The role of occupational therapists in designing assistive devices with do-it-yourself technology

What is it about?

This paper is about using do-it-yourself technologies (like 3D-printing) for making assistive devices for people with disabilities. It focuses especially on the role that occupational therapists could play in making customized assistive devices for their clients.

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Photo by Tom Claes on Unsplash

Photo by Tom Claes on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Do-it-yourself technologies are on the rise, but the barrier for non-designers to use such technologies seem quite high. This paper sheds light on these barriers and proposes a design process in which occupational therapists can collaborate with professional designers to create better customised assistive devices.