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ATLAS

Assistive
Technology 
Laboratory
at
Stanford

 
 
Technology and design benefitting individuals with disabilities and older adults in the local community
January 22, 2016    
2 columns of images relating to assistive technology
Perspectives is the newsletter of the Stanford course,
Perspectives in Assistive Technology.

This issue invites you to attend the next class session and
encourages your participation in the course's assistive technology faire.

Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - now in its tenth year - that explores the design, development, and use of assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults. The schedule consists of semi-weekly classroom discussions; lectures by notable professionals, clinicians, and assistive technology users; tours of local medical, clinical, and engineering facilities; an assistive technology faire; and a film screening.

Next class session - Tuesday, January 26th at 4:30pm (new starting time):

photo of Barbara Beskind


A Personal and Historical Perspective on Creative Thinking and Design with a Focus on Seniors
Barbara Beskind

Abstract: An appreciation for a longitudinal point of view enriches one's understanding of past, current, and future design and technological needs. Designing for the senior and/or visually impaired population can be complex, challenging, and ever so gratifying when you can improve their personal safety, independence in life skills and joy of life.

Biosketch: Barbara Knickerbocker Beskind is a designer and internationally recognized pioneer in the field of occupational therapy. Barbara graduated from the Home Economics School of Syracuse University with a BS in Applied Arts and Design in 1945. She trained as an occupational therapist through the US Army’s War Emergency Course during World War II and served for 20 years, retiring as a major in 1966. She went on to found the Princeton Center for Learning Disorders, one of the first independent private occupational therapy practices in in the US. She is the author of a clinical textbook on occupational therapy and holds a patent for inflatable equipment that helps children improve their balance. In 1973, the American Occupational Therapy Association honored Barbara as a Charter Fellow in recognition of her innovative therapeutic techniques.

In January 2013, Barbara saw IDEO founder David Kelley speak on 60 Minutes about the importance of cultivating a diversity of experience among team members developing new products and services. Barbara wrote to the company, offering to help IDEO design for an aging population. She soon began working in IDEO’s Bay Area offices and has been directly involved with client projects related to contact lenses, health care delivery, and retirement home services.

Attend a lecture - Course lectures will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:50pm and are open to the greater Stanford community. You are most welcome to sit in on class sessions that interest you. You need not be a Stanford student and there is no required signup, enrollment, or charge. The class will meet in a large, tiered, accessible classroom on campus in the Thornton Center, adjacent to the Terman Fountain and near the Roble Gym, the same venue as last year. Here are the parking options, maps, and directions to the classroom.

clip art of a lecture

Did you miss a lecture? - Course lectures are posted on YouTube. To find the links, browse to the Lecture Schedule webpage, scroll down and click on the lecture of interest. Near the bottom of the page you will see the Lecture Material section which has links to the slides, photos, weblinks, and lecture video.

clip art of a student missing hi sbus

Participate in the Assistive Technology Faire - This fourth annual course event will once again provide an opportunity for students and community members to get an up-close look at a variety of assistive technology devices and learn about available services. Users of assistive technology products as well as small companies and agencies serving individuals with disabilities and older adults are encouraged to bring assistive technology devices and information to display, demonstrate, and discuss. Please browse to the Call for Assistive Technology Faire Participants webpage and contact the course instructor if you would like to be a part of this event as a user or vendor of assistive technology products or services. Everyone is welcome to attend the Faire.

The Faire starts at 4:30pm on Thursday, February 4th just outside the classroom, Thornton 110.

Here are photos from last year's event.

clip art of a faire
Upcoming class sessions:

Would you like to support the course? - Funding in any amount for the course and student projects is always welcomed. Monetary gifts support approved project expenses, administrative costs, honoraria for guest lecturers, and the end-of-term celebration. Refer to the Team Project Support webpage for more information.

Do you have a question, comment, or suggestion? - If you have general questions, comments, or suggestions about the course, David L. Jaffe, MS, the instructor, can be reached by email or at 650/892-4464. Thank you again for your interest in the course.

Dave

3 rows of images of course presenters and community members

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