AT Makers: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Co-Designing Assistive Technologies by Co-Optimizing Expert Knowledge

Abstract

Assistive technology (AT) improves the functional abilities of individuals with disabilities and enables them to perform activities of daily living independently. Custom-made ATs have recently received considerable attention because generic, ready-made, as-is AT solutions often do not properly address the unique and intricate issues arising from physical impairments. In this paper, we report on a series of workshops with the goal of studying how three distinct types of participants—occupational therapists (OTs), industrial designers (IDs), and an end-user with physical disabilities—co-designed do-it-yourself (DIY) ATs. We conducted a total of four co-design workshops in which we investigated the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach in designing AT solutions. We did so primarily by studying OT–ID–user knowledge exchange processes. The workshop results indicate that such collaboration empowers participants in a synergistic manner, thus giving rise to a combined expertise that is greater than the sum of their isolated skills, knowledge, and expertise. In other words, this combined expertise—comprised of clinical expertise; design expertise; and personal experiences, insights, and knowledge—resulted in the co-creation of novel and advanced AT solutions.