Abilitease

Abilitease explores independence solutions through product innovation, product awareness and education & motivation from personal experience.

Exploring independence solutions for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.

11/11/2025

A few years ago Abilitease became an approved vendor for several Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital and Rehabilitation Center locations in Southern California.

Recently an occupation therapist from the VA reached out to see if we could design a tool to help one of their Veterans hold a razor for shaving. This individual was a high level quadriplegic with limited hand function and he liked a particular razor from a company called Supply. The razor had a nice weight to it, but it was hard to hold for shaving if you had hand dexterity challenges.

We designed an assistive device that secured the razor handle. In addition, the base of the tool flared out at the top so it would sit nicely in your hand without having to squeeze or grip the device. We also added a loop on the bottom so the individual could use two hands to secure the device while shaving.

We hope this design will work for the individual and bring more independence back into their life. To all the Veterans out there we thank you for your service!

Please check out our adaptive product line by clicking on the view shop button or visiting us at www.abiliteaseadaptive.com and support a disabled owned business. You can also access the link above in our bio.

[Video Description: In this video Mark shows how he designed an adaptive tool for a Veteran to secure a razor for shaving and included some different design attributes in the handle to address hand dexterity challenges.]

10/30/2025

As a quadriplegic that uses a manual wheelchair my hands get really dirty. For years I used anti-bacterial soap that I know contained harmful chemicals.

I recently started using an all natural bar of soap from a company called Dr. Squatch and I love it. Unfortunately, when the bar of soap gets wet it becomes slippery and I can’t hold onto it due to my limited hand function.

I decided to design a soap tray in my CAD software and 3D print it in a way that I could attach it to the top of the sink by incorporating a suction cup. Even though my hands stay like fists I knew that getting them wet and running them over the bar of soap would allow me to get a good lather to wash my hands and face thoroughly.

I designed the tray to fit the square Dr. Squatch soap and made a hole in the bottom to attach a large suction cup. Once the tray was assembled I took it to my bathroom and attached the suction cup to the top of my porcelain sink by pushing down on the soap tray.

I would get my hands wet and run them across the top of the bar of soap, which provided enough soap to make a good lather. I could then wash my hands as well as my forearms and my face. And the soap has a great lasting scent!

Please check out our adaptive product line by clicking on the view shop button or visiting us at www.abiliteaseadaptive.com and support a disabled owned business. You can also access the link above in our bio.

[Video Description: In this video Mark shows how he designed a tray to hold a square bar of soap that uses a suction cup to attach it to the sink. With wet hands Mark rubs his hands over the bar of soap to create a lather and wash his face.]

10/18/2025

Today I left the grocery store with my son Andrew and noticed that two carts were parked in the access aisle next to my rampvan.

The access aisle next to an accessible spot is reserved for individuals that need additional space for their mobility equipment to exit their vehicle. In my situation the cart was blocking access to my folding ramp.

The cart return wasn’t right next to my rampvan and I could have just pushed the carts out of my way, but this was a great teaching moment. I want my boys to understand the importance of accessibility and how their actions can have adverse consequences. You may be taking independence away from an individual that doesn’t have someone nearby to help them.

I had to laugh though because the grocery store I shopped at and parked in front of was called Lazy Acres. 😆

[Video Description: In this video Mark comes out of the grocery store with his son and there are two carts parked in the access aisle. His son Andrew collects the carts and takes them back to the cart return.]

10/07/2025

I recently went to Hof’s Hut in Long Beach to have breakfast. I ordered some coffee and was excited to see that the mug handle was round and I was able to comfortably support the weight of the mug on my thumb.

Most regular coffee mugs and some of the adaptive ones don’t work for me with my limited hand function. The opening is either too small or way too big. I am not able to open my fingers to slide them into a handle. Also, the handles are sometimes flat which puts pressure on my thumb as I try to support the weight of the mug when picking it up.

Not all designs are universal and won’t work for every individual. I just wanted to share that I really liked the way it felt holding this mug from Hof’s Hut. And the coffee was pretty good too!

Please check out our adaptive product line by clicking on the view shop button or visiting us at www.abiliteaseadaptive.com and support a disabled owned business. You can also access the link above in our bio.

[Video Description: In this video Mark shows how he holds a coffee mug comfortably with limited hand function at Hof’s Hut restaurant in Long Beach.]

10/02/2025

As a quadriplegic that manages a colostomy, I find it difficult at times to cut the wafer that goes on my skin over my stoma. My stoma isn’t exactly round so when I put on a new wafer I need to cut the shape so that it will fit. I typically use medical scissors which can take a while and it’s uncomfortable leaning over to complete the job.

Recently I was out at a concert and had to change my ostomy wafer. I had forgotten to bring my scissors so I bit the wafer to remove some of the sticky skin barrier to create a larger opening to fit over my stoma. After doing that it gave me an idea for an adaptive tool.

I instantly thought of a cookie cutter and how you press down on the dough to get the desired shape. So I went into my CAD software and designed an adaptive cutter that was the exact shape of what I wanted to cut out of the wafer.

With the tool I press down on the middle area of the barrier against a hard surface like a glass table. After doing this for a minute or so I remove the plastic backing on the wafer and put the tool on it to continue cutting the shape. While holding the tool with the wafer stick to it I can gently push down on the cut portion and peel it off. The result is a nice even shape cut out of the wafer.

This may not work with every ostomy wafer or for the individual with the colostomy, but it saves me a bunch of time and discomfort.

Please check out our adaptive product line by clicking on the view shop button or visiting us at www.abiliteaseadaptive.com and support a disabled owned business. You can also access the link above in our bio.

[Video Description: In this video Mark shows how he designed a cutter that is the shape of his stoma. With the tool he presses down on the wafer which cuts out the section he normally cuts with the scissors, thus saving lots of time.]

08/21/2025

Today is the 30th anniversary of my spinal cord injury (SCI). Wow that sounds really weird to say. Where did all of that time go?

This year I struggled with my mental health. I never thought that would be me because living with a spinal cord injury teaches you how to deal with so many unpredictable and uncomfortable situations. You build a tougher skin to handle adversity. But this was something that I could not manage on my own and so I got help.

Once I accepted that my feelings were real and that it wasn’t anything to be ashamed of I was able to build myself back up again.

Living with a spinal cord injury isn’t easy and I’m one of the lucky ones. The SCI life will test you at every turn and knock you down just when you thought you were making progress. However, it’s this life that made me the person that I am today and achieved the life that I always wanted.

I’m at a place now where I can use the past 30 years of my journey to help improve the quality of life for others. I’m truly blessed to have my beautiful family and proud to be part of the disabled community. Life is good!

[Photo Description: In this photo Mark is shown with his wife Patricia and sons Brandon and Andrew at the beach.]

Address

Cerritos, CA
90703

Website

http://www.abilitease.com/#believe-again

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