Beneficial Designs Inc is a rehabilitation engineering and design firm. BD develops assistive and adaptive technology, performs rehabilitation research, contract design, legal consultation, standards development, and serves as a rehabilitation information resource. BD also designs adaptive recreational equipment for people with disabilities. The firm was created after the founder sustained a spinal cord injury, in order to manufacture a sit-ski design. Many Beneficial Designs devices, including hand controls for manual transmission vehicles, and a piano pedal pusher operated by the abdominal muscles, have been inspired by a similar desire to reestablish a physical, intellectual, and spiritual balance. Beneficial Designs specialize in the development of a variety of adaptive recreation equipment, including mono-skis, cross-country snow skis, a wave ski for surf kayaking, and ultralight aircraft modifications. To help wheelchair users maintain optimal hand/arm condition and flexibility, the firm has developed a dynamic rowing machine to exercise the upper limb muscles that oppose normal wheelchair pushing. The firm develops assessment systems and devices to give people the information they need to access a variety of environments. This work includes developing the Universal Trail Assessment Process to obtain and deliver access information about outdoor recreation trails, and designing devices and methods to objectively measure surface firmness and stability, characteristics that impact accessibility. We also develop technologies to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. This work includes designing, building, and testing innovative wheelchairs, ergonomic wheelchair back support shaping systems, and devices to assess hand strength that serve as clinical tools to research hand, arm, and shoulder overuse injuries common to manual wheelchair users.
