To celebrate the end of the summer with our fantastic summer interns, we rented kayaks and paddled our way to Gas Works Park. A perfect day to be on the water enjoying the sights!
Research Experience Undergraduates Present at CSNE
This summer the Steele Lab had the pleasure of hosting three undergraduate researchers – Julia Costacurta from Johns Hopkins, Joe Lawler from the University of Washington, and Preston Pan from the University of Washington.
After a competitive selection process, students are offered a 10-week internship here at the University to work directly with a research lab on campus. One of the program’s final deliverables is a presentation of their work, both in podium and poster format, to members of the local and scientific community. Congratulations to Julia, Joe, and Preston for their successful time here in the lab, and for giving polished presentations.
Julia’s work explored the impacts of Ankle-Foot Orthoses on transient gait, a period of walking where little is currently known about device dynamics.
Preston worked directly with Seattle Children’s Hospital to implement algorithms for detecting bimanual hand movement before, during, and after a common therapy used to promote improved motor skills for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
Joe’s focus this summer involved working with the University of Washington HuskyADAPT program. HuskyADAPT is a student-run program in its second year and stands for Accessible Design and Play Technology. Joe’s research question asked, how we can improve upon and further promote an inclusive and sustainable program for assistive technology?
Members volunteer in the Special Olympics
Alyssa Spomer, Karley Benoff, and Michael Rosenberg volunteered at the cheer line, bocce, and tennis sporting events as well as the awards ceremony for powerlifting at the Special Olympics. The University of Washington was proud to host this fantastic sporting event, the athletes from all over the country, and fans, family, and coaches. Congratulations to all of our athletes!
Ben Shuman Named Best Student Oral Presentation at ISEK in Dublin.
Congratulations to Ben Shuman for being named Best Student Oral Presentation at the International Society of Electromyography and Kinesiology conference in Dublin, Ireland.
This is an incredibly large honor at an international conference with hundreds of presenters. Well done, Ben!
KM Steele, B Blaser, M Cakmak (2018) “Accessible Making: Designing makerspaces for accessibility” International Journal of Designs for Learning
Journal article in International Journal for Designs for Learning
Abstract:
The purpose of makerspaces is to increase access to “making” among the general community. Because of this social justice orientation, it is important to consider how welcoming and accessible makerspaces are to individuals with diverse abilities, including individuals with disabilities. This design brief examines a three-step process used to make a university-based makerspace more accessible and welcoming to
individuals with disabilities including a tour, design activity, and brainstorming session. The process helped identify simple changes that were made to the makerspace, as well as increasing student, faculty, and community access. Using a similar process, other makerspaces could improve the accessibility of their spaces, procedures, and tools.
Makerspaces provide the general community with a space to brainstorm, prototype, and create. Considering this, it is especially important to create a welcoming environment for individuals with diverse abilities, including individuals with disabilities.
To read the article in full, CLICK HERE.