IMS Lakerbots team builds wheelchair accessible desk for preschooler

MEREDITH — Inter-Lakes Middle High Schools' first Robotics team, The Lakerbots, in association with the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math department completed a collaborative project with Inter-Lakes Elementary School. The team worked to custom build, design, and manufacture a wheelchair accessible desk for a preschooler attending ILES.

This fall, a request by the ILES Occupational Therapist and Special Education Department was made to the team to solve a unique problem. No commercially available desk was available to accommodate a sitting and standing wheelchair. Based on many factors including accessibility, safety, aesthetics, mobility, and a variety of size constraints, a desk designed by the students in Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing class was created and completed. The project involved over 25 students that all contributed to this effort in some way, including:

Communicating with the student in need as well as the Occupational Therapist about design parameters.

Brainstorming ideas, selecting and developing two alternative concepts to present to the OT and team.

Developing a full CAD model of the chosen concept, including appropriate fasteners.

Designing and iterating a unique clamp and spring mechanism to allow the desk to be adjusted.

Developing a budget and purchase orders for off the shelf parts and stock materials that were incorporated into the design as well as a timeline for delivery of the pieces.

Using traditional and advanced manufacturing techniques to fabricate the parts including CNC and 3D printing technologies.

Iterating the design based on initial feedback from the OT.

With this project, the students were able to use the skills taught in the STEAM department classes to help solve a real life engineering problem. With the use of this desk the student will be able to participate in activities to a greater extent, specifically being able to develop kinesthetic skills while maintaining a clear line of sight with her classmates. This was a great opportunity for the Lakerbots team and all participants to give back to the community in a meaningful way. Many of the student were eager to show the community that “The big kids care about the little kids.”