Background

Virginia Bock, the Director of Communications for Stanford's Haas Center for Public Service - the organization that funds my course - asked me to contact Project Suggestors regarding their positive experiences working with student teams on their projects this past Winter Quarter. Here are two projects that Danny and his brother Stanford pursued with teams: project descriptions, photos, and Stanford's comments.

Danny's Biosketch

Danny is a wheelchair user from Los Gatos with cerebral palsy. He experiences limited upper body strength, grip & vision impairments, and diminished hand & finger dexterity. His brother, Stanford, and his service dog, Korey, provide him with excellent care and support.

Project Description - Laptray for Danny

Problem: Danny's wheelchair does not have a laptray or a place to store items such as his cell phone, clothing, wallet, and plates of food. Items placed on his lap usually fall off when he propels his wheelchair.

Aim: Explore ways for Danny to easily access and store his personal items on his wheelchair and retrieve them when they fall to the floor.

Design Criteria:

• Danny must be able to independently deploy and stow the laptray

Project Description - Dog Feeding Aid for Danny & Korey

Problem: While Danny can scoop dry food to fill his service dog's bowl, his limited upper body range of motion, weak grip strength, and impaired vision prevents him from lifting the bowl and lowering it to the floor.

Aim: Explore designs that would enable Danny to independently feed Korey.

Design Criteria:

• Easy to operate
• Will not spill Korey's food
• Not an "automatic feeding system"

Project Description - iPhone Project with Danny

Problem: Danny experiences multiple challenges using his iPhone when seated in his wheelchair including convenient storage when it isn't being used, retrieving it when he is being called or when he wishes to call someone, how best to hold and position it securely when in use, how to stow it after a call, and how to pick it up if it falls. Danny also has trouble positioning his iPhone on its wireless charger.

Aim: Explore designs that would enable Danny to independently use his iPhone.

Design Criteria:

• Easy for Danny to use when seated in his wheelchair
• Prevents iPhone from falling
• Optional recharging capability

Project Description - Water Bowl for Danny's Service Dog Korey

Problem: It is difficult for Danny to care for the water needs of his service dog, Korey. His limited upper body range of motion, weak grip strength, and impaired vision prevent him from identifying a low water level in the bowl and filling the bowl to the proper level.

Aim: Explore designs that would enable Danny to independently care for Korey's hydration needs.

Design Criteria:

• Provides an indication of a low water level condition
• Provides an indication to prevent overfilling
• Operation does not require Danny to bend over

Project Description - Belt Buckle Project for Danny

Problem: Due to Danny's vision and grip impairments, he experiences difficulties securing the "seat belt" safety restraint system on his current wheelchairs.

Aim: Explore design solutions that would make it easier for Danny to buckle himself into his wheelchairs independently.

Design Criteria:

• Easy to buckle and unbuckle
• Will not unbuckle spontaneously during wheelchair activities

Project Description - Wearable Storage Pack for Danny

Problem: Danny experiences limited upper body strength, grip and vision impairments, and diminished hand and finger dexterity. This interferes with his ability to put his phone into his existing Fanny pack. When he tries to do so, it falls on the ground. It is also difficult for him to secure and zip his existing pack.

Aim: Explore designs for a wearable storage pack that would enable Danny to independently and safely store his phone, wheelchair gloves, and other miscellaneous objects.

Design Criteria:

• Easy to put on and take off independently
• Appropriately sized opening
• Large enough to securely hold a phone, gloves, and other small objects
• Easy to open and close
• Cool looking

Project Teams

Project Photos

Images documenting these student team projects are linked here. The photos are credited to Danny's brother Stanford.

Stanford's Comments

"Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a force for good; generating forward progress for the human race and opening young minds to the possibilities of inclusion through creativity."