Engineering to enhance human mobility, play, and exploration
Jessica’s project, PlayGait – a pediatric exoskeleton to assist walking for children with motor impairments, will be featured on KOMO news at 1:30pm on May 28th.
The University of Washington’s TV channel has also featured the same story, which aired May 1st HERE
The National Institutes of Health recently released the “Strategic Plan for Cerebral Palsy Research” which outlines challenges and priorities to guide future research to improve the lives of people with cerebral palsy.
Our diverse research group enjoyed reading and discussing this plan, which will likely influence our future research goals and support. We’ve shared our group’s comments, organized and prepared by Dr. Heather Feldner, below:
“Our research group appreciated the committee’s focus on creating a centralized data source for CP, attention to the needs and perspectives of adults with CP, their childhood experiences, and their transition from pediatric to adult healthcare providers, and the call for greater caregiver support services and patient-reported outcomes. However, we also had concerns. First, the terminology is inconsistent and often inappropriate. “Cure”, “damage”, and the implication that people with CP cannot be “healthy” is not empowering language in supporting the lives, unique contributions, and perspectives of people with CP as diverse and valued individuals in our society. Further, while advocates of people with CP were included in this stakeholder group, there is a concerning lack of people who actually have a diagnosis of CP, when these should be the primary stakeholders setting a research agenda about their own lives and needs. Finally, given the uncertainty of government funding agencies like the NIH under the current administration’s budget proposal, and the speed of science of translating research from bench to bedside, it appears that too little priority has been placed on interventions or programs that could have an influence right now for the people living with CP in the US dealing with self-identified participation issues such as access to employment and education, as well as impairment-related needs such as pain management, access to technology, and functional mobility.“
We are excited that NIH is engaged to set a national research agenda for cerebral palsy and we look forward to continuing to serve this community.
Heather Feldner received a Travel Award from the UW Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPA), and the College of Engineering was able to match the initial dollar amount awarded!
The OPA review committee was impressed with her independent research and plans for networking and career advancement while at the 2017 ISS Conference in Nashville.
Congratulations and well deserved, Heather!
The University of Washington has rolled out its second annual Husky100, an award to recognize 100 students who have made a significant impact during their ongoing academic experience. We are very proud to have two Husky100 members here in the Ability & Innovation Lab! A celebration event will take place on April 10, 2017.
Jessica Zistatsis, a masters student within our lab, is featured in the Husky100 HERE.
Bradley Wachter, a Steele Lab undergraduate, is featured in the Husky100 HERE.
Karley Benoff has been selected for an undergraduate fellowship from the UW Institute for Neuroengineering to continue her research next year. We look forward to her ongoing work on proximal control devices for individuals with limited hand function. Congratulations, Karley!