CREATE’s education initiatives train the next generation of technology designers, engineers, and product managers to be champions of accessibility.
We support teaching students and faculty about accessible technology and about accessible teaching and learning. We support this aim through curriculum development, educational events, grants for student research, and faculty commitment to advancing the field of pedagogy and accessibility. Our new Director of Education, Mark Harniss, has focused on CREATE’s collaboration with HuskyADAPT and on exploring a minor in accessibility.
We invite graduate and undergraduate students with interests in accessibility research, education or translation-to-practice to join CREATE.
Learn about Student Membership
Student members are welcome to participate in CREATE research and activities, such as:
Contact us
Email Mark Harniss CREATE Director for Education at mharniss@uw.edu.
HuskyADAPT
HuskyADAPT students organize toy adaptation events, workshops, and community-driven design projects.
Extracurricular and experiential:
Student competitions, -fests and -thons
CREATE, HuskyADAPT, the Taskar Center, and community partners host hackfests and hackathons each year. These events are intended to be fun, challenging, and accessible opportunities to generate new research ideas, pursue solutions to accessibility problems, work with mentors and peers, and gain new skills.
Farther afield
Student teams across the Pacific Northwest and across disciplines present their innovative research projects and compete for recognition and money prizes. All teams receive invaluable experience and feedback from judges. These challenges are hosted by the UW Foster School of Business’ Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship.
- Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge – April, with start-up workshops and planning sessions in January; applications due early February.
- Environmental Innovation Challenge – early April, with start-up workshops and planning sessions in February; applications due the first half of February.
- Sacia Digital Health Innovation Workshop – Mid-November, UW Population Health Initiative co-hosts student “idea-athon” on digital solutions to pressing problems in healthcare, with preparation for springtime innovation challenges.
CREATE EDUCATION NEWS
Students: Apply for HuskyADAPT Leadership Positions
April 7, 2025 CREATE students are encouraged to join the HuskyADAPT leadership team through a variety of student chair positions. Applications are being accepted through Friday, April 18. Being on the leadership team involves approximately 5 hours per week of commitment, though this may vary based on your role and upcoming events. The HuskyADAPT chairs…
Student Minigrant Story: Assistive-Feeding Robot Tested in the Real World
March 17, 2025 A team of UW researchers has been working on increasing the accuracy and the finer social aspects of an assistive-feeding robot. ADA, for Assistive Dexterous Arm, consists of a robotic arm that can be affixed to a power wheelchair or other sturdy furniture and controlled by the user. Through a web app,…
Coffee Chat Recaps - Winter 2025
March 4, 2025 CREATE has initiated Coffee Chats – one or two opportunities per month for conversation among faculty, student, staff, and industry and community partners. Topics have included opportunities for student involvement in CREATE, how researchers can benefit from community-engaged research, and where to find funding for research. These meetings have proved useful for…
Two Research Fellowships on Accessibility from UW Population Health
February 27, 2025 The UW’s Population Health Initiative announced two fellowships that may be of interest to CREATE graduate and undergraduate students. Accessibility of King County parks Graduate and undergraduate students from all UW schools and colleges are encouraged to apply for the Population Health Applied Research Fellowship on the accessibility of King County Parks. The…
Funding and training opportunities - Winter 2025
January 21, 2025 We've rounded up some great opportunities for accessibility research, funding, and training. Most notably, deadlines are approaching for two CREATE grants: CREATE Seed funding For projects that push boundaries and try new things, or need opportunistic funding in response to a new student, collaboration, or flash of insight. Apply for seed funds…