When Kerry Mellin was cleaning the barn at her ranch back in 2014, she grabbed the broom and began to sweep, but her weak thumbs were too painful to continue. As a lifelong cowgirl it shocked her to think that simply sweeping out her own barn may become a thing of the past. She grabbed some duct tape, made a loop across the broom’s handle and slipped her hand inside. It surprised her how effortless it felt having this little bit of support over the back of her hand, which allowed her to maintain control of the broom with minimal grip and to sweep pain-free.
The idea was born to create EazyHold, an affordable general use strap that helps people accomplish daily activities independently despite physical conditions or disabilities impacting their grip strength. Kerry founded the company together with her sisters Merrily and Wendy.
EazyHold’s flexible cuffs attach securely to any kind of tool and allow children and adults with grip disabilities, limb loss, spinal cord injuries and other serious conditions, to hold eating utensils, cups, pens, toothbrushes, art implements, musical instruments, toys and more. EazyHold is the first adaptive cuff that can be used in hospitals and schools, because it is made of 100 percent hygienic silicone and does not transfer bacteria. It is soft, flexible, hypoallergenic and latex free.
Today, EazyHold supplies cuffs to over 4,000 schools, hospitals and therapy centers; donates them to special needs foundations; and lends them to libraries. The company provided tools for the Victoria Society for Children with Autism, The PACER Center, Easterseals and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. The company also attends and provides adaptive tools for the No Barriers Summits, which bring together people with special needs and disabilities, who wish to learn sports.
