IKEA Offers Special Furniture Add-Ons for People With Disabilities

In partnership with two Israeli non-profit organizations, IKEA Israel has launched an initiative called ThisAbles, which provides furniture add-ons for people with disabilities. The add-ons can be 3D-printed at home or at a local maker-space and aim to make existing IKEA furniture more accessible.

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Mega Switch

The Mega Switch is compatible with IKEA’s RANARP lamps, described as “an oversized switch that makes it possible to operate the lamp without the need for precise use of the fingers.”

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Curtain Gripper

The Curtain Gripper is a plastic handle that allows the user to easily grab onto a slippery shower curtain. It is compatible with all of IKEA’s shower curtains. According to IKEA, the ThisAbles project fits with the company’s mandate to “create a better everyday life for as many people as possible.”

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Cane by Me

Designed to fit IKEA’s MALM single or double beds, the Cane By Me is a rack where a walking cane can be placed right next to the bed, making it easily accessible.

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Couch Lift

Designed for use with IKEA’s KARLSTAD couch, these add-on legs elevate the sofa to make it easier to get up and sit down.

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Easy Handle

Described as a “handle for opening the door with the forearm or the whole hand, without having to use the fingers,” the Easy Handle is available in two variations, for opening with either the right or left hand, based on the user’s need. The Easy Handle is compatible with IKEA’s PAX wardrobe series with hinged doors.

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Finger Brush

For use with the MALA paintbrush set, this genius device “enables holding drawing and painting tools for people with difficulty operating their fingers.”
Related: IKEA’s New App Uses Virtual Reality to Place Furniture in Your Room (No Lifting Required!)

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Friendly Zipper

Ideal for those who don’t have the manual dexterity to grip a tiny zipper tab, the Friendly Zipper is a large ring that attaches to the zipper handle in order to “facilitate the grip and usage,” and can be used with pretty much any zipper, IKEA or otherwise.

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Glass Bumper

The Glass Bumper is designed to protect glass doors from being damaged by a wheelchair, compatible with any IKEA display cabinet with glass doors.

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Insider

Here’s the Insider: a mirror that connects to the top of IKEA’s KALLAX shelving units in order to “make the content of high compartments visible from a low point of view.” According to the ThisAbles website, these clever add-ons are meant to “bridge some of the gaps between existing IKEA products and the special needs of people belonging to these populations [who live with some form of disability].”

Related: 12 Ways IKEA Changed the World

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Popup Handle

This large-sized handle, which can be used in place of any single-screw handle, enables the user “to open the door using the forearm or the entire hand, without requiring the use of the fingers.”

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Snap Cup

Attaching to the side of IKEA’s MALM beds, the Snap Cup allows a person with mobility difficulties to keep a beverage close at hand, tightly secured without fear it will be knocked over and spilled.
Related: This Chill Condo Proves You’re Never Too Old for IKEA

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Stuff Reader

Designed to fit IKEA’s KALLAX shelving units, this cutting-edge device allows a visually impaired user “to position a special smart sticker that contains information about the compartment content,” which is then read aloud using a special scanning pen.