# Team-Based Design of Assistive Technology Devices

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · 2021 · $41,198

## Abstract

Project Summary
The goal of this proposed educational program is to train and create a biomedical engineering workforce
capable of identifying and addressing the assistive technology device needs of persons with disabilities.
Training will revolve around the design and development of assistive technology devices that satisfy the needs
of persons with disabilities, are not abandoned by the user, and which demonstrate an understanding of the
social, ethical, environmental, and technical challenges associated with the use of assistive technology
devices. We propose a unique educational program aimed at enabling undergraduate Biomedical Engineering
students to design such assistive technology devices in a team-based environment. Implementing two
undergraduate courses, a summer clinical immersion and several community immersion activities, we will
achieve our goal by completing three specific aims: 1) To provide a multidisciplinary team-based design
experience, 2) To provide a unique holistic biomedical training associated with adoption and use of assistive
technology devices, 3) To provide training in assistive technology device needs through clinical and community
immersion experiences. This educational program will be offered in a partnership between the University of
Kentucky F. Joseph Halcomb III MD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Department of Physical
Medicine and Rehabilitation, and the Human Development Institute (a statewide extension network for persons
with disabilities in Kentucky). Each cycle of the program will take one year and will start with a spring semester
course on social, technical, ethical, and economic challenges associated with design and use of assistive
technology devices. With the Human Development Institute as a program partner, participating students will be
able to complete several community immersion activities as a part of this course wherein they will closely
observe the interactions between practitioners, persons with disabilities and their family members. A summer
clinical immersion will also be offered as a part of the proposed program wherein 12 undergraduate
engineering students (10 from Biomedical Engineering) will complete 200 hours of clinical observation activities
at a local rehabilitation hospital (Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital). Participants will be trained to identify
unaddressed assistive technology device needs during clinical and community immersion experiences.
Trainees will then be coached to design and prototype biomedical engineering solutions for a select number of
the identified assistive technology needs. A special consideration will be given to user needs when guiding
student teams in their projects. The proposed educational program will be led by a team of three program
directors with complementary engineering, clinical, and community expertise who have piloted a successful run
of the proposed program during the 2019-2020 academic year. Participation of non-engineering stud...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10195149
- **Project number:** 1R25HD106831-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY
- **Principal Investigator:** Christina Espinosa Bard
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $41,198
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10195149

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10195149, Team-Based Design of Assistive Technology Devices (1R25HD106831-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10195149. Licensed CC0.

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