Development, evaluation and commercialization of assistive kitchen technology in Canada

Abstract

Currently, the standard design of most kitchens limits the usability of many kitchen functions for persons with disabilities. New technology is being developed, evaluated and commercialized in Canada to address the need to transform kitchens to full function for persons with disabilities. Researchers, Nancy Paris of BCIT and Peak Interiors, and Ryan Kanigan of Peak Interiors are developing a variety of height adjustable kitchen components to enable people with mobility impairments to access all equipment in the kitchen. Initial focus is on the development of a height adjustable island system to reduce the complexity of the renovations to existing kitchens thereby reducing the cost. Peak’s product development philosophy is anchored in a user-centered model for personal supports (the BC Coalition for People with Disabilities has developed a model for doing this called the Participation Model for Personal Supports). As such Peak has begun to import and install existing height adjustable kitchens from its manufacturing partner, Ropox A/S, from Denmark into a variety of settings in British Columbia including the Victoria Disability Resource Centre and the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre for the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD) in Vancouver. Through these facilities Peak is able to evaluate existing technology and conduct user evaluations of the technology it is developing to ensure a user centered approach is taken. This paper will outline the development, evaluation and commercialization process Peak is undergoing for its novel Cypress Kitchen Island System.