Abstract: A semi-flexible gripping aid is provided whereby a person with a manual or digital disability, such as an arthritis victim, can grasp a large, semi-flexible body which in turn captures a thin instrument such as a knife or fork, pen or pencil, or toothbrush. The semi-flexible body in its preferred form is hinged to define two half shells which clamshell together around the handle of a knife or fork or the like, there being predefined channels along the meeting plane of the half shells in which the instrument is captured. For those having insufficient manual and digital dexterity to grip even the large body of the gripping aid, a strap is provided which passes behind the palm to secure the body to the hand, making the aid usable even though the hand is virtually totally immobilized, or is missing fingers.