Thanks to Madonna’s Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering, a Lincoln man can continue to capture picture-perfect memories with his camera.
When Chad Madson, a professional photographer living with cerebral palsy, realized he needed a new tripod, he knew he could count on his friends at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals to help.
“I’ve done some physical therapy there in the past,” he wrote in an email. “Plus, I hear a lot of good things about the facility by keeping in contact [with current employees.]”
One of those contacts is Madonna Occupational Therapist Michelle Wiggins, OTD, OTR/L, ATP.
“I met him over 20 years ago when I was an OT student and working a part-time job with Region V Services,” Wiggins said. “Over the years, we’ve connected, mainly through Facebook, and I realized he had started a photography business. He takes wonderful photos. He took my family photos a few years ago.”
When Wiggins received Chad’s request for help, she suggested and then coordinated a meeting with Arash M. Gonabadi, Ph.D., Madonna’s assistant research director at the Institute. Gonabadi leads a team of engineers who can build custom devices or adaptations to existing technology to help improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. Gonabadi sat down with Chad and discussed his requirements for a replacement tripod.
“When I saw Chad with the old tripod wobbling in my first observation, I could guess the problem,” Gonabadi said. “I noticed other potential issues that Chad was unaware of, such as the height of the tripod, which was low, and he had to tilt his head/neck to take the shots.”
Within a few days, Gonabadi designed and built a tripod that could easily attach to Chad’s powerchair and steadily hold his camera. For Chad, the new tripod is everything he hoped it would be.
“The new tripod is very sturdy on my powerchair,” he said. “I can see it lasting for many years to come. It’s great having a place like Madonna right here in Lincoln. It’s a huge advantage for people with disabilities to have a place close by that offers more than just physical therapy.”