CReATE highlighted on Utah Public Radio

Nonprofits in Utah were highlighted today on Utah Public Radio, including CReATE, the wheelchair re-utilization program of UATP located in Salt Lake. 

Tom Boman, CReATE coordinator, gave an overview of the program and talked about how community members can participate and benefit from the program. Hear the story on UPR http://upr.org/post/doing-good-our-communities-wednesdays-access-utah, with Tom's interview starting at 39:45 minutes. 

If you are interested in donating wheelchairs and scooters to CReATE, call 80-887-9398. For monetary donations, learn more on our website http://www.uatpat.org/donate/. 

Learn about volunteering at CReATE. 

UATP director talks Assistive Technology on Utah Public Radio

UATP director Sachin Pavithran

Today on Utah Public Radio, UATP director and U.S. Access Board chair Sachin Pavithran talked with host Tom Williams about assistive technology and why it is important to dream big about the future. Listen to the interview, starting at 32:30, at UPR http://upr.org/post/robotics-assitive-technology-education-tuesdays-access-utah. 

Cardboard and PVC pipe put together with love

Tri-wall cardboard and PVC pipe can give many commercial assistive technology devices a run for the money.

Certainly that was the case when the Utah Assistive Technology Lab built a specialized chair in partnership with the Utah Center for Assistive Technology (UCAT) for four-year-old Emma.

Emma needed a device that would support her posture while sitting so she can work on developmental activities. UCAT's super handyman Ed Whiting sent Emma's measurements to Clay Christensen at the AT Lab.

Using tri-wall cardboard, Clay built a reclined v-back floor sitter made specifically for her height and size. Also built was a tray using cardboard and PVC pipe to fit the size of the chair, providing Emma a platform to eat and play on.

In the rough: a v-back tri-wall chair built by the AT Lab.

The chair was then sent to UCAT for phase two, where the chair and tray were painted and a harness was added. 

UCAT finished the chair and tray table.

 Then it was try time. The device fit Emma perfectly, and best of all, the device is lightweight making it easier to travel with than a heavy wood or plastic model. 

4-year-old Emma in her new chair.

A few hours on each organizations part, and $10 to $20 of materials provided a much-needed device. Similar products bought commercially range from $300 to $500.

Resource guide for assistive technology inventors

Have you got an assistive technology invention you think could help others? The RESNA Catalyst Project has developed a resource guide just for that purpose. You can view the guide below, or access it from our website.

USU students create 'following' wheelchair

By Zach Waxler and Storee Powell

Old technology met the 21st century when three Utah State University students developed a specialized wheelchair designed to better assist persons with disabilities.


The students created a 'following' wheelchair - essentially the device allows a person unable to control their wheelchair themselves to follow a caretaker without any assistance. 

Jeanne Munk, Clint Fernelius and Tyler Travis are engineering students working on their senior project for electrical and computer engineering. 

Munk said, “We make both of them more independent. The person can walk along side of it and talk and have a conversation with the person in the chair.” 

The students went to the Utah Assistive Technology Lab's Clay Christensen for assistance on the disability aspect as well as to learn about the mechanics of the power wheelchair. 

"We talked about what types of disabilities this chair could benefit, like Multiple sclerosis or ALS," Christensen said. 

He helped the students with the mechanical aspect of the chair to create an ideal foundation.

"I used an Invacare wheelchair and took the motors off, and put on Pride motors. It was a very custom job," Christensen said.  

The students took it from there to do the electrical work. Munk said the most challenging aspect of the project is the technology used in the chair. 

We are basing the following technology on image processing,” Munk said. “How it works is we have a leader badge and there is a camera that determines the distance from that badge.” 

In layman terms, the chair uses sonar sensors to ping its location. For example, if the chair gets too close to a wall, the sensors move the chair the other direction. 

While some experimental prototypes of this kind of device exist, there really isn't anything on the current market like it, Christensen said. 

Munk said the new chair has capabilities of improving the lives of both individuals involved. The team believes that this project is a great building block for the next generation of wheelchairs. 

The Utah AT Lab plans to do just that - Christensen wants the chair to go through a second-phase design. 

"This time around, we want input from community members with disabilities that could benefit from such a device," he said. "Their opinion of the performance of the device is the one that matters most."

Free Webinar: Technology for Varying Types of Hearing Loss

The Utah Assistive Technology Program (UATP) will present a FREE online interactive training, “Technology for Varying Types of Hearing Loss,” on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. MST.

NOTE: This webinar will be live captioned.

We are living in a time of great technological advancements. With these advancements, individuals with hearing loss have much to gain when it comes to communication and connecting with their peers. Those without hearing loss have no justification not to try! In this presentation, we will share the types of technology available for different levels of hearing loss and how everyday devices can be used to help hearing individuals to communicate with hearing aid and Sign Language users.

Webinar will cover:

1) Demographics

2) Different types of listening devices

3) Alert devices

4) Communication technology for Deaf/HH

5) Communication strategies

This webinar will be presented by Mitch Moyers of the Utah Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Mitch is an outreach and assistive technology program director. He was born deaf, and grew up in California. Mitch attended Brigham Young University. He is fluent in American Sign Language.

In order to participate, you will need a computer with high-speed Internet access.

RSVP: If you are interested in joining please RSVP by Tuesday, May 6^th. Contact Storee Powell via email storee.powell@usu.edu, or call 435-797-7412. Participant instructions will be emailed to you.

If you are a screen reader user, or need any other accommodations in order to participate in the training, please contact UATP Program Director Sachin Pavithran at 435-797-6572 or sachin.pavithran@usu.edu, no later than Monday, May 4^th to make arrangements to participate via phone. Please feel free to pass on this information to anyone that you think might be interested.

‘Stitching’ together business opportunities

By: Anna Tuckett

Quitting work due to health issues left Valerie Shaw wanting to be able to continue making money from home using skills she developed all of her life.

In July of last year, Valerie Shaw was approved for a small business loan from the Utah Assistive Technology Foundation and the Utah Microenterprise Loan Fund that helped her start her new sewing business, Personal Touch Tailoring.

“It’s hard to live on social security when you’re not prepared for it,” Shaw said. “I wanted to earn some money from home.”

 The skill of sewing has been passed down in Shaw’s family from generation to generation.

“My grandmother taught my mother how to sew, and then they both passed that knowledge down to me,” Shaw said. “One of my first jobs was as a seamstress.”

The loan that Shaw received was essential for facilitating and financing her business.

“I used the $3,000 to buy the machines I needed to meet the demands of customers,” Shaw said. “I also used the loan to buy visual aids.”

Shaw is a seamstress for individuals and local businesses alike, including The Coral Pear, a company based in Utah that sells baby moccasins.

“My new machines make it much easier to sew shoes for the company.” Shaw said.

UATF partners with UMLF to get small business loans for Utahns with disabilities and health concerns, like Valerie Shaw, to help them be as independent as possible.

Find more information on UATF small business loans and the application process at http://www.uatpat.org/financing/.