From an early age, Lisa faced challenges that many have never had to think about. Born with a rare congenital condition called Bilateral Complete Terminal Ulnar Hemimelia, she grew up without elbows, unable to bend her arms, and with only three fingers on each hand. Every day tasks like feeding herself, using a phone, and managing hygiene were difficult and painful. Growing up, Lisa relied mostly on her mother to navigate daily life and then her husband Scott’s support once married.
Sadly, in 2021, Lisa’s mother unexpectedly passed away, this left her grieving and assuming temporary responsibility for setting up homecare services for her elderly father and her brother, an Easterseals Massachusetts client. At this same time, her physical challenges intensified. Chronic pain, due to the lack of major joints and the resulting dysfunction of her body, made even basic self-care tasks increasingly difficult. Despite these barriers, Lisa was determined to regain her independence.
In August 2023, Lisa took a significant step toward reclaiming her independence by joining the MassAbility Assistive Technology (AT) Independent Living Program at Easterseals. Initially hesitant about asking for help, she began working closely with ESMA Engineers and AT Specialist Jennifer. Together, they trialed and developed customized tools to suit her unique needs. One of the first breakthroughs came when Lisa was given an Obi robotic feeding device, which helped her feed herself without bending her head toward the plate.
Since then, Lisa has received various AT devices that help ease her daily life and assist with household chores, including an Apple iPhone where the simple touch of an app controls the robot vacuum. Adaptive cooking tools, such as a motorized pot stirrer and an adaptive cutting board, allow her to be more involved in preparing meals. Other tools include a medicine dispenser, a hands-free blow dryer, a hands-free toothbrush, and a bidet for personal hygiene tasks. Smaller items, like electric scissors, a phone stand, and zipper pulls, have simplified previously impossible tasks.
Lisa describes her experience with ESMA as “lifechanging,” noting that every new device has brought her closer to overcoming obstacles. “I can’t say enough about how amazing Jennifer is. Her patience and commitment to find solutions has made me feel the most independent I have ever felt,” said Lisa.
Lisa and ESMA AT Specialists continue to explore other solutions for smart home systems, new tools to help her pay bills, and automated pet-care devices to enhance her independence further. Her ongoing visits to the Assistive Technology Regional Center run by ESMA provide her with continuous support to create a more ergonomic environment.
Through collaboration and determination, Lisa’s story is a powerful example of the impact of AT. With each breakthrough, Lisa is improving her quality of life and reshaping her ability to live, learn, and care for herself with newfound independence.
