Spoon with thumb and index finger support from a set of Dining with Dignity cutlery. By Dining with Dignity, Virginia, United States, 2013

Dining with Dignity was founded by chef Bob Bayton in 2002. A year earlier a car accident left him paralysed from the chest down. After 6 months in rehabilitation, he began developing the cutlery after not being able to eat independent using assistive devices that were available. With his friend Joe Janes who had contacts in the metal industry, Bob designed the easy to hold and adjustable cutlery. Each utensil can be adapted depending on a person’s grip and strength.

The tools were first shown at the American Occupational Therapy Association in 2003 and were awarded a patent in January 2005.