New Tools for Therapy

For Therapists Discovering Us for the First Time

Totchop is a reimagined cutting system, originally developed outside of the therapy & rehab world.  With one-handed use and up to 90% less effort vs. traditional tools, totchop fills a critical gap in therapy, rehab, classrooms, and at home. 

For OTs and PTs, our tools help clients practice and achieve ADLs safely and consistently. For SLPs, our tools support self-directed food prep, which can be useful for addressing picky eating and sequencing skills.

 

The System

A Totchop set includes a one-handed concave board + your choice of knife sharpness.  A person's ability to manage a sharp edge should not determine their ability to achieve. That’s why we engineered two edge options: a sharp edge for confident cooks and a “finger-safe” edge optimized to cut food, not skin.



young woman holding totchop knife and board
young man with down syndrome using safety knife

What Conditions can Totchop Support?

Hemiplegia / unilateral weakness

Cerebral palsy

Stroke recovery or TBI

Visual impairments or blindness

Down syndrome

Arthritis

Coordination disorders

Autism

Dysphagia / swallowing disorders

Pediatric feeding disorders

Spinal cord injuries

Limb difference or amputation

...and many more.

 

middle age woman testing finger-safe knife at an expo demonstration

 

 Why Therapists Love It

  • Safe + Productive ADL practice (low oversight)
  • Functional blades built for safety + utility
  • One-handed use with a concave, stable board
  • Easy cleaning in the dishwasher
  • Universal grip for most hands
  • Supports feeding therapy for dysphagia, oral-motor delays, or sensory aversions
  • Promotes engagement for requesting, labeling, and turn-taking during meals
  • Bite-size measuring guides for safe food sizing
  • Promotes bilateral coordination for bimanual or assistive tasks
  • Encourages participation in meal prep
  • Inclusive design powerful enough for adults and safe enough for kids
  • Supports independence at home, school, or in therapy


How It All Started

When we first launched Totchop, our goal was simple: help parents safely and quickly cut their kids’ food into bite-sized pieces (launched after a choking scare with my daughter). But like many great things, totchop’s purpose grew well beyond its original intent.

We started hearing from individuals with disabilities — and the occupational therapists (OTs) who support them — about how totchop’s ability to be used with one hand and keep food in place made it a game-changing tool for independence in the kitchen.

Then came the Disabilities Expo in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We were invited to show totchop, and the response was immediate. People with arthritis, CP, limb differences, and more lit up when they tried it. Nearly a dozen OTs stopped by our booth and offered to collaborate — giving us feedback, ideas, and validation we didn’t even know we needed. 

An OT with Riley Children's Hospital then recommended we attend the AOTA Inspire Conference in Philadelphia (April 2025), where we debuted our upcoming kids' knife. The energy at the event was electric — hundreds of OTs from across the country gave incredible insights and shared how this tool could help in classrooms, clinics, and home programs.


Stories That Drive Us

One moment I’ll never forget was during a visit to a center for the blind in Indiana. A man named Mark, blind since birth and with use of only one hand, picked up a prototype of our new kids’ knife. Using it with the totchop board, he independently diced a raw carrot — for the first time in his life. I had to pull over on the drive home, overwhelmed by what just happened.

Then there’s Hayden, a 4-year-old with cerebral palsy that affects her left hand. Her dad, Drew Valentine (head basketball coach at Loyola-Chicago), and her mom shared this with us:

“Hayden was very excited and confident to use the knife! She cut up all of her snack on her first try. It fits her hand well, there are no sharp edges, and it’s allowed her to be included in the kitchen — cutting her own berries, apples, pancakes, everything. As a mom, I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone who relies mostly on one hand — or even parents short on hands while holding a baby!”

This is exactly what we want totchop to be: a tool that brings safety, confidence, and joy into everyday routines.


What’s Next

Totchop’s journey into the disabilities space is just beginning. We’re building partnerships with therapists, universities, and disability foundations to continue improving and adapting our product line. 

Thanks for being a part of this journey — especially to the OTs, families, and individuals who’ve helped us see totchop in a whole new light.

– Matt