Carabiners

For Cindy, carabiners are key for adapting her walker and scooter to carry her purse or plastic shopping bags.

In Situ

Studio close up of carabiner attached to the left handle of the walker, and angled down. It holds a paisley pastel-colored quilted cloth bag. Cindy'd hands are visible, holding the walker handles.
Studio shot of Cindy standing at her walker against a black background. Cindy is in a maroon shirt, is smiling at the camera, and has her two hands on the handles of the walker. The carabiner is attached to the left handle of the walker, and is angled down. It holds a paisley pastel-colored quilted cloth bag.

Description

Carabiners, or spring-loaded hooks, have been used for over a hundred years by climbers, military personnel, sports activities, and for construction work of all kinds. But these simple, robust hooks, with their easy-open gate mechanisms, make it simple to attach all manner of objects—even heavy, cumbersome goods—to some other fixed object.

For Cindy, carabiners are key for adapting her walker and scooter to carry her purse or plastic shopping bags.

Cindy got this idea from observing parents using a specially-branded carabiner called the Mommy Hook. Designed as a fortified carabiner with foam padding for a stroller handle, it’s a perfect example of appropriating an existing simple technology for a widespread “assistive” use—lugging heavy gear while also caregiving for children. We see these kinds of dual uses frequently in assistive technologies.