For my second neuro note, I
watched a TED talk by Mileha Soneji titled “Simple hacks for life with
Parkinson’s.” Soneji starts be describing her successful, powerful, and confident
uncle who was always playing with her and her cousins during family events.
Soon, this prominent person was hiding behind other people and their pity. He
had developed Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s involves the degeneration of the
nervous system and is characterized by tremors and a slow, shuffling gait,
often requiring a walker. Soneji mentioned that every year, 60,000 people are
diagnosed with this disease and that number is constantly increasing.
Mileha Soneji’s philosophy is
that we, as a society, do not always need to find one cure-all solution to all
problems. Sometimes, it is more beneficial to find small targets and create
small solutions for those targets, leading to an eventual big impact. Her goal
for her uncle was to make everyday tasks much simpler. She stated, “technology
is not always it. What we need are human-centered solutions” (sounds a lot like
OT!).
Soneji’s first small target
was her uncle’s tremors. He had told her that he did not drink coffee or tea in
public anymore because he was embarrassed by the shaking and spilling. So, she
developed a curved, “no-spill” cup. The curved lip of the cup deflects liquid
as it moves inside. Therefore, less spills. The best part about this cup (to
me) is that it was not advertised as a “Parkinson’s product,” but it was
advertised to the general public, eliminating the stigma of purchasing a “handicap
product.”
Soneji’s second small target
was her uncle’s walking. She was curious as to how a man with such a slow,
unsteady, shuffling gait with a walker on level ground was going to handle
walking up/down the stairs. To her (and my) surprise, he descended and ascended
the stairs with ease without a walker! The reason is because it was a continuous
motion. This has been demonstrated by other individuals with Parkinson’s and
cycling. Soneji’s goal was to translate this motion of walking up/down the
stairs into walking on flat land. To do this, she simulated the depth and shape
of the stairs using a geometric pattern on the kitchen floor (see below).
Walking up to it, her uncle had the typical “Parkinson’s gait.” As soon as he
got to the pattern on the floor, his steps became elongated, smooth, and
faster. When the pattern ended, he immediately returned to the “Parkinson’s
gait.”
I choose this video because I
have a personal connection to Parkinson’s disease – my maternal grandmother was
diagnosed in her 60s. Growing up, I did not know her without having this
disease, so all of the symptoms were, in my eyes, the “normal” characteristics
of my grandmother. Now that I am learning about the details of the disease, I
am seeing her in a different light. Although she passed away a few years ago, I
feel that I am getting to know her better through my understanding of her
condition.
What amazed me about the “staircase
illusion” was that it is very low tech. As Soneji mentions, “smart” does not
always mean high-tech, and her intervention drives this point home. By simply
painting this grey and black pattern in homes, rehabilitation spaces, and even
hospitals, we can make those affected by Parkinson’s feel like their “old
selves,” even if only for a short while.
I highly recommend this video
to those who have a personal connection to Parkinson’s disease, are in health
care/rehab, or anyone who has a general interest in these topics. As Soneji
says, the more small, simple solutions we can create, the more of a large
impact we can have in this world.
To watch this video, click the
link below:
Staircase Illusion:
References:
Soneji, Mileha. (2015, February). Mileha Sonegi: Simple hacks for life with Parkinson’s. Retrieved
from https://www.ted.com/talks/mileha_soneji_simple_hacks_for_life_with_parkinson_s
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