How to Build a Camera Mount for the Disabled

With a specially built camera mount, people with disabilities can take high-quality photos.

Tripods can be awkward or even impossible for a person in a wheelchair to carry around, depending on the type and extent of the disability. The biggest problem is often how to hold the camera steady to avoid blur, especially for sports shots or still-life images in low light. Though some adjustments may need to be made, you can construct a camera mount that attaches directly to a wheelchair and works for the majority of wheelchair designs.

Things You'll Need

• Extruded aluminum profile, 1-by-1-by-4 feet
• 4 to 6 matching slot nuts
• 6 to 8 matching machine screws
• 6 to 8 matching washers
• Drill with metal drill bit matching screws
• Monitor arm with 2 joints and wall mount
• Camera mount
• Metal file

Instructions

1. When purchasing the monitor arm, be sure that it moves only horizontally and not vertically. It needs to have two to three joints, and be approximately one arm in length. An example of this is the Ergotron 200 Series Wall Mount Arm.

2. Look for an area on the left side of the wheelchair that does not interfere with the wheels or seat movement. The extruded aluminum profile needs to go on the left side, because the right side of the camera contains the shutter. Ideally, it should be parallel with the user's elbow. Usual places for attaching it are the arm rest or chassis.

3. Attach the extruded aluminum profile. Drill two to four holes in the chassis or armrest holder, so the user is able to reach through the chassis or armrest holder into the slot nuts. The holes should be at least three inches apart. Insert the slot nuts into the groove of the extruded aluminum profile, and attach the rod to the wheelchair.

4. Attach the monitor arm to the aluminum profile using two slot nuts and two machine screws and washers. Make sure that the arm is pointed toward the front.

5. Remove the end piece from the monitor arm and discard. If the remaining end of the monitor arm is not flat, file it down until it is, so it creates a suitable mounting surface for the camera mount.

6. Take a camera mount, preferably with a ball-head -- or take apart the top of an old tripod and use that -- and attach it to the end piece of the monitor arm by drilling two holes in the end and attaching the camera mount with matching machine screws and washers.

7. Attach the camera to the camera mount, get in the wheelchair or have the user do so, and adjust the arm in height so the user is comfortably able to look through the viewfinder.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the strength of the camera mount you choose is sufficient to hold the weight of the camera, along with telephoto or wide-angle lenses, if necessary.

• If the user is able to move one of her hands, you might wish to attach a long cable release for taking the picture, so she doesn't have to raise her entire arm.

• Ready-made options are available from many manufacturers that can be attached to the camera to enable full use of the camera's functions if the user is unable to do so without assistance.

References

• AbleData: Your source for assistive technology information
• Rolling F-Stop: Camera Mount for Wheelchair Photography

Resources

• "Spinal Network: The Total Wheelchair Resource Book"; Jean Dobbs; 2009