Kindle Touch

If you are one-handed anf you don't own a Kindle Touch or equivalent, you are missing some good reading time!  I like the Kindle Touch for many reasons:  it is lightweight; it has extra large font options; it can be used with one hand;  I don't spend any money on books because I check them out electronically from the library!  I have had my Kindle for a year so I'm sure there are improvements which just sweetens the pot!

Bean Bags

One way of holding books open, holding crafts in place, sewing, or other tasks that generally require one hand to hold  and one hand to operate, use a bean bag.  I made one on the sewing machine, but it was difficult, so I would recommend buying some (maybe at a toy store?) or having a friend make some for you.  I used dried beans in mine and packed it very full in order to get as much weight as possible.   It is about 5 inches by 7 inches. You could have them made in various sizes and "squishiness" in order to accommodate your needs.  Double stitch the seams about 1/8 to 1/4 inch apart to keep the beans or rice from popping out.  Any other ideas for holding stuff?

Writing with One Hand

Pesky.  That is the only word that aptly describes trying to write with one hand, your non-dominant hand no less, whilst not having anything to firmly hold the paper, greeting card, or whatever in place.

Here is one solution.  Cut some of that nifty non-slip pad that I talked about earlier so that it fits the back of a clip board.  It does not have to fit perfectly, but does need to be smaller than the clip board.  Elmer's glue works just fine to mount the non-slip material to the back of the clip board if you let the glue dry for 24 hours.

Now you are ready to slide your paper under the clip of the clip board (remember to use your four finger and thumb like Tomme-K told you!) and start writing.  Any more ideas?

Cart in the Kitchen

I think I said before that I love to cook and I am trying to figure out ways that are useful with one hand.

I wanted a small rolling cart for the kitchen, but found them to be very expensive.  Voila!  I already had one in the linen closet!  So the towels were unloaded into the already messy linen closet (that's for another time) and the cart was moved to the kitchen.

Now, I use my wheelchair and wheel around the kitchen, loading the cart with all the items the recipe calls for.  It is really nice having everything in one place.  I visit the pantry, refrigerator, cupboards, and drawers to get everything I need before I start..ingredients, utensils, bowls, and bake ware.

If I had a stainless steel rack, I could even put hot things from the oven on it.  But, alas, I have a cart with plastic coated wires which will not work for hot pans.  The cart does have multiple shelves, though, which is very handy when making something with bulky ingredients that take up lots of room on the cart.

I love using the cart !  It saves me a lot of extra work. 

What do YOU use a cart for?

Arts and Healing

 Arts and Healing by R. Rose Simon
 Seattle Examiner, Examiner.com
January 29, 2011
Artwork by JoAnne Dille


"The power of art as a healing force has been substantiated by scientific studies that focus on how art and music affect brain waves, the autonomic nervous system and the neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurophysiologists, scientists and medical professionals have researched the effects of the creative arts in healing. The results are coming back positive. Art and music can change a person’s perceptions, attitude, emotional state and pain perception. The creative act is a healing act in itself, regenerating the spirit and helping the body relax and restore itself properly. Hospitals all around the United States have instituted programs to bring the creative arts of music, art, drama, movement and journal writing to their patients. In addition to these programs, many hospitals sponsor displays of local artists in their facilities. The colorful display of artwork transforms what is traditionally considered a sterile environment and provides many positive effects. It helps to alleviate stress in patients and provide them a positive diversion from their illness, as well as promoting a sense of well-being and community. Art programs in hospitals bring the patient, family members, medical staff and the public together on a common level: sharing the appreciation of art. The artwork can serve as a catalyst to engage viewers into a dialogue with each other that otherwise might not have an opportunity to occur. Several Washington state hospitals have combined the creative arts with the medical arts with great success. Swedish Cancer Institute and Harborview Medical Center are two significant leaders in this field. Swedish Cancer Institute has integrated an extensive offering of complementary arts for their patients. Programs offered include: art, music and massage therapies along with meditation and naturopathic care. These services are offered with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for their patients and assisting with stress management. Harborview has been building an ongoing collection of visual art for more than eight years. This collection includes artists who reside in Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Artists can contact the Harborview‘s Art Program Director for consideration of their artwork in the collection. In addition to the art collection, Harborview has an extensive offering of therapeutic arts projects, workshops and activities in collaboration with artists, therapists and clinical staff."
 January 29, 2011
 Artwork by JoAnne Dille

Squeeze Bottle

I love to cook, so I watch America's Test Kitchen on television, even though I cannot make most of the recipes.  One day, I saw the chef using a clear plastic bottle with a nozzle, sort of like the ketchup bottles at diners.  The America's Teat Kitchen crew were using the bottle for vegetable oil.  I get my canola oil at Costco in large bottles, so making a mess once to fill the squeeze bottle is definitely better than making a mess every time I want to use oil.  I got two clear plastic squeeze bottles at Bed Bath & Beyond.  I have not decided what to put in the second bottle, but I suppose it could be anything.  Any ideas?

Sewing and Quilting

Posted on A. C. Moore’s Forum:, July 2008

Location: Port St. John, FL                                               

My Mom had a stroke that has left her right (dominant) arm and hand are useless. Does anyone know of any one-handed sewers or any adaptive devices that may help her get back to quilting?

Location: New York                                                           

I don't know about piecing a quilt but if she wants to try hand quilting maybe a small standup quilt frame would help her. One that she could step on to hold steady. I don't know for sure that it will work but with practice I think she might get the hang of it.

Location: Delaware                                                            

If she has a green cutting pad, she can pin the material into the pad to cut it and use it as a second hand to hold it while she pins the parts together. Have her use the sewing machine foot to hold the material as she guides the fabric through to sew the pieces together and her foot controller to sew the material together. Go slow, or less pressure on the foot controller, and it is possible to continue to sew. Sometimes you can purchase already cut blocks from the store or through EBay (they even have auctions by sizes too.)

Sewing and Quilting Forum From 2008

Posted on A. C. Moore’s Forum:, July 2008

Location: Port St. John, FL                                               

My Mom had a stroke that has left her right (dominant) arm and hand are useless. Does anyone know of any one-handed sewers or any adaptive devices that may help her get back to quilting?

Location: New York                                                           

I don't know about piecing a quilt but if she wants to try hand quilting maybe a small standup quilt frame would help her. One that she could step on to hold steady. I don't know for sure that it will work but with practice I think she might get the hang of it.

Location: Delaware                                                            

If she has a green cutting pad, she can pin the material into the pad to cut it and use it as a second hand to hold it while she pins the parts together. Have her use the sewing machine foot to hold the material as she guides the fabric through to sew the pieces together and her foot controller to sew the material together. Go slow, or less pressure on the foot controller, and it is possible to continue to sew. Sometimes you can purchase already cut blocks from the store or through EBay (they even have auctions by sizes too).

Single Handed Art

I have a friend in Seattle, Cooper, who had a very engaging and popular art program before his stroke a couple of years ago.  His stroke left him with paralysis on his dominant side.

Now, after his stroke, he uses his non-dominant hand to paint and live.  He has re-invented himself and his approach to art.  Although the artwork is very different than before his stroke, his single handed paintings are meeting with very good commercial success (ie, he's selling a bunch!)

This post is for the use of ANY single-handed artist, in ANY medium to comment.  Please take this opportunity to comment!

Sticky Keys

I should have added this note to the post on one-handed typing but forgot!


This post is about a wonderful feature of my PCs copy of Microsoft Word called "Sticky Keys".  The object is to write on the computer with both capitals and lower case letters.  In order to produce the upper case letters, you begin your typing session by pressing the "Shift Key" five times in quick secession. A box will pop up on the screen. In order to keep the Sticky Keys, click on the box that says "OK". The box will disappear after you make your selection.


Now, simply press one of the "Shift" keys each time you want an upper case letter or some other "upper tier" symbol. If you or another computer user accidentally cancels the Sticky Keys, simply reinstate it as above.


If you accidentally press the Shift key but did it by mistake, simply press it again to cancel it.  That way you will not get upper case where you don't want it.


Sticky Keys works great for those, like me, who cannot get used to all lower case sentences and no exclamation marks!


Please add you comments and share so tips from YOUR Single Handed Life!