Collaboration to Implement AT Fabrication Program

Initiative Description

The Puerto Rico Assistive Technology Program (PRATP) collaborated with the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Engineering Department to assign a Capstone course to the design and development of low-cost assistive technologies as part of the AT fabrication initiative. Puerto Rico does not have a Rehabilitation Engineering program; therefore, we partner with the leading mechanical engineering department in the Island to augment our AT fabrication capacity, thus expanding the reach of this state financing activity. PRATP’s AT specialists identify AT fabrication needs appropriate for Capstone level projects and works throughout the semester with engineering students, faculty and individuals with disabilities in the design and development of custom devices. At the end of the process, the resulting devices are evaluated, optimized and tested to determine if they are ready to be given to the target individual. If the device is deemed not quite ready, it is then carried over into the next Capstone courser for further development and optimization. The initiative was implemented using federal and state funds.

Lessons Learned/Replication

During this reporting period, six (6) devices were developed to address particular needs not currently addressed by the technologies available in the market. After evaluation and testing, each device was directly given to the person with disabilities who had requested it. A lesson learned was that social innovation is a strong motivator for mechanical engineering students to step out their comfort zone and, given the proper guidance, use their skills to create technologies that improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities. This partnership allowed us to engage local talent in the creation of cost-effective solutions to address primary needs of individuals with disabilities and to expand the capacity of PRATP's Low Cost Device Design and Development (LD3) initiative by adding highly specialized human and technical resources to the services provided. This initiative will be a continuous one and we are hoping to engage other engineering programs in the near future. As an advice, we would recommend for the technology development groups to meet with the target user early on and to incorporate him/her and other stakeholders into the e design process. We also would advise keeping the budget quite low so as to boost creativity in the development of replicable low-cost technologies that would in turn increase device acquisition.

Year of Implementation

2022

AT Activities

Other focus area

Underserved groups

State

Puerto Rico

Initiative contact information

Maria Hernandez
maria.hernandez17@upr.edu