Every year on December 3, the world marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), a day to celebrate inclusion, raise awareness and spotlight innovations that help make everyday life more accessible for those with disabilities. While major breakthroughs in medicine and technology often grab attention, it’s often the smaller, everyday tools that make the most practical difference in people’s lives.
For many people living with physical or motor skill challenges, even simple daily tasks can require extra effort. Something as routine as brushing your teeth - an action most of us perform without thinking - can be unexpectedly difficult. That’s why thoughtfully designed tools, like a dual-sided toothbrush developed in Spain, are helping some people with mobility challenges experience oral care with greater ease and independence.
Unlike traditional toothbrushes, this design includes two brushing surfaces to clean multiple sides of the teeth at once. The aim is not only to make brushing more efficient, but also to reduce the physical effort needed for a thorough clean. Features such as a rotating head and angled bristles help reach areas that are harder for some people to access, especially those with limited dexterity or strength.
“These brushes really help patients with mental or physical challenges to get to the areas in the mouth where traditional brushes simply can't,” explains Danette Smit, an oral hygienist working with Ivohealth, which distributes the product locally. “It’s a small change in design, but it has a huge impact on independence and oral health.”
For Alex Boettger, who lived with congenital muscular dystrophy, discovering a brush that required less fine motor control made an unexpected difference. “It was cool to be given the freedom in the small things such as brushing my teeth, and it was something I'd never even thought would have such an impact on my day, my mood and my outlook,” he said.
That sense of empowerment - being able to manage daily tasks without assistance - sits at the heart of what IDPD represents. Inclusion isn’t only about access to workplaces, schools or transport. It’s also about dignity, confidence and independence in the everyday moments that shape how we feel about ourselves.
As conversations about accessibility grow, these kinds of simple, reimagined tools are a reminder that inclusive design doesn’t always require major breakthroughs. Sometimes, meaningful change begins with the ordinary objects we use every day, and the independence they help restore.
Because for many people, the ability to manage the little things isn’t just practical - it’s deeply personal. And it’s in these everyday moments that dignity, freedom and confidence often take root.
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