Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - entering its sixteenth year - that explores the design, development, and use of assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults. It consists of semi-weekly in-person discussions; lectures by notable professionals, clinicians, and assistive technology users; a tour of an accessible inclusive playground; student project presentations and demonstrations; and an Assistive Technology Faire.

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

The course is in need of additional candidate projects for students to pursue. You are strongly encouraged to submit project suggestions that address a real challenge experienced by an individual with a disability or older adult who lives in the local community that is not adequately served by existing commercial products. (Perform an internet search to verify this.) Your project suggestions should target challenges including performing tasks such as working, learning, moving, communicating, accessing home products (including computers), and daily living activities such as cooking, cleaning, creative expression, and pursuing happiness. Project suggestions that explore design concepts that improve diagnosis, therapy, and rehabilitation are also welcomed.

Identify and describe the challenge rather than imagining a solution. At the minimum, submit a one-sentence description of the problem. The most important requirements are: 1) the availability of a local person with a disability or older adult who would benefit and work with the student team, 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 an appropriate scale, size, and complexity.

Please do this as soon as possible so I'll have adequate time to consider all submissions, edit approved entries, and post them. The deadline is Wednesday, December 1st. If I accept your project suggestion, you will be invited to "pitch" it to the class on Thursday, January 6th. If a student team selects it, you will have the opportunity to offer your advice, direction, and expertise in person, by phone, and/or by email. For more information refer to the Call for Project Suggestions webpage.

You can view the current candidate Team and Individual project descriptions.

Your contributions and participation will be much appreciated by me and the students who will enroll in the course.

This course relies on community involvement,
so please suggest a project based upon an identified problem or challenge.

Perspectives of Stanford students with a Disability - Several students have agreed to participate in a panel discussion in the class session on Tuesday, January 18th. They will talk about their disabilities, the challenges they have faced, why they chose to attend Stanford, their academic and career goals, and the assistive technology they employ to be successful students.

Haas Center for Public Service - Cardinal Course Grant - I am pleased to announce that my Cardinal Course Grant proposal request was approved. The grant will fund honoraria for some guest lecturers, supplies and materials for student projects, and general course expenses.

Guest Lecturer Schedule - The schedule of guest lecturers has been finalized. For more information about each presenter and their topic, browse to the course lecture schedule webpage. Community members are welcome to attend class sessions, but will have to attest to being vaccinated or receiving a negative COVID test result. Masking during class sessions may be required for everybody.

Important Dates

• Wednesday, December 1st - Winter Quarter student enrollment opens
• Tuesday, January 4th - First class session of Perspectives in Assistive Technology

Updated website - The course website has been updated for this coming academic year. Major changes have been made to the syllabus and project assignments.

The Palo Alto Art Center is pleased to present The Art of Disability Culture: Artists with Disabilities Dispelling Myths, Dissolving Barriers, and Disrupting Prejudice. At the heart of this exhibition is a robust celebration of the diverse, personal, and infinitely varied “disability experience".

Each of the twenty artists featured has one or more disabilities, whether visible or invisible, and the exhibition centers upon their creativity, vulnerability, and unique perspectives. The exhibition celebrates how disability culture can strengthen our communities through the practices of interdependence, accessibility, and inclusion.

The Art of Disability Culture exhibition features numerous accessibility components to ensure that the broadest possible audience can experience the exhibition and related programs. Audio descriptions are available for all works of art on view and are also accessible on the website. Braille labels and audio descriptions are also available for visitors. Public programs include sign language interpretation and live captioning.