Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - entering its seventeenth 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 field trip to an accessible inclusive playground; an Assistive Technology Faire; and student project presentations and demonstrations.

Reminders for next academic year's course

Important dates:

• Monday, September 26th - First day of Fall Quarter classes
• Thursday, December 1st - Winter Quarter course enrollment opens
• Tuesday, January 10th - First class session of Perspectives in Assistive Technology

Community Attendance - Community members will be welcome to attend class sessions on campus - masking may be required.

Student Projects - I have received several student project suggestions, which I will develop into project descriptions for students to review. Community members' suggestions are solicited. (See below)

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

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. Masking during class sessions may be required for everybody.

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.

You are invited to participate in the Assistive Technology Faire - This eleventh annual course event is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28th 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 event. Browse to the Call for Assistive Technology Faire Participants webpage for more information and contact me to register.

Yahoo! has already committed to participate as a vendors this coming year. Here is the line up and slides from last year's virtual Faire.

Request for student project suggestions - Project suggestions are continuing to be solicited.

Community members are strongly encouraged to submit project suggestions for students to pursue. These suggestions must 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.) Identify and describe the challenge rather than imagining a solution. 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 Thursday, December 1st. If I accept your project suggestion, you will be invited to "pitch" it to the class on Thursday, January 12th. 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 Projects Suggestions and Project Requirements webpages.

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