Developing Assistive Technology - H79.2446/E40.2900 Thursdays 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Instructors: Anita Perr and Marianne R.Petit
Description: This multi-disciplinary course allows students from a variety of backgrounds to work together to develop assistive technology. Partnering with outside organizations students will work in teams to identify a clinical need relevant to a certain clinical site or client population, and learn the process of developing an idea and following that through to the development of a prototype product. Teams will be comprised of ITP students as well as graduate rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy students. Prerequisites (for ITP students): Intro to Computational Media and Intro to Physical Computing
Relationship to Curriculum Design
This elective is designed to provide students the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary groups and to build skills in communication, critical thinking, and product development.
Course Objectives
At the completion of this course, students will:
- demonstrate an understanding of the process of developing assistive technology
- be able to assess the clinical site or client population to identify a need for an assistive device
- demonstrate an understanding of the roles of the professionals involved in developing and using assistive technology
- develop a prototype device for a clinical setting
- demonstrate the ability to communicate with co-workers from various fields
- demonstrate critical thinking in researching solutions to clinical problems
Note: We will be collaborating with Downtown Community Television's ConnecTV? project. Program participants will document your process in developing devices/technologies.
Outline of course content
- Week 1 - Thurs. Sept. 9:
- Introduction to course and student introductions
- In-class exercises - disability awareness and sensitivity training.
- Assignment:
- Fill out the Everyday use of technology chart. Take one item from the chart and design it from scratch, taking into consideration how it would accomodate all needs. (due one week)
Resources that may be helpful:
- The Center for Universal Design
- Half the planet. org
- Enabling Devices
- Microsoft's Acessibility Technology for Everyone
- Apple Accessibility
*Site visits:
- Thurs. 9/16 12:30-1:30 pm and Sat. 9/18 Time TBA: SPOTS (http://www.spotsot.com/)
- Wed 9/22 9:30 a.m.: McCarton? School (http://www.mccartonschool.org/)
- day/time/location/tba: New York Foundling Hospital (http://www.nyfoundling.org/)
Write 1 page reaction paper - identify problems you may see (due two weeks - be prepared to discuss)
- Week 2 - Thurs. Sept. 16:
- Lecture: Disabilities and function needs - wheelchair skills (meet in OT dept - 35 West 4th street, 11th floor) (ITP Students)
- Shop Safety - basic electronics (OT Students)
- Review redesign assignments
Assignment:
- Site visits:
- Thurs. 9/16 12:30-1:30 pm and Sat. 9/18 Time TBA: SPOTS (http://www.spotsot.com/)
- Wed 9/22 9:30 a.m.: McCarton? School (http://www.mccartonschool.org/)
- day/time/location/tba: New York Foundling Hospital (http://www.nyfoundling.org/)
Write 1 page reaction paper - identify problems you may see (due 1 week - be prepared to discuss)
- Week 3 - Thurs. Sept. 23:
- Molds (ITP Students)(meet in OT dept - 35 West 4th street, 11th floor)
- Microcontrollers (OT Students) (meet at ITP)
- Lecture: Disabilities and Function Needs: computer technology
- Discussion: Site Visits/Identification of problems and needs.
- Assignment: Come in with three ideas. Use a simple design concept format to present your idea. Be prepared to discuss in class.
- Week 4 - Thurs. Sept. 30:
- Discussion - Research, literature, and what else is on the market
- Guest Lecture: Lindsay Britchkow (SPOTS) - Pediatrics and Development
- Formulation of Groups/Brainstorming session.
- Assignment: Group contact site/meeting -- develop concept presentation. Begin project documentation site/journal. (be prepared to present in class 1 week)
- Week 5 - Thurs. Oct. 7:
- Group presentations of needs assessment/preliminary concept presentations
- Assignment: Based on class critique, begin refining project proposal
- Week 6 - Thurs. Oct. 14:
- Guest Presenters: Michael Luck Schneider and Christine Brumback
- Group presentations of concept refinements/sketches
- Assignment: Continue working on project
- Week 7 - Thurs. October 21:
- Class off-site: Meeting at the Adaptive Design Association (http://www.adaptivedesign.org)
class start time 7 pm. 98 Riverside Drive (entrance on 82nd street, basement) phone: 212-496-2455
- Assignment: Continue working on project
- Week 8 - Thurs. October 28:
- Mid-Term Presentation: a working prototype
- Week 9 - Thurs. Nov. 4:
- Lecture: Design & Manufacturing principles
- Guest speaker: Dr. Steven Kanor (http://www.enablingdevices.com)
- Assignment: Continue working on project
- Week 10 - Thurs. Nov. 11:
- Low Vision/Blindness: Tour of Bobst facilities by Tom McNulty?
The Adaptive Technology Rooms are on Lower Level 1 of Bobst Library. Take the elevator to floor "B" -- the rooms are right next to the elevator.
- In-progress presentations by groups
- Assignment: Continue working on project
- Week 11 - Thurs. Nov. 18:
- Presentations to outside evaluators
- No Class: Thanksgiving Recess
- Week 12 - Thurs. Dec. 2:
- Lecture: History/Legislation (notes)
- Excerpts: "Unforgotten: 25 years after Willowbrook" and "Vital Signs: Crip Culture Talks Back"
- Week 13 - Thurs. Dec 9:
- Continued work/discussion of projects and testing
- Discussion: Professional organizations - Grants & Funding (notes)
- Week 14 - Thurs. Dec 16:
- Final presentation of products to class and clinical site contacts
(includes final document - online journal, process documentation, literature review, visual documentation)
- End-of-Semester Show: Projects will also be presented at the end-of-semester show (Sunday, December 19th, Monday, December 20th)
Readings: Weekly articles of interest and assigned chapters. Recommended readings: "Assistive Technology for Rehabilitation Therapists" by Jennifer Angelo, Shelly Lane, Shelly J. Lane, F.A. Davis Company, 1999. "Assistive Technology: Matching Device and Consumer for Successful Rehabilitation", by Marcia J. Scherer, American Psychological Association (APA), 2002
URLS of Interest
Major teaching-learning activities, assignments, and/or projects
The major learning activity is the design and fabrication of a device (piece of equipment, software, etc.) that meets a specific need for a specific person with a disability of a clinic that treats clients with disabilities or a category of people with similar needs as a result of their disability. Students will be required to present their progress at regular times to their classmates. They will report the results of their needs assessment, research regarding the problem, and the development process.
- To develop skills and foster a shared vocabulary necessary to communicate with team members, co-workers, and clients from different fields who may have different goals.
- To complete a needs assessment of a site or individual.
- To develop skills necessary in the identification of needs and in the research of possible solutions to clinical problems. This includes: the evaluation of products currently available, the analysis of their appropriateness and applicability, and the determination of alternative technologies or modifications necessary.
- To develop an understanding of disability and function, and to understand the impact of technology of the therapeutic process.
- To understand the iterative process of design which requires adaptability and change.
- To understand the practical issues surrounding the design of a technology solution (i.e. production schedule and budget issues)
http://www.mariannepetit.com -- it's all there ...