Perspectives in Assistive Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - now anticipating its twelfth year - that explores the design, development, and use of assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults. It consists of semi-weekly classroom discussions; lectures by notable professionals, clinicians, and assistive technology users; tours of local medical, clinical, and engineering facilities; student project presentations and demonstrations; an assistive technology faire; and a film screening. Organization of the coming year's course is underway, with the first class session in January.

Student Enrollment - The course enrollment continues to be in flux with the following enrollment: 3 for the seminar option, 4 for the individual project option, and 41 for the team project option.

Project Suggestion - One new project suggestion has been received, reviewed, and approved as a candidate individual project for the coming academic year: Evaluation of JetPod for Children with Disabilities.

Assistive Technology Faire - The first Assistive Technology Faire participant has been registered: Canine Partners for Life.

Suggestions for automotive / driving projects - For the Spring Quarter Mechanical Engineering senior capstone course, I am seeking student project suggestions related to automobiles or driving: real problems experienced by an individual with a disability or an older adult in the local community that affects their ability to drive or otherwise access transportation. Other suggestions that broadly relate to walking or mobility are also welcome.

Please email your problem description and important features of what a solution should do (but not how to achieve them, as that will be addressed by the students).

You are invited to participate in the Assistive Technology Faire - This sixth annual course event will provide an opportunity for students and community members to get an up-close look at a variety of assistive technology devices and learn about available services. Users of assistive technology products as well as small companies and agencies serving individuals with disabilities and older adults are encouraged to bring assistive technology devices and information to display, demonstrate, and discuss. Please browse to the Call for Assistive Technology Faire Participants webpage and contact me if you would like to be a part of this event as a user or vendor of assistive technology products or services. Everyone is welcome to attend the faire.

The Faire will start at 4:30pm on Thursday, March 1st just outside the classroom, Thornton 110.

Here are Dave's and Arne's photos from last year's Faire.

Would you like to attend one or more course lectures? - Although official enrollment is required for Stanford students to receive academic credit, all classroom lectures are open to the greater Stanford community. You need not be a Stanford student to attend, there is no signup required, and there is no charge. Here is the lecture schedule.