You’ve heard it time and again, and it is worth repeating for a reason, “The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” People born with disabilities possess a resilience and determination we can draw inspiration from. Instead of wondering constantly about how they manage and what life must be like from their perspective, we can show them just how courteous the world can be. It can be as simple as lending a hand when we encounter a disabled person in the grocery, reaching out to a student or colleague who feels uneasy about a new environment, or taking good care of a friend or family member. These small yet significant acts can create a ripple effect and impact more lives.
Natalie Bell, a mother of five, introduced an invention that she did not expect would receive so much recognition and praise. Her daughter Shae, born with moderate hearing loss, inspired the idea. By one year old, Shae had lost most of her hearing, making a cochlear implant necessary. A cochlear implant is an implant with an external portion positioned behind the ear, and another surgically placed under the skin. The small electronic device can help provide a sense of sound to those struggling with hearing loss. The implant has a small magnet which means MRI is not something a person with a cochlear implant can undergo.
As a mom who always thinks ahead, Natalie shares how she often wonders what would happen if she ever got into a car accident and her daughter was in the car with her. Anticipating the challenge her daughter and the emergency crew could possibly experience in terms of communicating, Natalie decided something had to be done.
She crafted a seat belt cover that says, “I have a cochlear implant. No MRI.”
“Because of this implant it is important she is not exposed to the magnetic field of an MRI which can do damage,” Natalie shares on Facebook. This ingenious idea was met with such a positive response by parents that Natalie was instantly flooded by orders for seat belt covers for different medical conditions.
From a brilliant idea really does come another incredible one. Her business called Personalised by Nat offers many different personalized items such as clocks for those who use sign language. However, it was her brilliant seat belt cover inventions that were the most recognized and well-received. Thanks to Natalie, parents, friends, and relatives of people with special needs don’t have to worry as much about any medical crew or rescue team being unaware of disabilities.
Overwhelmed by the recognition and the interest she received, she has since made seat belt covers for people with autism, Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, and more.
Aside from grateful parents and relatives of people with special needs, emergency responders and medical practitioners have praised her for her invention, too. The wonderful thing about her seat belt covers is that they can also be attached to backpacks, wheelchairs, and places where they can easily be spotted in case of an emergency.
It has helped raise awareness within communities, too. As a safety measure and a great way to take better care of people with special needs, Natalie’s personalized seat belts have created a wonderful change in many lives.
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