TRAID, Etac Turner Pro transfer A&D

Independent Perspective #1605

Guest:  Molly Snyder

Topic:  TRAID, Etac Turner Pro transfer A&D

Duration:  05:45

Published:  June 23, 2020

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today is Molly Snyder, Senior Research Support Specialist and Occupational Therapist at the University at Buffalo’s Center for Assistive Technology, and your host is yours truly, Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Molly.

Guest:  Thank you so much for having me.

Host:  It's our pleasure, and you'll be telling us about some interesting piece of assistive technology for people with particular types of disabilities. But before we get to that, you are here thanks to TRAID, if you could tell us what that stands for and what it does?

Guest:  Yes, absolutely. So TRAID stands for Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities. We are the local TRAID center here for the Western New York region. We service Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming County. In TRAID we have a variety of equipment that is available for a free loan to all members of the community in western New York. We have equipment that ranges from wheelchairs, wheelchair ramps, bathing systems, toileting assists, feeding assists, all these devices we provide a demonstration of the device and training on the device as well. And then individuals can come in and get some information about their device and then if they'd like to loan it out. They can loan that device for 60 days, there is no script required from a doctor or referral anyone from the community can come and loan these items.

Host:  That sounds like a fantastic resource for people with all kinds of disabilities. And I think you'd agree that oftentimes getting the right assistive technology can make the difference between someone successfully living independently in the place of their choice and being institutionalized so this is a very important service. But you're here, in particular today to talk about a particular transfer device. And could you explain what that does and what it is?

Guest:  Yes. So, we are always buying new technology for our community and this last device is called an Etac Turner Pro, that’s ETAC, and then Turner Pro. This device is a transferring device to help people with a variety of disabilities transfer from one surface to another, whether it be seated at the edge of the bed to a wheelchair, from the wheelchair to the commode or toilet. This device is very small, and it's lightweight, so it's compact, it's easy to set up, easy to transport. And with this device, an individual would have to have some participation in that transfer, but it is going to not only transfer the person with a disability safely, but it's also going to minimize the risk of injury for the caregiver, because that it does promote good posture for that caregiver when they are transferring the individual with a disability.

Host:  Now in the past I've seen competing devices that either say have to be mounted on the ceiling. Or else, have an absolutely huge floor base, to be able to support the weight of the individual and the apparatus, I imagine its compactness is one of the most attractive features of the Etac is it not?

Guest:  Yes, exactly. It's a very intuitive design, and it does just have a small foot plate. So it is very much so, you know, a lot smaller and easier to transfer and use especially for people that have a little don't have as much space in their living space to have a larger device, such as you know others that are out there.

Host:  Would you believe we're almost out of time if you could please tell people how they can get more information?

Guest:  Yes, so what they can do is they can call us at the office at 716-836-1350, and just let us know you're calling about a TRAID item, or they can also email us at ksnaus@buffalo.edu, that’s ksnaus@buffalo.edu, and just put TRAID in the subject area of the email.

Host: That's terrific. Thank you so much for being with us, Molly.

Guest:  Thank you so much for having me.

Host:  You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a Public Affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today was Molly Snyder, Senior Research Support Specialist and Occupational Therapist with the University at Buffalo’s Center for Assistive Technology, and your host was yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.