Nursing
Engineering
April 6, 2020
The Shiley School of Engineering and Portland- area organization Community Vision have come together in a partnership with sponsored Maker Challenges and capstone projects. Community Vision’s mission is “is to make Oregon a place where people with disabilities can live, work, and thrive in the communities of their choice.” Engineering students are working together to further this mission by working on projects with Community Vision’s Assistive Technology (AT) Lab.
“It is important for future designers to understand the principles of inclusive design and accessibility so their work is relevant in our community, which is striving to embrace and include people of all dis/abilities,” Kim Elliot, Assistive Technology Lab co-director, said.
Projects with Community Vision during Maker Challenges include head activated switches, controllers for one hand, mobility devices, and adapting toys for kids with disabilities.
“Community Vision has been a wonderful partner for the Shiley School of Engineering,” Allen Hansen, technician supervisor, said. “They have educated our engineering students about the types of disabilities people live with every day, learning universal design, and how to make a difference.”
The Maker Challenges have brought together students from the Shiley School of Engineering and the School of Nursing.
“These challenges allow two disciplines to blend skills designing innovative solutions to solve practical problems,” Joanne Olsen, School of Nursing’s associate dean for baccalaureate education, said. “These projects involve planning, problem-solving, organization, and time management.”
During Maker Challenges, students generate ideas and innovative concepts with assistive technologies.
“The challenges allow us to get out of the classroom setting and let us experience what it takes to concept, design, and prototype,” Ryan Szto ’21 said. “The best designs start by piecing together ideas from everyone in the group to form a unique solution to the problem.”
Szto, a mechanical engineering major, has worked on two of the Community Vision sponsored Maker Challenges.
“The first challenge was to modify a kid’s electric car for a child with very limited motor function and the other challenge was to adapt a video game controller to be an attachment to a wheelchair for a child that could only use one hand,” Szto said. “Through these projects, I learned rapid prototyping skills and how to better communicate with a group.”
Director of innovation, Salvador Orara, has developed the University’s innovation Minor. Orara views the Maker Challenges as an integral asset for students across campus because of the experiential learning opportunities.
“The Maker Challenges are rapid and abbreviated instances of design and innovation processes and methods,” Orara said. “The relationship with Community Vision is forging a framework of engagement and what it means to partner in small and big ways.”
Along with the Maker Challenges, Community Vision has also worked with the Shiley School of Engineering on two capstone projects involving national outreach program Go Baby Go. The capstone projects involve adapting a commercially available toy ride-on car to make it accessible to young children with limited or delayed mobility.
“Engineering is about helping solve people’s problems,” Joe Hoffbeck, Shiley School of Engineering professor and capstone advisor, said. “I hope that the students see that their engineering skills can help make the world a better place.”
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