Great ‘iDea’ to Help Brain Injury Victims

08/08/2011

A North East occupational therapist whose smart idea for an iPhone app that helps brain injured people dress appropriately is set to see her concept come to life.

Claire Brewis, from Teesside, claimed first place in a competition to create an idea for an iPhone app that would enhance the quality of life for people living with brain injuries.

She was one of scores of delegates to enter the competition, at the Innovation in Neurorehabilitation conference, at Teesside University, hosted by law firm Irwin Mitchell and Neural Pathways.

Ms Brewis’s idea was picked out by judges for its innovative approach to solving a day-to-day problem – it will help people to work out the correct style, combination and colour of clothing to wear for the occasion and the weather.

Irwin Mitchell’s regional managing partner John Davis said: “The impact that acquired brain injuries can have on people are huge and the symptoms are varied – even down to selecting appropriate clothing for dressing each day.

“Claire’s idea was a simple one that, once developed, could prove to be an incredibly simple tool for people with brain injuries – telling them to wrap up warm if it’s snowing, for example. It may sound simple but aids such as this can make a huge difference to people’s lives and help them to live more independently.

“We work on behalf of hundreds of people and families who have had their lives affected forever by brain injuries. Our conference looked at the rapid shift in technology and the way it can provide invaluable support to people – in some cases have a profound improvement on their quality of life.”

Vicki Gilman, clinical director of Neural Pathways, said: “The conference was a huge success – it looked at innovation in a range of neurorehabilitation service and intervention areas linked to personalisation, choice and decision making.

“These are challenging areas for all clinicians, providers and decision makers to balance alongside the need for high quality and productivity.”

« Back to news « Back to news Back To Top