Make:able

4 students around electronic switch board
Make:able client with 3d-printed water canon

What is make:able?

Make:able is an international assistive technology design challenge. Students (5th - 12th grades and university students) work in teams of 3-5 to get to know a person in our community who has a disability.

Through interviews and observation they identify how assistive technology could be useful to this individual. They then use the 3D design skills they already have, as well as some new ones they will learn along the way, to design a device to help improve this individual’s daily life. They then continue to test and improve upon their design until they have a final version, which they then give to that individual. The Make:able challenge season begins in October and concludes in May.

5 students with client and the headswitch device they created

Check Out Previous Make:able Projects

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  • Team Kristen

    Team Kristen

  • Team Noah

    Team Noah

  • Team Joshua

    Team Joshua

  • Team Cody

    Team Cody

  • Team Caleb

    Team Caleb

  • Team Bradley

    Team Bradley

  • Team Renee

    Team Renee

  • Team Anisia

    Team Anisia

  • Team Callie

    Team Callie

    Callie has always wanted to join in her family's annual water blaster extravaganza, but due to her arthrogryposis (a condition that limits her hand mobility) she was never able to participate. Watch as our team of 7th and 8th graders work to use their 3D printing skills and ingenuity to help Callie. Her family had better watch out this year!

  • The Trike Team

    The Trike Team

    The Therapy & Learning Center helps many people in our local community. They have this really nice tricycle, but many of their clients who enjoy using it do not have the necessary muscle strength to steer it. Watch as this team of middle schoolers work to engineer a solution!

  • Team Ben

    Team Ben

    Ben is a 3-year-old boy who loves the movie Monsters, Inc. Due to a near-drowning accident, he suffers from vision impairment and neurological damage. Watch as these 2 college students use 3D printing, coding and a lot of hard work to make a very special toy just for Ben!

  • Team Adaptabus (Jariya)

    Team Adaptabus (Jariya)

    Jariya is a 3-year-old girl who is visually impaired and has cerebral palsy, but like most 3-year-olds she loves lights, music and toys. Watch as this team of 9th and 10th graders works to design and program a special toy and a special device just for Jariya!

  • Team Bingle Bangle (Natalie)

    Team Bingle Bangle (Natalie)

    Natalie is a 19-year-old with cerebral palsy who communicates using a head switch. When this team of high school students learned that Natalie likes the sound of jingle bells, they went to work designing, 3D printing and programming so that Natalie can play the bells!

  • Team Christian

    Team Christian

    Christian is a young man who loves playing video and computer games, but his muscular dystrophy has made it increasingly difficult for him to use a keyboard. Watch and see how these 3 eighth-grade boys use their 3D printing skills to help!

  • Dawson's Dream Team

    Dawson's Dream Team

    Dawson is a 6-year old boy with hip dysplasia, eye dysplasia and cerebral palsy. Watch as a team of 4th-7th graders imagine, design and code a new toy just for him.

  • Team Button (Judd)

    Team Button (Judd)

    Judd is a 5-year-old with cerebral palsy. He loves playing ball. Watch as this team of 5th and 6th grade boys make a way for Judd to play ball!

  • Team Hayden

    Team Hayden

    See how 4 high school students used 3D printing, coding and electronics to make it possible for Hayden to control her own music.

  • Team Dakota

    Team Dakota

    See how 4 middle school boys made it easier for Dakota to fish.

  • Team Amory

    Team Amory

    See how 4 students use 3D printing to help Amory play.

  • Team Addy

    Team Addy

    Three elementary school girls use 3D printing to help Addy "blow" bubbles.