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Brothers make free mobility aids using 3D printers

Angela KalwaitesDevon
BBC A smiling woman with long hair is kneeling beside a four year old boy who is sitting in a bright green buggy. This is the TMT, it is made from 3D printers. There are straps that fasten over his shoulders and very large wheels that are solid and green and black with dinosaur stickers. The young boy is smiling. To the left of the picture there is a large paddling pool. It is a very sunny day.BBC
Rachel said the toddler mobility trainer had "a huge impact" on her son's life

Two brothers from Plymouth are using 3D printers to make life-changing mobility aids for children living with disabilities.

Engineers Josh and Max Dixon are part of a global network of volunteers that makes toddler mobility trainers (TMTs) and gives them to families for no cost.

The devices, which are like lightweight mini-wheelchairs, help children and their families get out and about.

Rachel, who also lives in Plymouth, said the mobility aid has had "a huge impact" on her four-year-old son Charlie, who has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome - a severe form of epilepsy that causes seizures.

Max and Josh Dixon Max and Josh Dixon in their 30s are standing against a wall smiling with their arms on each others' shoulders. The bright green handle of a TMT is between them. Max and Josh Dixon
Max and Josh Dixon said they would like to make more mobility aids for families

Josh said 3D printing had been the brothers' hobby before they found they could put it to good use and make something that would help children.

The brothers signed up to be makers on the TMT website, which matched them with families who felt they would benefit from the free mobility aid.

Rachel's four-year-old son Charlie has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a rare and severe condition that affects only 1-2% of children with epilepsy.

She said Charlie can have up to 30 seizures a day and meant he was non-verbal, immobile and "about nine months old ability-wise".

Rachel said when she first read about signing up to receive a free mobility aid it felt "too good to be true".

She spoke to the Dixon brothers and when she received the trainer she found it had "a huge impact" on her and her son's lives.

Charlie is seated in a bright green TMT and has snacks placed on a table that has been fitted onto the device. He has a slight smile on his face and is looking down at the snacks which are pink rice cakes.
Rachel said the mobility aid had enabled her to take Charlie to visit more places

Rachel said the TMT had enabled her to take Charlie to visit far more places as it was light and easy to manoeuvre.

She said it had been particularly good to see and hear reactions from other children who had expressed how much they loved the trainer.

She said: "It is great Charlie is having that attention rather than in his previous wheelchairs when it has been 'oh what shame he can't get out'."

Josh and Max said it had been "fantastic" to help Charlie and encouraged other families who might benefit to sign up to the project.

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