Developing Assistive Technology Field Service Learning ITP/NYU Spring 2011 Syllabus

John Schimmel, Adjunct Professor, john.schimmel@gmail.com
Meeting every other Tuesday night, starting Jan. 25th @ ITP Rm. 406

Description

Assistive technologies are the tools people with physical, sensory and mental disabilities use daily to interact, navigate and communicate with the world around them. In this class, students are assigned to develop working solutions for local rehabilitation institutions and organizations. Participating students meet as a group bi-weekly for this two-point class. The class will occasionally meet with the NYU’s Department of Occupational Therapy from Steinhardt for research collaboration on projects.

Projects

We have three projects this semester with outside hosts at NYU Rusk Rehabilitation Center, the NYC Board of Education and ProHealth & Fitness a physical therapy center in Midtown. Student groups will work with hosts to design, prototype and test with clients. Groups will also be working with NYU Occupational Therapy students from Steinhardt to discover the background, existing literature and overall need for such assistive technology.

Course objective

Develop an understanding of how technology can affect the lives of people with disabilities while designing and implementing a working prototype for an outside host.
 

Requirements

  • You must participate in class and within your group.
  • Arrive to class and project meetings on time.
  •  Be respectful of each other no talking, computer or phone use while other students or guests are talking.
  • Be respectful of client and project privacy. What’s talked about in class, stays in class.

Class Schedule

Remember we meet every other Tuesday night. Occasional meetings may be scheduled for group meetings.
 
Google calendar available http://goo.gl/0A43Y
Jan. 25
  • Introduction to Assistive Technology and Disability Culture
  • Project and hosts introduction 
  • Assignment : 
    • Schedule and visit host as a group.
    • Research your disability/impairment associated with your project. 
    • Research your project’s selected technology (if applicable) 
    • Brainstorm 3 ideas for your project, include photos, video and sketches.* 
    • Reading : Living in the State of Stuck, Chptr 3. Assistive Technologies as “World-Openers”
      * Might be best to start a blog or wiki to document the project from the start 
Feb. 8
  • 6:30-7pm Meeting with Occupation Therapy class regarding project research. 
  • The wonderful, magical switch + mini lab. 
  • Discussion and presentation of site visits and project 
  • Working group: Refining the idea + planning + how to start building 
  • Assignment : 
    • Project : Develop goals and timeline. Rough draft / prototype - getting the technology working.  Document progress on blog.
    • Reading : Chapter from Design Meets Disability 
Feb. 22
  • Guest - Steven Swarztrauber discussion on how he uses switch access in his life.
  • Rough draft presentations 
  • Working group : Troubleshooting tech and building first interface. 
  • Assignment: 
    • Project : Continue refining prototype. Refine timeline with new goals and tasks. Document, document, document! 
    • Reading : TBD.
Mar. 8
  • Midterm presentations to project hosts 
  • Working group : Meeting with project hosts individually to arrange site visit. Discuss design of interface, videos, graphics, physicality
  • Assignment: Refine interaction and design elements. Document, document, document!
Mar. 22
  • Sensory impairments discussion - existing and future technologies 
  • User testing discussion - interviewing, observing and measuring 
  • Working group : building in measurement tools.

  • Assignment: Test and document measurement tools
Apr. 5
  • Presentation - Work, love and family life for people with disabilities 
  • Preparing projects for distribution, finishing touches 
  • Working group : finishing touches on product and presentation Assignment: Tying up loose ends on interface, code and presentation
Apr. 19
  • Final Presentations
    • Explaining the need. 
    • Describing the building process. 
    • Showing user testing. 
    • Demonstration of prototype.