General Information |
Problem Statement |
Design Review and Judging Process |
Resources
Selecting a Workplace Scenario
Remember, your task is to design an ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (AT) device that enables a person with a severe disability to improve their job performance, increase their productivity on their job and/or allow them to obtain a job that they previously were unable to access.
Your team may choose one of two options, A or B, outlined below as your workplace scenario. It is strongly encouraged that each team work with an individual with a severe disability in the development and design of their AT device. The purpose of doing so is to ensure that the device is relevant and responsive to the workforce needs of an actual person with a disability. An engineer always designs for the customer and your customer is this person. We strongly recommend that you review and test your device with this individual and adjust your design based on their feedback for any of the scenario choices.
Working in Your Community
It is strongly encouraged that teams work with an individual in their community and work with them in the development of their ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (AT) device. The AbilityOne program is affiliated with over 2,000 agencies nationwide and can help connect you to a person with a severe disability in your area. To find an agency in your vicinity, please click here to visit their agency locator. You may also contact us at nedc@jets.org or 571-212-4973.
If you cannot find anyone through the above referenced methods, or if those whom you have contacted are unable to assist you in your device development, teams may consult with an agency in another location through a series of phone and/or e-mail communications. While it is not required to work directly with an AbilityOne Program agency, we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to locate a person with a disability in your area by contacting one of their agencies.
Option A
Use the lists of challenges and jobs categorized below. Find a specific person in your community with one of the challenges listed who is experiencing a problem performing one of the jobs described. Design your device specifically to assist this person with his or her job. We strongly recommend that you also test your device with this individual.
It is also important that we support our veterans with severe disabilities to obtain meaningful jobs and employment options here in the United States. If interested, students may direct their designs toward developing ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY (AT) interventions that will create more job opportunities for Veterans with disabilities. The AbilityOne Program has an ongoing relationship with the Veterans Administration (VA) and can facilitate contact to veterans with disabilities/veterans organizations in your area. Contact JETS at nedc@jets.org or 571-212-4973 for more information.
Challenges
Mobility challenges:
- Stroke
- Paralysis
- Arthritis: Joint immobility and pain
- Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
- Cerebral Palsy (CP)
- Tremor
- Immobility
- Poor fine motor skills
Cognitive challenges:
- Dyscalculia: Difficulty with simple and complex math.
- Inability to Read
- Short Term Memory Loss
- Sequencing
- Staying On Task
- Judgment or Decision Making
Sensory challenges:
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Jobs
- Warehousing - Storing and retrieving product in a large area.
- Kitting - Grouping items for assembly or delivery to the customer.
- Assembly - Following instructions for joining items and components into final products.
- Sewing - Cutting patterns, operating sewing machines, clipping threads, and packaging product.
- Janitorial - Cleaning floors, offices and buildings.
- Food Service - Serving food, busing tables and washing dishes.
- Mail Room - Sorting and delivering mail.
- Fleet Management - Performing maintenance on vehicles.
- Laundry - Operating machines and sorting.
- Grounds Maintenance - Mowing, trimming and landscaping.
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Option B
If you are unable to find a specific person with disabilities in your community, we still invite you to participate. Please select one of the following three scenarios below. As in Option A, your goal is to design a device to help this person perform his or her job duties. It is strongly encouraged that even if you choose this option, that you interview a person with a disability or person who works with persons with disabilities by telephone interview or email conversation.
1. Painting and Cleaning Windows
A local contractor would like to hire people with disabilities to clean exterior windows and paint interior ceilings and high interior walls.
The contractor has three restrictions regarding the device to be used. First, due to the complexity of existing interior trim, a paint sprayer cannot be used. Second, as a result of cost constraints and multiple floor levels, a personal man-lift cannot be used. Third, for safety reasons a ladder cannot be used.
There is a gentleman in the community who has experience painting, but due to a stroke he has the use of only one hand. He has attempted to use a roller but found it hard to balance, hold out in front of him, and paint at the same time. The problem wasn't so much the roller's weight, but the balancing of the roller with only the grip of his hand. The same was true for a squeegee. He could use it for a short time, but his functioning hand would tire quickly from holding it above shoulder level.
Design a device that will allow the user to use a paint roller in high places and, using the same concept, design a device that will allow the user to clean windows. The device must be easy to transport, provide some stability in terms of balance, and be lightweight.
2. Vacuum Cord Management
Many people with intellectual disabilities are able to operate a vacuum, but have difficulties managing the power cord. They often forget to move the cord to a closer outlet or forget to unplug when moving to the next room. Although the vacuum shuts off when they move too far from their current outlet and yank the plug from the wall, it decreases productivity and can damage the vacuum. There are battery powered vacuums which can solve the problem in some instances, but they do not have the power or stamina for certain jobs.
Design a device that will alert a vacuum user to a cord overreach situation. It should be unobtrusive, not interfere with vacuuming productivity and warn the user before he or she pulls too hard on either end of the cord.
3. Grabber
Many people working in the janitorial and grounds maintenance fields experience difficulty bending over to pick up debris or small objects from the ground. There are many devices on the market to extend one's reach such as the "Nifty Nabber" and the "Reacher/Grabber". These devices are helpful but we have found that they can lead to repetitive strain injury (RSI) when they are used all day long. RSI makes it very painful to use these tools. In some cases there can be difficulty applying enough pressure to get the device to function properly.
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