Undergraduate Design Projects to Aid Persons with Disabilities

建议编号：0962380作为怀俄明大学工程与应用科学学院(CE&A；AS)工程课程的一部分，学生必须完成有意义的本科设计经历。另一方面，怀俄明州有超过7.3万名残疾人有不同的需求。这一计划将在大学有才华的学生和有辅助技术(AT)需求的个人之间提供重要的联系。学生将创造和提供原型，定制设计的辅助设备，将提高个人的生活质量。此外，该计划还将培训新的设计工程师，了解社区残疾成员的特殊需求。此外，我们相信这个项目将继续吸引更多的女性工程专业学生。我们将在下一个增量项目中推出以下新举措：-建立一个由辅助技术专业人员、工程师和项目用户组成的审查小组，以确保项目满足用户？S的需求。小组将在项目开发期间召开多次会议。-扩大项目基础，将相邻州的项目请求包括在内。-评估工科学生在AT教学模块后对概念的掌握情况。-提供基于网络的项目提交网站，以简化项目请求流程。-通过网站、风能出版物和向适当的小组宣传计划。-扩展项目技术，以增强接受者的独立性(例如，个人局域网、基于网络的安全监测、自主轮椅、制定一套可衡量的计划指标，以每年评估计划的成功。为了实现计划目标，工程与应用科学学院与怀俄明州残疾人研究所(WIND)建立了合作伙伴关系。PI史蒂文·巴雷特博士，博士，体育，将担任工程与应用科学学院的协调员，以确定适当的学生专业知识来完成特定的项目。自1994年以来，Wind一直是怀俄明大学(UW)健康科学学院的一部分。作为发育障碍教育、研究和服务大学卓越中心(UCEDD)全国网络的成员，WIND为该大学和整个怀俄明州提供教学、研究、信息和社区服务。Wind副主任，Sandy Root-Elledge，M.A.，将致力于为本科工程专业的学生确定具体的AT项目，以设计、建造、测试和交付给残疾人士，并为所有工程专业的学生提供辅助技术和残疾意识培训。拟议活动的智力价值：-拟议的活动将允许继续通过国家科学基金会的研究援助残疾人计划在发展残疾领域为残疾人建设项目。这个项目在整个州和地区都有很大的需求。-这些项目将允许学生以跨学科的团队方式完成所需的两个学期的高级设计项目。该团队包括机械和电气工程专业的学生、辅助技术专业人员、照顾者以及适当的目标用户和家庭成员。这受到Abet，Inc.认证机构的高度鼓励。-拟议的项目将教育新的工程师，使他们了解社区残疾成员在职业生涯早期的特殊需求，包括那些没有参加NSF赞助的项目的人。拟议活动的广泛影响：-拟议的设计项目应有助于提高残疾人的生活质量。将特别强调独立的生活技术。-鼓励学生进入研究生院和AT相关领域就业。-鼓励更多代表不足的学生群体(例如工程学领域的女性)参与。-向工程学学生提供对残疾和辅助技术的认识。

PI: Barrett, Steven F.Proposal Number: 0962380As part of the University of Wyoming, College of Engineering and Applied Science (CE&AS) engineering curriculum, students are required to complete a meaningful undergraduate design experience. On the other hand, there are over 73,000 individuals with disabilities in the state of Wyoming with diverse needs. This program will provide a vital link between the University's talented students and individuals with assistive technology (AT) needs. Students will create and provide prototype, custom designed assistive devices which will enhance the quality of life for the individual. Also, this program will educate new design engineers on the special needs of community members with disabilities. Furthermore, we believe this program will continue to attract additional female engineering students.We will launch the following new initiatives in the next increment of the program:- Establish a review panel of assistive technology professionals, engineers, and project users to insure project meets the user?s needs. The panel will meet several times during project development.-Expand the project base regionally to include project requests from adjoining states.- Assess engineering students grasp of concepts after the AT instructional module.- Provide a web-based project submission site to ease the project request process.- Advertise program via websites, WIND publications, and presentations to appropriate groups.- Expand project technologies to enhance recipients' independence (e.g. personal area networks, web-based safety monitoring, autonomous wheelchairs, etc.).- Develop measurable set of program metrics to assess program success annually.To accomplish program objectives the College of Engineering and Applied Science has partnered with the Wyoming INstitute for Disabilities (WIND). The PI Dr. Steven Barrett, Ph.D., P.E. will serve as the coordinator for the College of Engineering and Applied Science to identify the appropriate student expertise to accomplish a specific project. WIND has been a part of the University of Wyoming (UW), College of Health Sciences since 1994. As a member of the national network of University Centers of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDD), WIND provides teaching, research, information, and community services to both the University and Wyoming at large. WIND Associate Director, Sandy Root-Elledge, M.A., will serve to identify specific AT projects for undergraduate engineering students to design, build, test, and deliver to individuals with disabilities as well as provide assistive technology and disability awareness training to all engineering students.Intellectual Merit of the Proposed Activity:- The proposed activities will allow the continued construction of projects for individuals with disabilities in the area of developmental disabilities through the Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities (RAPD) program at the NSF. This project has a dramatic need throughout the state and the region.- These projects will allow students to complete the required two-semester senior design project in an interdisciplinary team approach. The team includes mechanical and electrical engineering students, assistive technology professionals, caregivers, and the intended users and family members where appropriate. This is highly encouraged by the ABET, Inc. accreditation body.- The proposed projects will educate new engineers on the special needs of community members with disabilities early in their careers including those not participating in the NSF sponsored projects.Broader Impacts of the Proposed Activity:- The proposed design projects should contribute to the quality of life for disabled individuals. Special emphasis will be placed on independent living technologies.- Encourage students toward graduate school and employment in AT related fields.- Encourage more participation by under-represented student groups (e.g. women in engineering).- Provide engineering students with awareness about disabilities and assistive technology.