Student
Design Competition
On Recreational Technology for Persons with Disabilities
(RecTech)
Enter your
winning design by May 5th, 2005
Many individuals with disabilities do not have access to adapted recreational equipment. They may not be able to afford exercise equipment, or equipment that has been adapted to their needs may not be commercially available. Although many family members, friends and providers may have the capabilities to construct or adapt existing equipment, most lack the expertise to plan and design custom recreational equipment.
On the other hand, while many engineering students have the requisite knowledge and ability to design and develop inexpensive custom exercise equipment, few opportunities exist for students to apply these capabilities, and few engineering students are aware of the specific needs of persons with disabilities. The goal of this project is to “connect the dots” between these two groups in a way that will facilitate increased access to exercise and recreation by persons with disabilities while increasing interest and awareness among engineering students of the needs of persons with disabilities.
Our goals are to:
1. increase awareness of the
needs of persons with disabilities among engineering students.
- create an on-line library of design and construction
information for inexpensive exercise equipment that can be accessed by
persons with disabilities and their family, friends, and providers.
- serve a technology transfer agent that puts
designers of innovative exercise equipment for persons with disabilities
into contact with potential manufacturers of that equipment.
Each individual or team member must select one of the three Vignettes at the bottom of this announcement. Design submissions will be judged by RERC-RecTech stakeholders, including persons with disabilities, engineers, exercise scientists, disability specialists and exercise equipment manufacturers).
The submissions should include:
· Construction details
· How to obtain any special or unusual materials
· Proposed Budget to create the design
· User’s manual
· Paper describing the project appropriate for submission to a conference or journal
· Poster to be displayed at design exhibition
· PowerPoint slide show highlighting the design and use of the exercise equipment
Submissions will be evaluated on the following criteria:
· Promise of utilization - does the proposed exercise equipment serve a real need?
· Creativity - does the design address its purpose in a creative way?
· Size of community served - who can use the device?
· Originality – has this been done before?
· Manufacturability - can the equipment be replicated easily?
· Marketability – is there potential for commercial development?
· Reasonableness of Budget – does the budget reflect actual requirements?
· Design elegance – does the design show particular flair?
Total cost of proposed solutions must fall within one of two-ranges $5-$25, or $25 - $50. All of the entries will be published on the web, and disseminated by other means (e.g., CD-ROM distribution).
The top submissions will be
forwarded to the RESNA Student Design Competition, and the designers will be
given assistance and encouragement to publish their results. In addition, the top three winners will
receive airfare, lodging, conference registration and a per diem for meals to
attend RESNA's 28th International Conference,
Process for Phase I: Design Competition
Vignette # 1
Kylie is a nine year old girl with spastic cerebral palsy. She has significant physical impairments and uses a wheel chair for mobility. Kylie is able to move her hands in larger movements and can move her fingers enough to trigger a switch. She is a very bright child, with at least average intelligence.
She currently plays soccer with her twin sister and peers in an indoor basketball court where her wheelchair is pushed around the court by a friend. She would like a modification which will allow her to kick the soccer ball with more independence. She would like an attachment for her wheelchair that could allow her to gather the soccer ball close to her chair and than “kick” or release the ball towards the net.
Vignette # 2
Eight year old Sam has cerebral palsy which limits his motor movements. He would like to drive an electric child-size jeep that their family owns. The challenges lie in several areas:
- Sam cannot reach the pedals of the jeep for the gas or the brakes
- He has very limited use of his hands. While he can move a stick back and forth, he cannot grasp a steering wheel to turn.
- He is unable to sit independently and would need some side trunk support in the drivers seat to allow him to sit upright
- The car currently moves very quickly and he sometimes needs a little time to react. His mother would like modifications to ensure that the car is safe for her child.
Chipper Toys
12 volt Touring Jeep
size:121 x 73 x 70cm
Features: can carry 2 children aged up
to 6 yrs, musical steering wheel, 6 volt motor on each rear wheel, 2.5mph
forward or reverse or fast 5mph forward, built in braking, steel frame, working
headlights, twin mirrors, front and rear bumpers, 2 seatbelts.
Colours: Red or
Yellow
Contact: Chipper Toys Ltd, 82D Keyford, Frome,
United Kingdom BA11 1JJ
Tel: 01373-464141 to place an order or ask questions.
Vignette #3
Susan is 41 years-old and has diabetes. As a result of the diabetes, she is blind. Prior to the exacerbation of her visual impairment, she was an active tennis player. As her vision became more and more impaired, she began to reduce her active lifestyle. She misses the physical activity that tennis provided for her. She would like to begin a workout regimen, but isn’t sure where to start or how to adapt her environment so that she can get the exercise she craves. Susan would appreciate having the flexibility to workout at home, but wouldn’t mind joining a public gym.
Please email your winning designs to:
Mail them to:
Cathy Bodine PhD, CCC-SLP
Assistive Technology Partners
University of
(303) 315-1281