As we dive headfirst into 2022, we wanted to take a look back at 2021.
It was a great year for Makers Making Change. Over the course of the year, we hosted 44 events, made a significant update to our website and how you request devices and fulfill requests, and we set a world record!
As we look forward to the upcoming year and say goodbye to 2021, we compiled some amazing highlights with the program.
These achievements are all in thanks to the MMC community, from makers to disability professionals, and device users who’ve contributed design feedback. pic.twitter.com/CW0NLC41CB
— Makers Making Change (@MakerMakeChange) January 13, 2022
Looking Back
We kicked off 2021 with the Makey Makey (new window) Show and Tell. The Makey Makey device looks like an old school Nintendo Controller and is easy for anyone to use to create and program to make their own inventions.
In partnership with Makey Makey, we invited disability professionals from Canada and the US to make their own therapeutic exercises with the Makey Makey. Led by our Bay City, Michigan chapter leaders Mark Lyons and Katie Butzu, the event was a resounding success, with participants showing off their devices at the Show and Tell (new window) in January.
Throughout the year, our team took part in and were featured as speakers at important events like the International Symposium on Rehabilitation Research 2021 hosted by the Korea National Rehabilitation Research Institute and the Georgia Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference (where our Atlanta chapter also hosted a buildathon).
Our team also consulted on the 2021 Hackaday Dream Team, helping the winners of the 2020 Hackaday Prize further refine “The Byte (new window),” a hands-free sensor that allows users to bite to create an input. We were also partners in PrintLab and Autodesk’s first annual Make:able Challenge (new window), an assistive design challenge for students (expanded in this year’s edition to include participants over 18 years old).
In October, we launched a significant update of the Makers Making Change website (new window), integrating our forum on to our website, making requesting assistive devices and responding to requests much easier. Now, instead of having to log into a separate account for our website and forum, you can log in just once, as the forum and requests are now all on our main Makers Making Change website.
Once a user requests a device, makers can find the request on the new “Maker Wanted (new window)” page. This new system allows for easier communication between the device user and maker, and with our new progress updater, makers can easily keep the device user updated on their progress.
To close out the year, we saved the best for last. On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, December 3rd, we set a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most people to take an online assistive technology lesson in 24 hours (new window).
Thanks to 1,816 participants who joined us for our half hour DIY assistive technology lesson, we set the #ATWorldRecord and raised awareness of the global need for affordable assistive technology.
A Look at Our Chapters
We’ve added chapters across North America over the year, with new chapters in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Louisiana, among others.
Our New Orleans chapter, led by healthcare architect Noam Platt, have made tremendous progress on a design for a portable adaptive toilet (new window). The idea came from chapter member Jen Lyman, whose son, Bower, has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, and they have been working with Noam and his volunteers on the device. The device is for individuals who have cerebral palsy or other disabilities who have poor trunk control and cannot sit up independently without support, and need help getting on and off a toilet.
Noam and the New Orleans chapter have gone on to take their design to the TOM Global Innovation Challenge, where they won a grand prize, and got to present it at the Expo Dubai in the UAE in November.
A number of Makers Making Change makers were recognized for their efforts volunteering. Fawzan Hussain, long-time MMC volunteer and the co-leader of our Surrey, BC chapter, was one of 14 British Columbians who received the province’s Medal of Good Citizenship (new window). A high school student at Miles Macdonell Collegiate in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and a co-founder of our chapter there (new window), Jordon Hong was named one of the University of Manitoba’s Schulich Leaders, earning an $80,000 scholarship (new window) to study computer science.
Nova Scotia Community College’s Disability Supports and Services (new window) program in Sydney was the latest chapter to join Makers Making Change in 2021. Instructor Adam Power teaches a class on Assistive Technology as part of the program, and decided to have his students gain hands-on learning from building devices while also learning about open source assistive tech, 3D printing, and the resources in their community. The class connected with their local makerspace in Cape Breton for technical support, and were able to build light touch switches and dice spinners as part of their first build in December. The students are looking for local partners to donate their devices to.
Research and Development
At the end of 2020, Makers Making Change crossed the 100-device mark in our assistive device library. With 49 devices added in 2021, we now sit at 150 devices in the library, and continue to work on more. While this is a great milestone we want to make sure the devices we have published are really making an impact, so if you use, or have clients who use any of our devices we would really love to hear about your experience.
Over the course of the year, our research and development team has been working hard to create, refine, and update a number of devices for the library and improve the overall process, like creating a documentation template. One of the main focuses was working with LipSync users and listening to their feedback to improve the LipSync and the user experience. This led to a major software update, the Switch Input Module, and significant progress on the next version of the LipSync.
The major software update, LipSync V3.0 (new window), was released as an open beta in September after development and user testing in the spring. In this iteration of the firmware, we reduced the cursor drift, created additional mounting angle options, developed an Application Programming Interface (API), and enhanced performance. These updates — particularly the cursor drift — were in direct response to user feedback.
The LipSync Switch Input Module (new window) is an adaptation for the LipSync that enables users to perform the mouse click functions with external switches instead of sipping and puffing. This is intended for potential LipSync users who might have difficulty in forming the lips around the mouthpiece, or difficulty generating a sufficient sip or puff due to lung capacity or usage of a ventilator. The module was designed so that is can easily be added to an existing LipSync.
Lastly, the team has made significant progress towards the next version of the LipSync. This is a major re-design that incorporates the lessons and feedback from the initial LipSync. The team has designed a new and improved joystick mechanism using more reliable sensors and is utilizing a faster, more powerful microcontroller. Stay tuned for more details on this project as we prepare for testing and release early this year.
Thank You!
Thank you to everyone in the Makers Making Change community for helping us achieve another successful year for our program. Here’s to a great 2022!
This post originally appeared on the Makers Making Change (new window) website.