Students in biomedical engineering at Washington University in St. Louis don’t postpone their efforts until after graduation. Particularly when it comes to aiding vulnerable individuals requiring assistive technology. Instead, motivated by experiences during a maker event at Georgia Tech University, seniors Kaitlyn Sallee and Brianna Duhart established their own chapter of Tikkun Olam Makers and recently organized an event to construct wheelchairs for young children whose families might otherwise lack the means to afford them.
Tikkun Olam translates from Hebrew as “to mend the world,” and the organization is a nonprofit that aids students aiming to leverage technology to address unmet challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and other marginalized groups in local communities. Both Sallee and Duhart participated as fellows with TOM Global.
On March 29, over 30 undergraduate students from Washington University in St. Louis and graduate students from the WashU Medicine Program in Occupational Therapy (OT) collaborated to assemble and tailor wheelchairs for young children.
Before the event, group members consulted with OT professors and reached out to contacts in various departments to distribute flyers and intake forms. They also relied on referrals from clinicians engaged with patients.
“It’s extremely challenging for younger kids, particularly those under 3, to secure a wheelchair covered by insurance,” Sallee remarked. “This situation places a significant strain on families whose best choice is to carry the child themselves, which complicates the child’s psychological growth and self-identity.”
The students anticipated interest in their organization, which has swiftly expanded to encompass 60 members.
“We participated in the Student Activities Fair last fall, and interest surged from there,” Sallee noted. “We discovered that many students are seeking more tangible experiences that are not exclusively research-focused.”
TOM WashU provides training in computer-aided design, woodworking, and inclusive design for its members. For this event, OT also offered additional training in disability etiquette.
Duhart oversaw one of the most labor-intensive segments of the planning process—preparing 135 plywood components for the chairs using a computer numerical control router at an off-campus maker space. Meanwhile, the rest of the executive team dedicated three weeks to cutting and stitching foam and fabric seatings, along with foot and waist straps for every chair. Fully assembled build sets comprising wood, wheels, seating, and fasteners were arranged on tables at the Spartan Light Metal Products Makerspace ahead of time to ensure everything was ready for the group to construct “similar to assembling IKEA furniture,” Sallee explained.
This approach aimed to create an experience that was as stress-free as possible for the families.
“We wanted to complete the build swiftly so that we could reach the part where the kids get a chance to test out their chairs,” Sallee stated.
As the students wrapped up the building process, two children awaited alongside their families in a separate room: a 5-year-old whose current wheelchair was too cumbersome to navigate around their home, and a 2-year-old new to using a wheelchair.
The group finished assembling the chairs in just over two hours. Several professors were present to assist, including Patricia Widder, a teaching professor in biomedical engineering and the group’s faculty adviser; Ruth Okamoto, a teaching professor in mechanical engineering and materials science and head of the Spartan Light Metal Products Makerspace; and Joe Klaesner, a professor of practice in biomedical engineering.
“The OT students directed the fitting process, allowing us to implement necessary modifications in real time,” Sallee shared. “This included adding padding for knees and adjusting strap sizes and foam placements.”
Then, it was time for the recipients to try out their new chairs.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see a child utilize what you’ve constructed to independently explore their surroundings,” Sallee expressed.
The final step was a delightful one: assisting the children in personalizing their chairs with decorative stickers.
“We had been informed that they adored Bluey and the St. Louis Cardinals, so we made sure to have those available,” Sallee added.
The group has sufficient materials to construct three additional chairs for children aged 6 months to 5 years, which they intend to donate to local hospitals or schools. The Women’s Society of Washington University and the MO Better Foundation sponsored the event.
Originally published on the McKelvey Engineering website
The post Made with care appeared first on The Source.