COTA and OTA Students Go Viral With Heartwarming Invention
COTA Emily Sisco challenged her students to create an adaptive piece of equipment for her father. Their device made a difference in his life and has gone viral, too!
You will want to wrap someone up in a big warm hug after learning what Arkansas State University (ASU) adjunct faculty member Emily Sisco, COTA/L, and her OTA students did for her father.
Emily decided to pursue occupational therapy after her father, Kevin Eubanks, experienced a stroke in 2014. She was inspired by the therapy he received and went to ASU for her occupational therapy assistant degree. She has been certified since 2017 and is an adjunct faculty member at ASU.
Emily challenged her students to create an adaptive piece of equipment for her father. After listening to Mr. Eubanks express his desire to hug his loved ones again, the students invented the “HugAgain.” It allows Mr. Eubanks to give two-armed hugs to all his loved ones again.
Watch the video that went viral and have tissues nearby!
The students are moving forward with licensing and patenting the “HugAgain” to bring joy and hugs back to other peoples' lives.
The students also created other assistive devices for Mr. Eubanks: card holders for him to play with his grandsons, a shower shelf for independent showering, a strap for his leg to hold a fishing pole, and a fishing pole with a drill attached that helps him reel in a fish at the press of a button.
Mr. Eubanks recently visited the OTA students who made a difference in his life and said, “There is always hope and healing in this world. … I am just so thankful for everything they have done for me.” He hopes his viral video “shows other people to never give up.”
Now go hug your loved ones tight.