Design, Technology , and Engineering benefitting individuals
with disabilities and older adults in the local community |
January 24, 2022 |
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Perspectives is the newsletter of the
Stanford course, Perspectives in Assistive Technology.
Designing Beyond the Norm to Meet the Needs of All People
(by Zoom)
This issue announces the next class session (by Zoom) and
solicits vendor participation in the course's Assistive Technology
Faire.
Perspectives in Assistive
Technology is a Winter Quarter Stanford course - now in its
sixteenth year - that explores the design, development, and use of
assistive technology that benefits people with disabilities and older adults.
It consists of semi-weekly in-person discussions; lectures by
notable professionals, clinicians, and assistive technology users; a
tour of an accessible inclusive playground; student project
presentations and demonstrations; and an Assistive Technology
Faire. |
Course News
Next class session by
Zoom - Tuesday's class session will be held online due to the COVID
status of the Guest Lecturer, Peter W. Axelson. Subsequent class sessions will
be held on-campus. |
Next Class Session (by Zoom) - Tuesday,
January 25th at 4:00pm PST
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Designing Beyond the Norm to
Meet the Needs of All People Peter W.
Axelson, MSME, ATP, RET Beneficial
Designs, Inc. - Director of Research & Development |
Abstract: Peter will talk about the difference
between Universal, Adaptable, and Adaptive design. Peter was the first
undergraduate using a wheelchair for mobility to live on the Stanford campus in
1976 when accessibility issues were just beginning to be addressed. Those
experiences and the desire to participate in the same physical activities as
every other college student who had professional and recreational interests
shaped his career as a designer. Peter will share how his interests spawned the
creation of Beneficial Designs, Inc to support the development of personal,
activity specific and environmental technologies for people of all abilities.
His experience in obtaining Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants to
develop and functionally assess products, services, and the designs of outdoor
environments, has provided many opportunities for he and his staff to change
the way people with impairments of all kinds are able to participate in all
aspects of life activity. His company works toward universal access through
research, design, and education to enable persons of all abilities to
participate in the physical, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of
life.
Biosketch: Peter Axelson is a
rehabilitation engineer who sustained a spinal cord injury in a 1975 climbing
accident while in the Air Force Academy. He continued his education at Stanford
University, where he began applying engineering and design principles to
overcome daily living hurdles faced by people with disabilities. In 1981 he
founded Beneficial Designs, Inc.
an engineering design firm dedicated to designing, developing, and testing
assistive technologies. His accomplishments include developing the first
chairlift-compatible mono-ski with a shock absorber, working to establish
wheelchair testing standards, improving seating systems for wheelchairs, and
creating a system to assess trails that will improve access to outdoor trails
for people of all abilities.
Peter is the founder and the Director of Research and
Development of Beneficial Designs and spends much of his time traveling
throughout the world attending meetings and presenting his work. He's also a
pilot and avid mono-skier.
Upcoming In-person, In-classroom Class Sessions
Assistive Technology Faire
You are invited to participate
as a vendor in the Assistive Technology Faire - This tenth
annual course event is scheduled for Thursday, February 17th and 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 join in on this event. Browse to the
Call for Assistive Technology Faire Participants
webpage for more information about the event and how to register. Please
let me know if you prefer to participate as a vendor in-person on-campus or by
Zoom.
Here is the line up and
slides from last year's virtual
Faire. |
Please contact me with your ideas, questions, comments,
and project suggestions - or just to say hello. Please continue to stay safe
& healthy.
Dave Jaffe - Course Instructor
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please email
Dave. |
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