Scroll down to see a mix of projects and collaborations from my years with Adaptive Design at the Mass Hospital School (now the Rehabilitation Engineering Department at Pappas Rehab Hospital for Children). Working alongside an amazing team of teachers and therapists, we designed and built clever custom solutions that helped students gain greater accessibility, independence, and joy.
I was lucky to work with Paul Craig and Kris White from 1996–2004—and in many creative adventures since. Paul is a wonderfully whimsical designer with a gift for turning complex challenges into simple, joyful builds. After 30 years of creating thousands of projects for children and young adults, he’s now happily retired, building furniture, traveling, and working on his golf swing.
Kris, a loyal Red Sox fan and talented craftsman, now keeps things running smoothly as a building inspector in Massachusetts.
A 7 year old 70% burn victim who had lost most of his right hand function wanted to play baseball. We cast his hand in plaster to precisely measure, design and fabricate an orthopedic device from a lacrosse net, orthoplast, aluminum, 1/4" dowel, and a sheepskin and nylon strap.
We adapted a commercially available tricycle to meet the needs of a growing autistic child. The handlebars, seat,trunk /lateral support and foot pedals are all adjustable. 1" tig welded steel handlebars, 1/4" aluminum seat bracket, 1/4" abs trunk support with naugahyde cover and 1" aluminum trunk support bracket.
A visually/hearing impaired student was not able to use a small talking calculator. A new housing with highly contrasting button colors and simplified functions was designed and built. The circuit was modified using conductive epoxy and the housing was thermoformed with kydex plastic.
The vocational department wanted a young adult in a wheelchair to have a job selling coffee and donuts. A mobile vending unit that attaches to their power wheelchair was designed and built The trailer provided provisions for coffee, cream, milk, sugar, stirrers, cups, donuts and trash. all items were in dollar increments. The trailer was built with a 1/4" kydex A.B.S. vacuum formed plastic top, A.B.S. plastic coffee holders and a steel welded frame.
A child's electric wheelchair was being upgraded which required a new wheelchair tray. A cutout for a swing away controller was integrated. The tray slid in the steel tubes under armrest. The tray was constructed from 1/2"polycarbonate, p.v.c. rails, solid aluminum machined bars, 1/2" aluminum TIG welded bracket.
Students wanted an exciting and accessible mobile vending display case that enabled them to access and sell school supplies and knickknacks. Height adjusting work surfaces were integrated with a locking tambour door for viewing and security. We used 3/4" M.D.F. , 1/8" M.D.F. oak veneer tambour, 3/8" tempered glass, locking casters, welded steel inner leg structure, 3/4" aluminum leaf supports, and a custom locking mechanism.
Students were having difficulty in the computer lab accessing the computers. We designed & built 12 mobile, height adjusting (28"-36") computer workstations with storage. It was constructed from 3/4" baltic birch, 5/4" rosewood trim, rosewood knobs, locking casters and a suspa ® movotec lift.
A non-verbal child pulled aggressively at an intellikeys® communication device. A keyboard keyguard made with 1/8" clear polycarbonate and vacuum formed kydex plastic slides was designed and fabricated.
Computer mice were adapted with an integrated 1/8" mono female jack. Any accessible single switch can control computer software buttons.