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:

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

Attendance - Community members will be welcome to attend class sessions on campus - masking may be required. There will not be a concurrent Zoom broadcast.

Project Solicitation - Community members' suggestions are solicited. (See below)

Course Statistics - Checkout the course website for more informations about class sessions, team and individual projects, the field trip to the Magical Bridge Playground, and the Assistive Technology Faire.

• Prospective students = 39
• Assistive Technology Faire Vendors:
  • Confirmed = 10
  • To be determined = 1
  • Last year = 8
• Team projects:
  • This year = 17 (some require confirmation)
  • Last year = 23

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 teams of 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 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 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 soon enroll in the course.

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

Here are some of the approved team projects so far:

Projects with Abby Communication Aid for Nathan Alert Project Rain Shield Project Mobile Laptop and iPad Computer Support Accessible Storage Solution Leash Project Project with Cat Bass Reduction Project Project with Mary Aesthetic Prosthetic Leg Project Project with Gary Improved Ankle Foot Orthosis Mold Projects with Olenka at the Magical Bridge Playground Accessible and Inclusive Playground Attractions (2) Projects with Danny Water Bowl for Korey Leash Project for Danny and Korey iPhone Project with Danny

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 as a vendor.

Nine vendors have committed to participate this coming year. Here is the line up and slides from last year's virtual Faire.