Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - now entering its eighteenth 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. Check out the course website.

Important Date:

• Tuesday, January 9th - First class session of Perspectives in Assistive Technology

By the Numbers:

• 12 = Guest Lecturers
• 15 = Team Projects
• 41 = Pre-Enrolled Students
• 32 = Enrolled Students
•   2 = Students on Wait List
•   2 = Confirmed Participants for Perspectives of Stanford Students and Faculty with a Disability
•   5 = Confirmed Vendors for the Assistive Technology Faire

Student Enrollment - As of today, 41 students have pre-enrolled and 32 have officially enrolled. Of those 32, 1 is a Freshman, 1 is a Sophomore, 7 are Juniors, 18 are Seniors, and 5 are Graduate students, with 24 opting to work on team projects. Enrollment is paused until another 7 students request enrollment which will result in 9 equal teams of 4 members. I expect an increase in enrollment activity as the first class session approaches.

Call for Stanford Students and Faculty with a Disability - Students and faculty are invited to participate in a panel discussion in the Week 3 class session on Tuesday, January 23rd. Several students have already agreed to 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. Please let me know if you are interested in joining the panel.

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 on campus starting with the first one next week on Tuesday, January 9th. Maps and direcrions. Masking is not required. There will not be a concurrent Zoom broadcast.

Tuesday, January 9th at 4:30pm PST

Abstract: This presentation will begin with an overview of the course including its objectives, credentials, structure, candidate projects, guest lectures, grading, and expected student experience. A brief introduction to Assistive Technology follows, touching on definitions, demographics, rehabilitation goals, perceptions, challenges, social correctness, and numerous examples of commercial products, research efforts, and past student projects.

Biosketch: David L. Jaffe holds a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a MS degree in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University.

Prior to coming to Stanford, Dave was a Research Biomedical Engineer at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System's Rehabilitation Research and Development Center. His interests there were designing, developing, testing, and bringing to market microcomputer-based devices for veterans with disabilities including communication, mobility, and information systems. He worked on several VA assistive technology research projects including an powered wheelchair interface for individuals with quadriplegia, an electro-mechanical fingerspelling hand that served as a communication device for people who are deaf/blind, a system that explored virtual reality techniques to train individuals with gait deficits to improve their walking, and a project that employed a computer-based simulation system to assess and improve the driving ability of individuals after brain injury.

In addition to organizing this course, ENGR110/210: Perspectives in Assistive Technology, he contributes to other Stanford courses including defining the quarterly course projects in ME218: Smart Product Design and ME310: Engineering Design Entrepreneurship and Innovation as well as mentoring students working on assistive technology projects throughout the year.

Thursday, January 11th at 4:30pm PST

Abstract: Candidate team projects will be "pitched" by those who suggested them. Open time at the end of the presentations will enable students pursuing projects to connect with project suggestors. A listing of the projects with links to their descriptions can be found on the Project Pitch Day webpage.

• Tuesday, January 16th - Creating Assistive Technologies - Understanding the Problem
• Thursday, January 18th - Bridging the Gap between Consumers and Products in Rehabilitation Medicine

Product manufactuers and service providers are invited to participate in the Assistive Technology Faire - This twelfth annual course event is scheduled for Thursday, February 22nd 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.

Everyone is welcome to attend this event. Here is the current line up and slides from last year's Faire.

Biosocial-Biocultural Perspectives on Disability in Education

Stanford students: Please consider signing up for this Winter Quarter course.

Stanford faculty: Please spread the word about this course to your students.

For more information about the course, check out the course brochure, read the ExploreCourses description, or contact Madison Bunderson, the Course Instructor.