ENGR110/210: Perspectives in Assistive Technology

Winter Quarter 2022

Perspectives in Assistive Technology
ENGR110/210

David L. Jaffe, MS
Lathrop Library Classroom 282
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:30pm PST

Lectures

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Week 3

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Week 10

Tue

Tuesday, January 18th

Perspectives of Stanford Students and Faculty with a Disability
Cricket Bidleman, Mary Cooper, Tilly Griffiths, Gene Kim, Bhavya Shah, Erik Sibley

Abstract: In this panel discussion, several Stanford students and faculty with disabilities will discuss their disabilities, the challenges they have faced, why they chose to attend Stanford, their academic and career goals, the resources Stanford provides them, and the assistive technology they employ to be successful students and productive faculty members.

Confirmed Panelists for 2022:

Cricket Bidleman
Cricket Xiao Jiu Bidleman is a graduate student in Journalism who is a passionate disability advocate deeply concerned with accessibility and disability justice. She hopes to pursue a career combining activism and journalism to improve the rights of people with a disability and others belonging to marginalized groups. Cricket writes for The Stanford Daily and is a podcaster, musician, techie, and baker.

Mary Cooper
Mary Kate Cooper is a Senior pursuing degrees in Aerospace Engineering & Computer Science. She is a member of Pi Beta Phi, an official Stanford tour guide, and a member of the Division 1 reigning Lightweight National Champion Rowing team. As a below-the-knee amputee, life has naturally pushed Mary to think outside the box. She is the proud owner of several high-performance, light-weight carbon fiber legs and believes being an amputee has given her a unique perspective and helped shape her problem-solving skills. Most recently, Mary was part of a Zero Gravity flight to research accessible space flight solutions called Mission AstroAccess. Looking forward, she would like to be a ParaAstronaut while lowering the barrier to entry for human spaceflight.

Tilly Griffiths
Tilly Kennedy Griffiths is an international student from the United Kingdom and is a junior pursuing a double-major in Political Science and Communication. Shortly following her first birthday, Tilly was diagnosed with a neuromuscular condition called Spinal Muscular Atrophy (Type II), meaning she is a full-time power wheelchair user and relies on physical support with all aspects of daily life. However, since the age of 12 she aspired to cross the Atlantic and attend university in California, and her participation in the Sutton Trust US Programme for low-income, high-achieving students brought her to Stanford. She is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities, so far raising in excess of $7 million to ensure that young people can access the best wheelchairs to help them achieve their goals, and on campus she serves as the ASSU Director of Disability Advocacy. Tilly has written extensively for The Stanford Daily on issues relating to accessibility and inclusion since her freshman year, and continues to highlight the experiences of the disability community on campus as an opinion columnist.

Gene Kim
Gene Sung-Ho Kim is a Junior exploring Symbolic Systems, Creative Writing, and Mechanical Engineering as potential areas of study. Due to a genetic retinal detachment condition, he gradually lost his sight while growing up, and became completely blind during his sophomore year of high school. Although challenging at times, alternative approaches to engaging with the world has enabled him to serve as a summer camp counselor, learn how to speed-solve Rubik's cubes, compete in the National Japan Bowl competition, and pursue his other academic and personal interests. Currently, he serves as secretary for the California Association of Blind Students (affiliated with the National Federation of the Blind of California), which is an activism and support community. For the future, he is interested in helping pioneer new assistive technologies to increase the scope and quality of accessible living for those who are impaired.

Bhavya Shah
Bhavya Ashush Shah is a Sophomore at Stanford studying Mathematical and Computational Science with interests in education, disability studies, and oral communication. He is an active member of Stanford's Debate Society and Ethics Bowl teams. Outside of academics, he enjoys watching Indian standup comedy, having meaningful conversations, and eating spicy food.

Eric Sibley, MD, PhD
Dr. Eric Sibley is a pediatric gastroenterologist affiliated with multiple hospitals, including Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford and Stanford Health Care - Stanford Hospital. He received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University and has been in practice for more than 25 years.

Cancelled Panelist:

Kevin Mintz
Kevin Todd Mintz received his PhD from the Department of Political Science here at Stanford University in 2019 under the supervision of Debra Satz. He also holds an AB in Government from Harvard College, an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Doctorate of Human Sexuality from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. Prior to returning to Stanford, Kevin was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health. His research focuses on disability bioethics, research ethics, business ethics, and the degree to which genetics should be used to construct social or political identities. His work has appeared in a variety of academic journals and newspapers, including Pediatrics, the Hastings Center Report, and the Los Angeles Times.

Lecture Material:: Pre-Lecture Slides - 989 Kb pdf file; Eric Sibley's Slides - 1.75 Mb pdf file

Links:

Disabled at Stanford - 1982

Office of Accessible Education Links:

Office of Accessible Education Video: Welcome to Stanford University

Guide to the Office of Accessible Education

Office of Accessible Education helps students with disabilities realize their full potential