The Limburg University Fund, the charitable foundation of Maastricht University, will participate for the third year in the charity run ‘Zweit Veur Leid’. This charity run seeks to help patients to cope with pain and suffering, or even to prevent these ailments. The Limburg University Fund will work up a sweat for the project ‘Therapeutic Toys for Disabled Kids’. Please sign up via the registration form. Cost: €25 (staff), including a professional running shirt and a drink. Will you run with us for a good cause? In addition to getting much needed exercise after the holidays, you’ll experience a lovely course through the city centre of Maastricht where you’ll be cheered on by a lively crowd and with good music. This nice, athletic event where students, staff and alumni unite for a good cause will cost you only €25, and includes a professional running shirt and a drink.
To be sure that you’re supporting our specific charity, please sign up using the Limburg University Fund registration form. Register for a sporty (walking or running) beginning to 2015 and contribute simultaneously to the quality of life of these children! If you’re not able to participate in the run but want to support this good cause, you can do so by contacting Sandra van den Tillaard, via or telephone +31 (0)43 388 2791.
“Therapeutic Toys for Disabled Kids”
In Limburg alone, hundreds of children lack coordination in one or both arms and/or hands as a result of a congenital disability (e.g. spasticity), lack of oxygen at birth, a traffic accident or a serious illness. This means that they struggle with everyday activities, such as lifting a cup, putting on a sweater, zipping up a jacket, buttoning trousers or handling cutlery at a meal.
During rehabilitation, these movements are practised to help develop strength and precision. Direct and positive feedback along with how long a child trains are important predictors of results. With limited usability of a hand or arm, performing these tasks is often associated with failure, negative feedback, and a very limited number of attempts. Ordinary materials (e.g. cups, zips) are still too heavy and too complex to be used adequately in therapy.
Therefore, Maastricht University, with a team headed by Professor Rob Smeets, wants to develop therapeutic toys that meet the requirements for successful treatment. The team will also focus on efficiency in respect to the number of patients that can be treated, the effectiveness of the treatment, and different uses of the toys, looking at for instance direct feedback, connection to a display screen, and usability for coaching.
These toys will give more young patients the opportunity to practise movements successfully at an early stage and in a fun way. With optimal treatment in terms of time and effectiveness, this will help them work towards gaining more independence. It will also allow them to briefly practise important fundamental skills every day, in the comfort of their own homes and at the rehab centre.
