9451447 Miller This project proposes developing an integrated, comprehensive design program for the laboratory curriculum in the Rehabilitation Engineering Technology (RET) program at Vermont Technical College (VTC). This new program prepares skilled technicians to provide rehabilitation engineering services to persons with disabilities -- from the design and manufacturing of assistive devices to working with people with disabilities in adapting their devices to the home and workplace. The objective of this design project will be to require students to utilize and/or modify available technology to design an environment which will improve the vocational opportunities and augment the daily living capabilities of a person with a disability. Thus, the goal of this proposal is to purchase a wide array of assistive devices in environmental control and computer access for students to use in an integrated, comprehensive, design experience. Working with vocational rehabilitation and users of assistive technology, the project director will develop a design problem for the students to solve. Student design projects will be evaluated and critiqued by persons with disabilities and rehabilitation professionals. The importance of such a project to the users of assistive technology is that by making assistive technology accessible and by integrating it into the user's environment, it expands the vocational potential of the user while improving the quality of life. The importance of such a project to the student is it expands their knowledge about all types of assistive devices, increases their problem solving skills, provides them with a comprehensive design experience, and provides them with the ability and knowledge to train users of assistive technology in the use of such equipment.
