Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - entering its fifteenth year - that explores the design, development, and use of assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults. It consists of semi-weekly online discussions; lectures by notable professionals, clinicians, and assistive technology users; virtual tours of local medical, clinical, and engineering facilities; student project presentations and demonstrations; and a Virtual Assistive Technology Faire.

Student enrollment - Stanford students began enrolling in Winter Quarter courses on Sunday, December 6th. As of today, 39 students have signed up for this course!

Attend upcoming Zoom class sessions - Although official enrollment is required for Stanford students to receive academic credit, all the Zoom class sessions will be open to the community. You need not be a Stanford student to attend, there is no signup required, and there is no charge. The first lecture will be on Tuesday, January 12th. Zoom connection information will be posted in future newsletter issues.

You are invited to participate in the Virtual Assistive Technology Faire - This ninth annual course event is scheduled for Thursday, February 25th and 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 join in on this virtual event. Please browse to the Call for Assistive Technology Faire Participants webpage for more information and contact me to register. Each vendor will have 5 to 10 minutes of unopposed Zoom time to display, demonstrate, and discuss their assistive technology products or services. Everyone is welcome to attend the Faire. Ten vendors have signed up to participate so far.

Here is the line up and slides from last year's Faire.

Introducing Kat McNeill, Course Assistant - Kat is a coterm student in Sustainability Science and Practice and did her undergraduate degree in Computer Science. She is passionate about contributing to a socially just and environmentally stable world for everyone to live in. Kat has worked in a variety of spaces, from doing geophysics research to adventure photography to software engineering. Outside of school, she can be found rock climbing, over-caffeinating with coffee, woodworking, and generally trying out new things.

Remembering Paul Hinze - (June 20, 1965 - November 20, 2020)
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Paul Hinze. Paul was a project suggestor last academic year who worked with Paul-tography, a team of three students who addressed his desire to enjoy photography despite his quadriplegia.

I fondly recall our long meeting and discussion in Redwood City about the course and his project suggestions.

Last summer he participated in the Design the Future program at Stanford where we first met. There he coached high school students on assistive technology projects that addressed some of his challenges.

Durell Coleman, the founder of Design the Future, offered these comments:

"Our dear friend and project partner, Paul Hinze, unexpectedly passed away on Friday, November 20th, 2020. Those who knew and loved Paul know he was a warm, generous, and kind person, traits that led to volunteer work with our Design The Future program. There, he found a great deal of purpose introducing students to Human-Centered Design to help solve problems of persons with disabilities."

"Paul served as a dedicated mentor and partner to teams of high school students seeking to make the world a better place. He shared his heart, his wisdom, and by doing so, changed the lives of his students forever."

"His family and friends would like to take this opportunity to honor Paul by financially supporting his family during this difficult time. His work friends have put together a GoFundMe to help with funeral and medical expenses."

"He touched so many lives and was well-loved by people near and far. Paul will be deeply missed by the Design the Future community, is forever in our hearts, and won't be forgotten."