In adapted physical education, making equipment accessible and supportive for students with diverse needs is essential. One recent setup shows how everyday tools can be adapted to create new opportunities for skill development.
This custom pickleball launcher uses a SHELANDY Powerful Motorcycle & Car Dryer, originally designed for auto detailing, combined with a Franklin Sports Pickleballl Hopper Tube. The tube is attached directly to the end of the dryer’s flexible hose, so the air pushes the ball down the transparent tube. Students can see the ball move through the tube, adding a visual component that helps with tracking and engagement.
Because the dryer’s body can be placed farther away using the 14-foot hose, this setup reduces noise around students, which can be helpful for those who are noise-sensitive. Compared to using a leaf blower, this version is much quieter, although it is also less powerful.
Assistive technology is included to make the launcher accessible:
- PowerLink and switches allow students to control the air flow easily.
- Some custom switches were made by gluing a pickleball onto a jelly switch, giving a larger surface area for activation.
- A wobble switch paddle was added so students can activate the launcher by holding the handle, which is also good for practicing grip skills.
- A pickleball attached to a gooseneck wobble switch is dangled from above, allowing students to hit the ball from underneath, adding another engaging way to interact with the setup.
The launcher is mounted on a custom-built ALLPLAY frame, which supports the hose and tube. Since this frame is not commercially available, anyone interested would need to build their own.
This project shows how adapted equipment can make activities like pickleball more accessible, helping students participate in ways that fit their abilities and support their development.
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