The Desktop Desk is an assistive device which has created new opportunities for students with disabilities. An adaptable and portable work surface, the Desktop Desk increases opportunities for students with disabilities by providing greater access to table surfaces. The desk has been used by students with cerebral palsy, autism, visual impairments, and spinal injuries.
Robert Mayben, a special education teacher from Sonora,
Calif., originally came up with the concept for the assistive device for a
student of his with cerebral palsy.
Neil had trouble functioning
independently in the classroom due to his wheelchair and limited motor skills. Mayben’s
adaptable desk changed all that. Mayben fondly remembers the day he brought the
desktop desk prototype to the classroom for Neil to use, calling the day “one
of the best in my teaching career.”
Simple Assitive Technology Best
Typically, theDesktop Desk will need to be set up by a
teacher, aide, or fellow student, although Mayben noted some students with
autism have been able to set up the desks themselves. The adaptable desk takes
a little over a minute to put in place. The adjustable height and angle of the
desk grants the student more ability to function, while the portability of the
device allows the desk to easily be used in classrooms, cafeterias, and homes.
The assistive device operates similarly to a dry erase board, with users manipulating markers and erasers. Cleaning is easy with any standard countertop cleaner.
