Using scissors with Hemiparesis
THE DIFFICULTY: S, aged 8, has left-sided spastic hemiparesis – weakness of his left side. He has no precise control of his left hand which made using standard scissors extremely difficult and he had never been able to engage in any cutting activities due to this significant fine motor limitation. His peers at school access scissor-based tasks as part of their learning but he was excluded from this process. This exclusion was not only impacting his ability to develop fine motor skills but was also affecting his emotional well-being, as he became increasingly aware of the activities he couldn’t participate in alongside his classmates.
THE SOLUTION: S’s OT recommended Peta’s wooden based tabletop scissor as the ideal solution; the heavy base would provide increased stability, reducing the need for him to stabilise it with his affected hand allowing him to use his strong hand for the paper manipulation and cutting action.
THE RESULTS: Peta’s Table-Top scissors enabled S, to participate more independently in classroom and creative activities. The table-top scissors have provided him with the stability and control he needs to cut paper safely and successfully, something he was previously unable to do on his own.
S’s OT said: “When I asked S how he felt about being able to use the new scissors S smiled proudly and said, “Now I can do it by myself!” It’s hard to put into words how special that moment was. The sense of achievement and inclusion that these scissors have given him is something that extends far beyond the practical task itself, it’s about confidence, belonging, and the joy of independence.”
