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Makers Making Change Helps Occupational Therapists Find Affordable Assistive Technology Solutions for Their Clients

Since ’s inception in 2016, we’ve made it a priority to help occupational therapists across North America find affordable assistive technology solutions for their clients.

As a corporate partner of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), Makers Making Change has attended the CAOT conference every year since 2017. In 2018, we hosted an OT buildathon at the CAOT conference in Vancouver.

In our assistive device library, devices range from low tech solutions like the 3D printed , which can help a person with arthritis more easily grip a pen, to more high tech in nature, like the , a mouth operated joystick, which allows people without the use of their hands to use smartphones and tablets.

However, unlike commercial devices which are mass manufactured for profit, Makers Making Change devices are built by volunteer makers for the cost of parts, allowing occupational therapists to provide low cost solutions for clients. The designs are open source, meaning that the devices can also be customized for a clients needs.

Each week leading up to the CAOT Conference, we’ll be looking at occupational therapists and their experiences with Makers Making Change. If you’re attending CAOT 2022 in beautiful Whistler, BC, come say hello to us at booth #16.

Occupational Therapists Making Change

While many occupational therapists use Makers Making Change designs in their practice, many OTs also volunteer with MMC — some even lead chapters.

Scott Greenwood, who works in a private pediatric practice, co-leads the Surrey, BC Makers Making Change chapter.

“I learned about Makers Making Change and Neil Squire before I started OT school, and actually finding out about them and what they did was a big component of why I wanted to go to OT ������ǴDZ�,” he shares.

With his chapter, he recently helped switch adapt 15 toys for the Sunny Hill Health Centre.

“I always really resented how much assistive tech costs, and I hate how it doesn’t have to be that complicated,” he says.

In Sarnia, Ontario, occupational therapist Jordana Bengall leads the local Makers Making Change chapter.

A recent graduate of the occupational therapy program at Western University, in May 2021, she led 40 OT students there in a build event. Each OT student made at least one raindrop switch and a light touch switch — over 80 switches.

In Bay City, Michigan, pediatric occupational therapist Katie Butzu co-leads the local MMC chapter there. Along with co-chapter leader Mark Lyons, Katie has been using Makey Makey to create therapeutic exercises for children with disabilities, and as part of her chapter activities, led a in learning how to use Makey Makey and Scratch programming to make simple but fun exercises.

“[We wanted] to help meet unmet needs of students with disabilities. As an occupational therapist, my goal is to increase independence in meaningful occupations of individuals in need,” Katie says of her motivation to start a chapter in Michigan.

Loreto Dumitrescu is a pediatric occupational therapist based out of Brooklyn, New York. She co-leads the New York City chapter, and frequently hosts build events with local organizations, including a recent , where they adapted 15 toys to donate in New York City.

“I want to connect makers, health professionals, and users to help solve everyday needs around us,” Loreto says.

Looking for device that suits your clients needs? Check out our with 150 devices available open source addressing a wide range of needs. Have a need that isn’t addressed in our library? Suggest a to our community of makers. Looking to join the Makers Making Change community?

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