Author: Katie Landwehr

UW CREATE Presents at the UWFB Meeting Spring 2024

Katie Landwehr HuskyADAPT, News , , ,

The Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) presented at the University of Washington Foundation Board Meeting Spring 2024.

A group of people on a stage

Kat Steele, Associate Director of CREATE introduced the impact of the center over its first 5 years and trainees, including former CREATE postdoc Kim Ingraham, present our research on the impact of access to early powered mobility at the board meeting. Check out the presentation (starting at 59 minutes, link to video on YouTube HERE ).

During the Cocktail Hour Showcase, Heather Feldner and Mia Hoffman also shared their work with HuskyADAPT and the development of accessible design and play technology.

As highlighted through these presentations, CREATE’s mission is to make technology accessible and to make the world accessible through technology.

A person standing next to a table

National Biomechanics Day 2024

Katie Landwehr News, Outreach , , , ,

Last week the Steele Lab celebrated National Biomechanics Day (NBD) on April 3, 2024 at the VA Puget Sound. Mia Hoffman, Sasha Portnova, and Katie Landwehr, alongside fellow Biomechanics researchers with the Ingraham Lab, and Center for Limb Loss and MoBility (CLiMB) hosted over 75 students from a local high school.

A group of five people posing for a photo

NBD is a world-wide celebration of Biomechanics in its many forms for high school students and teachers. Steele Lab PhD student Mia Hoffman, and Ingraham Lab PhD student Annika Pfister were recently awarded a $1000 grant from the American Society of Biomechanics and National Biomechanics Day to host an outreach event for high school students focused on disability biomechanics.

Mia and Katie hosted a station on “Switch-Adapted Toys & Accessible Design”

Two women (Mia and Katie) standing in front of a wall with pictures and holding adaptive toys and DIY switches.
A group of people standing around a table of DIY switches and switch adapted toys
A group of people standing around a table of DIY switches and playing games on an iPad

Sasha, Annika, and Zijie hosted a station on “Myodino: Activate your Muscles”

A group of people holding a sign that says "MyoDino Scoreboard"
A group of people standing around a table with computers. One person is wearing an EMG sensor on their forearm
A group of people standing around a table with computers. One person is wearing an EMG sensor on their forearm

Winter Quarter Recap 2024

Katie Landwehr News, Outreach

Here’s a look at what some of our lab members have been up to this quarter – in the lab, around campus, and out in the community!

January:

Steele lab members, Mia, Kate, Alisha, and Katie volunteered at a UW GoBabyGo (GBG) Build Workshop. GBG is a community-based outreach program that works with families, clinicians and industry partners to provide pediatric mobility equipment to children with disabilities. The primary mission of GBG is to provide modified ride-on cars to these children to use as a powered mobility device for fun, function, and exploration.

A group of people posing for a photo with their finished Go Baby Go Car
A group of people building their Go Baby Go Car
Two people posing for a photo with their finished Go Baby Go Car
A group of people posing for a photo while building their Go Baby Go Car

February:

Lab members, Kate, Mia, and Megan volunteered at the Special Olympics Regional Alpine & Snowboarding Competition at the Summit at Snoqualmie.

Kate, Mia, and Megan standing together and bundled up in warm winter clothes.
A snow covered slope with orange poles
A snow covered hill with people skiing

Also in February:

Mackenzie standing at a podium in front of a group of students in a lecture hall

As part of her duties as a TA this quarter, Mackenzie Pitts gave a Dynamics (ME230) lecture to a 200-person class. She crushed it.

March:

Mia Hoffman presented a poster on “Quantitative methods are more accurate than caregiver-reported measures for tracking a child’s mobility device use” at the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Association Poster Competition.

Mia has blonde hair and is wearing a polka dot blouse with a green skirt. She is standing next to her poster on "Quantitative methods are more accurate than caregiver-reported measures for tracking a child's mobility device use."

Also in March:

The iconic UW Cherry Blossoms graced us with their presence. Photos captured by local photographer and lab member, Megan Ebers.

A brick path with cherry blossom trees, grass, and benches
Close-up of a branch with white flowers
A tree with white blossoms on it

Dr. Alyssa Spomer on “Gears of Progress” Podcast

Katie Landwehr Media, News , , , , ,

Gears of Progress Episode 7 featured Alyssa Spomer on biofeedback tech to improve motor control ankle exoskeletons, and work as a clinical scientist at Gillette Children's Hospital.“Gears of Progress” Episode Seven featured Steele Lab Alumni, Dr. Alyssa Spomer on biofeedback tech to improve motor control ankle exoskeletons, and work as a clinical scientist at Gillette Children’s Hospital.

Gears of Progress Logo with three gears featuring assistive devices

Name: Gears of Progress

Platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox

Release frequency: bi-weekly on Fridays

Theme: Podcast about research and innovations in rehabilitation engineering and assistive technologies aimed to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Every episode will feature engineers, medical professionals, end-users, and organizations who focus on improving the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities. We will be covering topics such as emerging tech, outcome measures, medical practice, public policy, accessibility education, and so much more!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GearsOfProgress

Dr. Kim Ingraham on “Gears of Progress” Podcast

Katie Landwehr Media, News , , ,

Gears of progress Episode 5 featured Kim Ingraham. “Gears of Progress” Episode Five featured Steele Lab Alumni, Dr. Kim Ingraham on personalized controllers for lower-limb assistive robotics, powered mobility devices for kids, and a path to a faculty position.

Gears of Progress Logo with three gears featuring assistive devices

Name: Gears of Progress

Platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Castbox

Release frequency: bi-weekly on Fridays

Theme: Podcast about research and innovations in rehabilitation engineering and assistive technologies aimed to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Every episode will feature engineers, medical professionals, end-users, and organizations who focus on improving the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities. We will be covering topics such as emerging tech, outcome measures, medical practice, public policy, accessibility education, and so much more!

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GearsOfProgress