BLUElab EASE
Project Leaders:
Ann Arbor Leads:
Aditi Jha ([email protected])
Nicholas Henry ([email protected])
León Leads:
Gabriel Secord ([email protected])
Marika Ruppart ([email protected])
BLUElab Board (BLUEboard) Representative(s):
Robert Isacksen ([email protected])
Project Location(s): Ann Arbor, MI and León, Nicaragua
Current Projects:
Ann Arbor:
The Ann Arbor subteam designs attachments for children using wheelchairs in Ann Arbor public elementary and middle schools. We work with the students as well as their physical therapists to identify potential improvements in their day-to-day lives at school. Our current project involves developing an adaptive and semi-permanent tray-table attachment, mainly for use in the cafeteria. We aim to design an unobtrusive but useful device which can integrate with a wide variety of wheelchairs.
León:
The León subteam is partnered with FNE International and works with their constituents in León, Nicaragua. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that limits one’s motor functions. Without proper support, a patient’s conditions can worsen significantly. As existing medical seating devices are not accessible in Nicaragua, we strive to create a low cost, adaptable chair insert. We have delivered several rounds of prototypes, and currently aim to iterate on those designs and make them locally manufacturable so it’s accessible to the community.
Our Mission: BlueLab EASE - Enabling Accessibility through Sustainable Engineering - dedicates itself to providing equitable independence and quality of life standards for people with disabilities through adaptive engineered devices. Established in 2017, BlueLab Ease currently has 2 subteams focused on improving accessibility for children with Cerebral Palsy and those who use mechanical wheelchairs. Ease upholds and utilizes BLUElab-wide values by ensuring its devices are adaptive to work with a wide range of user-ability and emphasizing frequent communication and collaboration with its community partners. In every step of the design and manufacturing process, Ease incorporates sustainability methods and metrics to maximize our work’s positive social impact.
Our Vision: We aim to collaborate with community partners and local nonprofits in Nicaragua to develop solutions that ease the hardships of children with cerebral palsy and their families. Our goal is for our devices to improve the quality of life for these children and their families while adhering to BLUElab's core values.
Team History: Our team completed a needs assessment in Nicaragua in August of 2019, during which we conducted interviews with the families we intend on working with. Now, our team is researching potential solutions, prototyping, and keeping in close contact with our community partners.
Partner Organization: FNE International and SPTLN
Ann Arbor Leads:
Aditi Jha ([email protected])
Nicholas Henry ([email protected])
León Leads:
Gabriel Secord ([email protected])
Marika Ruppart ([email protected])
BLUElab Board (BLUEboard) Representative(s):
Robert Isacksen ([email protected])
Project Location(s): Ann Arbor, MI and León, Nicaragua
Current Projects:
Ann Arbor:
The Ann Arbor subteam designs attachments for children using wheelchairs in Ann Arbor public elementary and middle schools. We work with the students as well as their physical therapists to identify potential improvements in their day-to-day lives at school. Our current project involves developing an adaptive and semi-permanent tray-table attachment, mainly for use in the cafeteria. We aim to design an unobtrusive but useful device which can integrate with a wide variety of wheelchairs.
León:
The León subteam is partnered with FNE International and works with their constituents in León, Nicaragua. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that limits one’s motor functions. Without proper support, a patient’s conditions can worsen significantly. As existing medical seating devices are not accessible in Nicaragua, we strive to create a low cost, adaptable chair insert. We have delivered several rounds of prototypes, and currently aim to iterate on those designs and make them locally manufacturable so it’s accessible to the community.
Our Mission: BlueLab EASE - Enabling Accessibility through Sustainable Engineering - dedicates itself to providing equitable independence and quality of life standards for people with disabilities through adaptive engineered devices. Established in 2017, BlueLab Ease currently has 2 subteams focused on improving accessibility for children with Cerebral Palsy and those who use mechanical wheelchairs. Ease upholds and utilizes BLUElab-wide values by ensuring its devices are adaptive to work with a wide range of user-ability and emphasizing frequent communication and collaboration with its community partners. In every step of the design and manufacturing process, Ease incorporates sustainability methods and metrics to maximize our work’s positive social impact.
Our Vision: We aim to collaborate with community partners and local nonprofits in Nicaragua to develop solutions that ease the hardships of children with cerebral palsy and their families. Our goal is for our devices to improve the quality of life for these children and their families while adhering to BLUElab's core values.
Team History: Our team completed a needs assessment in Nicaragua in August of 2019, during which we conducted interviews with the families we intend on working with. Now, our team is researching potential solutions, prototyping, and keeping in close contact with our community partners.
Partner Organization: FNE International and SPTLN