Health sciences graduate students are helping local children in need with customized tools and furniture, made primarily out of cardboard.
They have organized an adaptive design project fair to showcase their work from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. on April 3, 2018, at the Murphy Deming College of Health Sciences (MDCHS) in Fishersville.
Students in occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) doctoral programs at MDCHS designed and constructed custom, adaptive products primarily out of cardboard as part of their pediatrics courses, led by Dr. Pam Stephenson and Dr. Carolyn Moore.
Students also traveled to New York City to learn these techniques and received a grant to fund their work. Collaborating with community partner organizations, groups of OT and PT students assess a child in need, design an appropriate piece of adaptive equipment or furniture, and construct the piece to individualized specifications. The Adaptive Design Project Fair is the culminating event for them to showcase these products and partnerships.
