ever needed. Always a pleasure to work with.

Bill K
931 days ago
Trustpilot star rating bar

Wes is always great to talk to

Wes is always great to talk to. He seems just as excited as we are about the next step in our patent process

Ann
933 days ago
Trustpilot star rating bar

LegalZoom is a great resource for…

LegalZoom is a great resource for anyone needing legal advice and in my case patent applications.

Patrick Walker
947 days ago
Trustpilot star rating bar

Great service

Great service, easy to understand each step in the patent journey. Wes my account manger was great and extremely helpful. I firmly recommend this service to anyone who has an invention they need protecting.

Tony Cooper
Rated4.6out of 5 based on23,944+ reviewson

Showing our favorite reviews