What is it?

A larger or differently-shaped handle that provides a better grip, or a grip you slide onto the handle or pencil.

Where is it found?

You can put adapted handles on lots of different things—paintbrushes, shakers/drumsticks, puppets, etc.

How do I use it?

You can buy large-handle instruments and artist tools, or you can make your own. Having this option available to anyone can make it less stigmatizing than only using it with one student.

DIY Hack

Put pipe isolation over drumsticks, add clay, adhesive foam, or a foam hair curler to a pencil, or cut a hole in a tennis ball and add it to the end of a paintbrush. Another option would be to use Theraband tubing, which can be stuck on anything that needs a built-up handle. It’s fairly inexpensive to buy, and comes in different thicknesses.

Adapt your own art tools with tips from the UK Royal Academy.