Low cost assistive technology wheelchair Trays.

About this course

“Give a man a fish and he will eat one day, teach him to fish and he will always eat” Chinese proverb.In my years designing assistive technologies, I have had different conversations with parents of severely disabled children, as well as therapists and special education teachers.They always comment on their concern about the lack of diversity of practical resources (toys, computers, utensils, etc.) which allow their children to carry out an activity independently, as well as the cost of these.This situation was enhanced by the pandemic, as students with a complex neurological disorder needed non-existent access to their computers or any information and communication technology (ICT).Making using a mouse, tablet, phone, or writing a practically Olympic challenge.Which led me to the question.What real possibilities exist for people with complex neurological disorders to have tools that allow access to information and communication technologies (ICTs)?To my surprise, there are very few.The high cost of any specialized equipment for a person with a severe disability is only equaled by the difficulties in handling it, and future abandonment by its users, by not allowing them the control and access they really need.You have seen how wheelchair trays are one of the accessories most used by people with disabilities in wheelchairs.So why not redesign them?And turn a simple table into a control for different equipment such as tablets, computers, mobiles.Remember to publish and share your projects, you can even start selling them, and count on me to advise you for free on any questions you may have.

Course objectives

• create practical designs for customized wheelchair trays
• engage with community feedback from caregivers and professionals
• implement ideas into actionable projects that can be shared or sold