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Tetra Society of North America

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Vancouver, BC
Tetra Society of North America

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Barriers faced by people with physical disabilities are caused by the landscape, not the disability. We invent unique solutions for accessibility.

To overcome barriers, we create unique gizmos and hack existing equipment.

10/13/2026

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Our client has bilateral microtia and wears a bone-anchored hearing aid on his right side. When he started wearing glasses, most of the weight landed on the bridge of his nose and to keep them secure, the frame's arms had to be bent on both sides to attach a neck strap. He reached out to Tetra Society for a custom-fitted solution.

A Tetra volunteer from our Ottawa Chapter stepped in. They contacted James Hermsen in the United States who designs plastic adaptor eyeglasses for people with microtia. Hermsen donated one of his adaptive accessories. It was made of clear, flexible tubing that loops over the top of the head and around the back, and clips onto the glasses' arms near the hinges. Our volunteer then worked with a local optometrist to get it fitted to the client's glasses, so that it did not interfere with his hearing aid.

Thanks to the support of our volunteer, our client was able to wear his glasses securely.

If you or someone you know needs a custom assistive device, please visit tetrasociety.org/solutions/assistance to learn more.

10/06/2026

Happy , everyone!

Our client was a young girl with very limited use of her arms and hands, and she needed a desk that could adjust in both height and angle. The desk had to be powered and simple enough to run with minimal hand movement. It was designed and constructed by the Cabinet Making Department of Algonquin College, but the electrical components were completed by a Tetra volunteer from our Ottawa chapter.

The desk had a large work surface and a ridge surrounding the top which prevented objects from falling off. The desktop was also cut inward, so she could pull her chair in close. On the right side of the desk, a joystick was mounted which could control the height and tilt of the desk through small linear actuators and a power source.

Thanks to the collaboration and care of everyone involved, our client was able to carry out her schoolwork with greater independence.

If you or someone you know needs a custom assistive device, please visit tetrasociety.org/solutions/assistance to learn more.

09/29/2026

Happy , everyone!

Our client enjoys playing lap steel guitar while sitting in his wheelchair. However, he had difficulty playing because the neck of the guitar was not supported. He reached out to Tetra Society for a solution.

Tetra volunteers from our Vancouver chapter quickly stepped in. They attached a wooden piece to a connector that clicks into the wheelchair’s water bottle holder slot. The piece is shaped like a T with small arms at the top, which hold the guitar neck securely. The top of the wooden piece is also lined with foam on top, protecting the guitar from any damage.

Thanks to the support of our volunteers, our client was able to play his lap steel guitar with confidence and ease.

If you or someone you know needs a custom assistive device, please visit tetrasociety.org/solutions/assistance to learn more.

09/28/2026

Our 2025 Annual Report is here!
2025 was one of the most successful years in Tetra’s history. We received 566 Requests for Assistance, the highest annual total in more than 20 years, and completed 265 custom assistive devices, the highest annual total since 2014.

Projects were supported by 278 volunteers across Canada, as Tetra continued to expand into new regions and grow its national volunteer network.

We can’t thank our volunteers, clients, donors, partners, and supporters enough for making this work possible.

Read the full 2025 Annual Report athttps://tetrasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2026/09/Tetra-Annual-Report-2025.pdf

09/22/2026

Happy , everyone!

Our client had cerebral palsy causing impaired movement, balance, and posture. This caused her to be unable to use her tricycle. Her family reached out to Tetra Society for a solution.

A Tetra volunteer, Mr. Steve, from our Edmonton chapter quickly stepped in. He added several new significant functions and features to modify the tricycle using low-cost materials such as a brake cable and 3D printed parts. This included rear steering, an easy to hold steering bar, a seat back, a harness, and wide pedals. He also tuned up the tricycle.

Thanks to the support of Mr. Steve, the young girl was able to happily use her tricycle with greater independence.

If you or someone you know needs a custom assistive device, please visit tetrasociety.org/solutions/assistance to learn more.

09/15/2026

Happy , everyone!

Our client was a senior citizen who needed to use a walker. However, she has no hands which causes her to be unable to operate the brakes. She reached out to Tetra Society for a solution.

Tetra volunteers from our Calgary chapter quickly stepped in. They modified the brakes so she could operate them using her wrist stumps instead, and tied both brakes together with a cross bar, so she could control them with just one side. Also, the walker’s original arm rests were too bulky, so volunteers built new ones from a 4-inch PVC drainpipe and then lined them with a yoga mat sponge for comfort. Nylon straps with Velcro were also added on top of the arm rests, allowing her to adjust the fit whether she was indoors or bundled up in a coat outside.

Thanks to the support of our volunteers, our client was able to safely use her walker’s brakes on her own.

If you or someone you know needs a custom assistive device, please visit tetrasociety.org/solutions/assistance to learn more.

09/08/2026

Happy , everyone!

Our client was an eight-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. She had difficulty keeping her hands inside her wheelchair while doing daily activities. Her family reached out to Tetra Society for a solution.

Tetra volunteers, Ethan Pittman and Dr. Leonard Lye from our St. John’s chapter quickly stepped in. They attached custom aluminium panels to her wheelchair using locking hinges, allowing the side panels to be closed at 0 degrees or open at 180 degrees. This allows them to be stowed when not in use.

Thanks to the support of our volunteers, the young girl was able to partake in her daily activities with her arms safely secured.

If you or someone you know needs a custom assistive device, please visit tetrasociety.org/solutions/assistance to learn more.

09/01/2026

Happy , everyone!

For this client, weakness on their left side made it difficult for their walker’s arm rest to properly support their wrist.

A Tetra volunteer created a custom padded arm rest support designed to provide the additional support they needed. The solution combines an aluminum plate, foam padding, a custom-machined bar, and a 3D-printed k**b to securely fit the client’s walker.

Need a custom assistive solution? Visit tetrasociety.org/assistance to learn more.

08/25/2026

Happy ! ☀️

For this client, spending time outdoors came with a challenge: the sun and heat could become overwhelming and affect their vision.

A Tetra volunteer created a foldable canopy that attaches to the client’s chair, providing shade when needed. Xperience Home Health Care also helped with the brackets used to attach the canopy.

A practical, custom solution designed around one person’s needs, exactly what Tetra projects are all about.

Learn more about Tetra and request assistance:
tetrasociety.org/assistance

Address

110-2285 Clark Drive
Vancouver, BC
V5N3G9

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.tetrasociety.org/

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