Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - now anticipating its twelfth year - that explores the design, development, and use of assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults. It consists of semi-weekly classroom discussions; lectures by notable professionals, clinicians, and assistive technology users; tours of local medical, clinical, and engineering facilities; student project presentations and demonstrations; an assistive technology faire; and a film screening. Organization of the coming year's course is underway, with the first class session in January.

Student Enrollment - The class capacity has been reached after just two days of enrollment! Forty-three students have now signed up to take the course.

Approved Student Project Suggestion - One new project suggestion has been received, reviewed, and approved as a candidate project for the coming academic year: Creative Expression for Danny.

Last call for student project suggestions - If you eagerly anticipate looming deadlines, this is your time - the last call for student project suggestions.

At the minimum, submit a one-sentence statement describing the problem. The most important requirements are: 1) the availability of a local person with a disability or older adult who would benefit, 2) no risk of harm or injury to the user, 3) a suitable solution isn't already commercially available, and 4) the suggested project must be of a suitable scale, size, and complexity. Here is the entire list of requirements.

You may also refer to previous newsletter issues which described the benefits of and process for submitting a student project suggestion, addressed the broad requirements of those projects, explained the suggestion format, and focused on the specific activities that lead to a project suggestion. Also see the Call for Team Projects Suggestions webpage for more information.

The deadline is Friday, December 1st. If your project is accepted, you can "pitch" it to the class on Thursday, January 11th. If a student team selects it, you will then have the opportunity to offer them advice, direction, and expertise in person, by phone, and/or by email.

You are invited to participate in the Assistive Technology Faire - This sixth annual course event will 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 me 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 will start at 4:30pm on Thursday, March 1st just outside the classroom, Thornton 110.

Here are Dave's and Arne's photos from last year's Faire.

Would you like to attend one or more course lectures? - Although official enrollment is required for Stanford students to receive academic credit, all classroom lectures are open to the greater Stanford community. You need not be a Stanford student to attend, there is no signup required, and there is no charge. Here is the lecture schedule.