When teenagers learn valuable STEM skills that they use to develop assistive technology products for individuals with disabilities it’s a win-win situation. That’s the goal behind #FIRSTwithAT, an initiative of Roaring Riptide Team 4118 in Gainesville, Florida.
The Team was founded in 2011 at the P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, a K-12 public school on the campus of the University of Florida. Its mission is “to raise awareness and excitement in STEM–Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math–through our local community, state, and national outreach efforts.”
In the process the team has become especially interested in contributing to the field of assistive technology.
In June 2017, Roaring Riptide took the plunge into AT. That year, students from the team (who call themselves lifeguards) partnered with a group of college students from University of Florida to host the first toy adapt-a-thon event. The event produced 10 adaptive toys that were presented to an AT specialist in a nearby community. Six months later, the students were invited to participate in the inaugural Holiday Toy Adapt-A-Thon at a workshop in Orlando. At the event, the students helped adapt 100 toys that were gifted to disabled children in North Central Florida. Following that success, Roaring Riptide began collaborating with a variety of agencies and nonprofits working to enrich the lives of people with disabilities.
One example is Roaring Riptide’s collaboration with nonprofit Go Baby Go, which creates modified toy cars for children with mobility disabilities. The cars enable independent mobility for young children and encourage socialization and play.
A partnership with Magic Wheelchair saw the Roaring Riptide students creating wheelchair costumes, while their relationship with AT Makers resulted in the team’s inclusion in the Assistive Technology Industry Association. The team is the first and only high school group to be part of ATIA.
Another honor came last year when the Roaring Riptide Team won the Engineering Inspiration Award, at the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition in March in Tallahassee. The team also received a $6,000 sponsorship from NASA to attend the world championship competition.
Twelfth grade students have created products like slant boards, head and neck supporter for a gait trainer, spoon and fork stabilizers, and a water drink attachment. The team also offers AT kits, for people who want to adapt toys at home. Videos provide careful instructions that guide kit users.
Being part of First with AT has a profound effect on students who participate. As team lead Joseph Santiago said in a press release: “My favorite thing about adapting toys and working on AT projects is seeing the look of wonder and excitement in kids’ eyes when they’re able to interact with their toys through the use of our accessible button switch AT solution.”
We can relate to that!
