Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - entering its nineteenth 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. Students pursue team-based projects that address real challenges faced by people with disabilities and older adults living in the local community. Check out the course website.

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. Maps and direcrions. Masking is not required. There will not be a concurrent Zoom broadcast.

Tuesday, February 25th at 4:30pm PST

Abstract: Peter will speak about the difference between Universal, Adaptable, and Adaptive design. Peter was the first undergraduate using a wheelchair for mobility to live on the Stanford campus in 1976 when accessibility issues were just beginning to be addressed. Those experiences and the desire to participate in the same physical activities as every other college student who had professional and recreational interests shaped his career as a designer. Peter will share how his interests spawned the creation of Beneficial Designs, Inc to support the development of personal, activity specific and environmental technologies for people of all abilities. His experience in obtaining Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants to develop and functionally assess products, services, and the designs of outdoor environments, has provided many opportunities for he and his staff to change the way people with impairments of all kinds are able to participate in all aspects of life activity. His company works toward universal access through research, design, and education to enable persons of all abilities to participate in the physical, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of life.

Biosketch: Peter Axelson is a rehabilitation engineer who sustained a spinal cord injury in a 1975 climbing accident while in the Air Force Academy. He continued his education at Stanford University, where he began applying engineering and design principles to overcome daily living hurdles faced by people with disabilities. In 1981 he founded Beneficial Designs, Inc. an engineering design firm dedicated to designing, developing, and testing assistive technologies. His accomplishments include developing the first chairlift-compatible mono-ski with a shock absorber, working to establish wheelchair testing standards, improving seating systems for wheelchairs, and creating a system to assess trails that will improve access to outdoor trails for people of all abilities.

Peter is the founder and the Director of Research and Development of Beneficial Designs and spends much of his time traveling throughout the world attending meetings and presenting his work. He's also a pilot and avid mono-skier.

Thursday, February 27th at 4:30pm PST

Abstract: "Inspired by my late grandmother who had Alzheimer's Disease, I created Eatwell, a tableware set to help people with cognitive impairments increase their food intake. After years of research and development, the Eatwell set won first place in the 2014 Stanford Design Challenge in a competition with 52 other teams from 15 countries and has continued to receive extremely positive feedback from caregivers from different states across the country, and even internationally. I will share my story about my efforts working on the project, the design process I used, the challenges I faced, my experience during the design competition, the latest update on my goal to bring Eatwell to market, and my future plans for the product."

Biosketch: Sha Yao describes herself as a passionate Industrial Designer who likes to challenge herself. She has a diverse background and speaks English, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese. She created a product design studio to help startup companies develop their product ideas, and especially loves to work on projects that help people in need.

• Tuesday, March 4th - Film Screening
• Thursday, March 6th - Wheelchair Fabrication in Developing Countries
• Tuesday, March 11th - End-of-term Student Team Project Presentations
• Thursday, March 13th - Student Project Demonstrations, Course Evaluation, and Celebration