Syllabus

Tentative Outline of Course Content

Week 1 – Sept 5:
Introduction to course and student introductions
Assignment: Fill out the Everyday use of technology chart. Post/Write analysis of your own technology usage(due one week)

Week 2 – Sept 12:
Meet at Bobst Library: Tom McNulty - Library Resources
Discuss: Research and Literature Review
Discuss: Activity Analysis
Assignment: Activity Analysis Object ReDesign (due Sept 19)

Site visits (TBA):

Week 3 – Sept 19:
Lecture: Disabilities and function needs - wheelchair skills (ITP students meet in OT dept - 35 West 4th street, 11th floor)
Shop safety and Microcontrollers (OT Students meet at ITP)

Review object redesign assignments
Assignment: Submit reaction to site visits, including identification that you might want to address to course Blog. Be prepared to discuss at least one project idea in response. Based on this discussion groups will be formed.

Next week we will form groups based upon interests, skills, etc. Be prepared to discuss your interests and experiences.

Week 4 – Sept 26:
Discussion: Site Visits/Identification of problems and needs/group formation
Assignment: Write reaction to site visits. Be prepared to discuss identification of specific problems and needs.

Week 5 – Oct 3:
Lecture: History/Legislation
Videos: “A little history worth knowing” and Errol Morris’ First Person Series “Temple Grandin”
Assignment: Group development of concept presentation. Be prepared to present in class.

Week 6 – Oct 10:
Group presentations of needs assessment/preliminary concept presentations
Assignment: Based on class critique, begin refining project proposal and working on project

Week 7 – Oct 17:
Guest Speaker: Dr. Steven Kanor, Enabling Devices
Assignment: Continue working on project

Week 8 – Oct 24:
TBA, possible discussion of Accessibility Law 508.

Week 9 – Oct 31:
TBA
Assignment: Continue working on project

Week 10 – Nov 7:
7pm - 9pm. Field trip to Adaptive Design Assoc., http://www.adaptivedesign.org/
313 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018 Map

Assignment:
Week 11 – Nov 14:
Guest Speaker(s) : Industrial Design and Assistive Technology
Individual Group Progress Meetings

Week 12 – Nov 21:
7pm - 9pm Field Trip!
Visit Baruch College, Computer technology for people with low vision or blindness.
Karen Gourgey Ed.D at Computer Center for Visually Impaired People
Baruch College, City University of New York

Week 13 – Nov 28:
Overview of computer access technology.
Discussion: Professional organizations - Grants & Funding

Week 14 – Dec 5:
Final presentation of products to class and clinical site contacts
(includes final document - online journal, process documentation, literature review, visual documentation)
End-of-Semester Show: Projects will also be presented at the end-of-semester show (Dates TBA)

Readings
 Weekly articles of interest and assigned chapters.
Recommended readings:
“Assistive Technology for Rehabilitation Therapists” by Jennifer Angelo, Shelly Lane, Shelly J. Lane, F.A. Davis Company, 1999.
“Assistive Technology: Matching Device and Consumer for Successful Rehabilitation”, by Marcia J. Scherer, American Psychological Association (APA), 2002


Major teaching-learning activities, assignments, and/or projects
The major learning activity is the design and fabrication of a device (piece of equipment, software, etc.) that meets a specific need for a specific person with a disability of a clinic that treats clients with disabilities or a category of people with similar needs as a result of their disability. Students will be required to present their progress at regular times to their classmates. They will report the results of their needs assessment, research regarding the problem, and the development process.

Assignments

  • Assistive Technology Product
  • Literature Review
  • Blog Submissions
  • Student Design Competition Application- RESNA or other

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