Envisioning Access:
From Monkey Business
to Technology

Daniel loves Daisy!

For a number of years I’ve sat on the board of a non-profit that used to be called Helping Hands: Monkey Helpers.

In an instant almost 40 years ago, Mary Kay became paralyzed from the neck down in a vehicular accident.  Her faithful helper and companion of 20 years, Amy, aids her by handling such chores as pushing doors open and bringing the computer keyboard to the tray on her wheelchair.

From the 1970s to the early 2020s, capuchin monkeys in the organization were trained to help people with physical challenges: feeding them, scratching a literal itch, picking up something from the floor, turning lights on and off, loading a videotape.

Jessica, almost 35, hardly looks her age.  After faithfully helping someone with physical challenges for years, she now enjoys life in the equivalent of a 55+ community.  (Uncharacteristically, she prefers blueberries to bananas.)

The monkeys are now retiring and living good golden monkey years: frolicking with other monkeys, finding a sunbeam to nap in, having fun on monkey-oriented jungle gyms. Unlike dogs, they are not at their happiest living domestic lives with people.

Design initiatives that make it easier for people with physical challenges to live independently—like zero entry showers—are helping to take the place of animals.

In 2023, the name of the organization was changed to Envisioning Access. Its focus is on finding alternative approaches to help people live independently that will take the place of help from monkeys. Some of these approaches involve the talents of designers and builders.

With a Smart Glove, developed by researchers at a company called Cognimate, people will be able to recover fine motor skills lost as a result of stroke, cognitive impairment, brain and spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis….

Technological advances will also help people live in their own homes much better than an animal could. Technology can even make life more fun for those with limited mobility. One project is looking at how virtual reality can help people play video games that might otherwise require twisting the torso as well as access social sites that ordinarily would require use of the fingers.

Virtual reality brought into focus by a company called Oculus can help people who are paralyzed or have other mobility-limiting challenges “arrive at” job interviews or “enter” work sites.

More than 40 million Americans have a disability. To help accommodate the needs of so many of our neighbors, I am proud to serve on the board of Envisioning Access.

I’d love to know your thoughts!