Student Design Competition June 15-19, 2007 in Phoenix, AZ

这笔资金是为了支持今年的学生设计竞赛(SDC)，这将是6月15-19日在凤凰城举行的2007年度RESNA会议的一部分。RESNA是唯一一个专注于为残疾人提供技术的国际组织。本组织由1,000多名个人成员和200多名机构成员--研究人员、制造商、临床医生、供应商、专业人员和技术设备和设备的最终用户--组成，其宗旨是改善残疾人的健康和参与主流社会。为此，RESNA通过一系列计划和活动支持那些从事研究、开发、教育、宣传和提供技术的个人，除了年度会议外，这些计划和活动还包括针对辅助技术从业者、供应商和康复工程技术员的认证计划，以及赞助的项目。RESNA是ANSI指定的为残疾人使用的产品制定自愿标准的国家机构。第一届SDC于1980年举行，作为首届RESNA会议的一部分。自那以后，从来自110多所不同大学的学生提交的600多份作品中，已有200多件设计被评为获奖作品。SDC参赛作品只能代表学生的作品，包括设计文档，但本科生和研究生都有资格提交参赛作品。许多过去参加这次活动的人现在是与残疾人技术相关的服务、研究和教育领域的领导者。复活节海豹突击队和美国瘫痪退伍军人组织等国家公认的残疾组织以及强生公司的一个子公司为过去的残疾控制提供了支持。NSF自2005年以来一直是支持者，今年的资金将使SDC进一步扩大和加强，以便包括更多的参赛作品和对更多设计团队的支持，特别是来自少数族裔、妇女和残疾人的设计团队。大会网站上发布了参会邀请，并向拥有工程和设计学院的主要学院和大学发出了邀请，其中包括历史上的黑人学院和大学。一个由5名评委组成的团队将根据在RESNA会议上做出的最终选择对参赛作品进行预选。多达15支队伍将被邀请参加会议，最终选出5支队伍作为最终获胜者。将举行为期半天的平台会议，15个团队将在大会上向评委和公众观众介绍情况。评委将有机会向设计团队提问并提出建议和建议。评委将根据使用数字评分的标准做出最终决定。评选结束后，学生们将有机会在展览馆开幕式上展示和谈论他们的项目。欲了解更多信息，请访问http://www.resna.org/Conference/Conference.php.Broader Impact：一年一度的RESNA会议和学生设计大赛相结合，为在职和有经验的康复工程师与即将进入该领域的学生之间的互动创造了一个独特的论坛。在国家科学基金会第三年的支持下，SDC在其新的和扩大的形式中，甚至更好地处于促进创新和创造力的地位，最终目标是生产能够促进残疾人独立的技术。该活动以本科生为主要对象，将为参与者提供经验和技能，帮助他们在工程和设计职业生涯中取得成功，并将进一步鼓励、支持和指导不同学科的学生参与辅助技术和康复工程领域。

This is funding to support this year's Student Design Competition (SDC), which will be part of the 2007 annual RESNA conference to be held June 15-19 in Phoenix. RESNA is the one organization with an international focus that is devoted solely to technology for individuals with disabilities. Comprised of over 1,000 individual and 200 institutional members - researchers, manufacturers, clinicians, suppliers, professionals and end-users of technology devices and equipment - the organization has as its purpose to improve the health and participation of people with disabilities in mainstream society. To this end, RESNA supports those individuals engaged in research, development, education, advocacy and the provision of technology through a number of programs and activities, which in addition to the annual conference include a credentialing program for assistive technology practitioners, suppliers and rehabilitation engineering technologists, as well as sponsored projects. RESNA serves as the ANSI-designated national body for development of voluntary standards for products used by persons with disabilities. The first SDC was held in 1980 as part of the inaugural RESNA conference. Since then, over 200 designs have been identified as winning entries, chosen from more than 600 submissions by students from over 110 different universities. SDC entries must represent the work of STUDENTS ONLY, including the documentation of the design, but both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to submit entries. Many past participants in the event are now leaders in service, research, and educational areas related to technology for people with disabilities. Support for past SDCs has been provided by nationally recognized disability organizations such as Easter Seals and Paralyzed Veterans of America, as well as by a subsidiary of the Johnson & Johnson Company. NSF has been a supporter since 2005, and this year's funding will enable the SDC to be further expanded and enhanced so as to include more entries and support for more design teams, especially from minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities. A call for participation has been posted on the conference website, and also sent out to major colleges and universities with engineering and design schools, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities. A team of 5 judges will pre-select entries with the final selections made at the RESNA Conference. Up to 15 teams will be invited to attend the conference with 5 teams ultimately selected as the final winners. A half-day platform session will be held in which the 15 teams will make presentations before the judges and public audience at the conference. Judges will have an opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions and recommendations to the design teams. Judges will make final decisions based on criteria using numeric scoring. After the judging contest, students will have an opportunity to exhibit and talk about their projects at the Exhibit Hall opening. More information is available online at http://www.resna.org/Conference/Conference.php.Broader Impacts: The annual RESNA Conference and the Student Design Competition combine to create a unique forum for interaction between working and experienced rehabilitation engineers and students who are about to enter the field. In its new and expanded format thanks to NSF support for the third year now, the SDC is even better positioned to foster innovation and creativity, with the ultimate goal of producing technology that can contribute to the independence of individuals with disabilities. Unique in its primary focus on undergraduates, the event will provide participants with experience and skills that assist them to be successful in their engineering and design careers, and will further encourage, support and mentor students in various disciplines to become involved in the assistive technology and rehabilitation engineering fields