In partnership with the International Academy of Hope (IHope), a specialized private school in New York focused on providing education for students (aged 5-21) with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and multiple disabilities. Assistive technologies (AT) are devices used to maintain or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. However, commercial ATs are often overpriced and rigid in their design. Creating customized ATs typically requires specialized knowledge and expertise in both fabrication and software. However, many occupational therapists (OTs) lack formal training in this area. The project explored opportunities in practitioner-led adaptive switch design with support from both AI and HCI professionals. Ultimately, our project determined a number of design ideas for how this partnership and practitioner-first adaptive switch design process should be handled and improved in the future.
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This study explores wearable video game interaction for players with upper limb motor disabilities. The goal of the wearable is to move interaction away from fine motor movement in the hands and fingers, and instead focus on gross motor movement. From design inception to construction the process was conducted collaboratively with participants with disabilities. After initial usability testing and changes made to the design based on participant feedback, the next phase of research focuses on how the process of building the wearable through tutorials can be made more inclusive. This study adopts a “do-it-together” approach to making, adapting the at-home and easy approachability of “do-it-yourself” making methods but adding an explicit focus on working together and sharing knowledge to recognize the interdependence that creates access.