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 Noah

    Team Noah

    Noah loves Farming Simulator on the PS5, but limited hand and arm control makes gaming a challenge. These five middle school boys worked together to design and build an adaptive solution to help Noah play more independently. See their project in action!

  • Team River

    Team River

    River loves fidget toys, but since he has cerebral palsy his therpists and his family have trouble finding suitable toys for him. Check out what these boys were able to make for him!

  • Team Chad

    Team Chad

    Every night, Chad watches Wheel of Fortune. He loves game shows—but because of his cerebral palsy, finding games he can play himself can be difficult. So these high school boys decided to create one just for him.

  • Team Steven

    Team Steven

    Steven has cerebral palsy, which can make fine motor skills challenging. These teenage boys wanted to design and build some games he could truly enjoy playing. Through creativity, engineering, and a lot of problem-solving, they created something just for him.

  • Team Leteesha

    Team Leteesha

    Leteesha is outgoing, social, and full of personality — but communicating verbally can be difficult. Watch how these 5 college students designed and built a custom communication device to help her connect with those around her.

  • Team Liam

    Team Liam

    Preschooler Liam loves story time, but his disability makes it difficult for him to turn the pages of a book on his own. So these teenage boys got to work! Using 3D printing, coding, electronics, and plenty of problem-solving, they built a device designed to help Liam experience books more independently.

  • Team Ella

    Team Ella

    Ella loves dancing and music, but staying focused on daily tasks can be a challenge. So these six girls set out to create a device that uses Ella’s love of music to help motivate and guide her through everyday activities.