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HuskyADAPT Mini Hackathon: Adaptive Solutions

November 18, 2024

This month, CREATE’s ARRT postdocs and HuskyADAPT students collaborated to put on an impressive and successful hackathon. The team worked with our partners King County Library Systems and Washington Assistive Technology Act Program on the event where teams designed adaptations to everyday challenges for people with disabilities.

All six teams came up with innovative solutions. No prizes were given out, but the best “prize” is that there is a plan to further develop the most feasible solutions and give them out to the community through the WATAP 3D printing library and at the 2025 DSHS Community Summit in June.

Collage of photos from the Adaptive Solutions Mini Hackathon in November 2024, including a prototype lever for pushing microwave buttons, a white cane with arm cuff for users with wrist injuries, presentations of prototypes and participants collaborating.
See photos from the hackathon

The projects worked on include:

  • A portable bidet for safe toileting out of the home, representing an important category of AT that is rarely talked about or developed and incredibly important
  • A white cane modification for someone with a repetitive strain injury in their hand or other wrist trouble
  • A way to push a microwave button that reduces the force needed a lot
  • A universal make up brush holder
  • A device for pulling on pants
A well lit room at the Bellevue Library Makerspace. Rolling tables and flexible seating for accessibility, with several 3D printers on the left. Work tables are covered with projects in progress and surrounded by about 18 people.

All of this was accomplished in just over three hours and the energy in the room was fun and positive throughout the event. 

CREATE Director Jennifer Mankoff had high praise for the event and organizers, thanking all collaborators. 

“We’ve been lucky to have HuskyAdapt leading the way in cultivating a relationship with KCLS alongside Kathleen Quin Voss, CREATE’s Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager, and ongoing help from a series of ARRT post docs. All of this work really paid off in this amazing (I hope just the first) event.”

–Jennifer Mankoff, CREATE Director

Our thanks to all of the organizers for an amazing and successful event! In particular, these organizers ensured a productive and meaningful hackathon:

Stacy Hsueh, an Asian woman. She is smiling, looking away from the camera, against a bright background

Stacy Hsueh, a 2023-2026 CREATE ARRT postdoctoral researcher working with Jennifer Mankoff and Anat Caspi in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering.

As a lead organizer, Dr. Hsueh offered appreciation after the event:

“Thanks to all for making Saturday’s hackathon a success. I left feeling invigorated and inspired by everyone’s generosity with their ideas and energy.”

Annika Pfister. She is smiling and wearing a black top.

Annika Pfister, HuskyADAPT Outreach Chair and 2nd year Ph.D. student in Electrical & Computer Engineering

Vaishi Sistla. She is smiling and wearing a black dress and glasses. She is standing in front of a body of water and dry field.

Vaishi Sistla, HuskyADAPT Community Engagement Chair and 2nd year undergraduate student in Bioengineering

Brennan Johnston, a young man with dark hair and a beard. He is standing in front of colorful shrubs and trees.

Brennen Johnston, WATAP Assistive Technology Support Technician

Attendance was robust and included multiple community members (more than one with disabilities), at least four CREATE Ph.D. students, at least two ARRT postdocs, lots of HuskyADAPT students, and more. 

Two adaptation hackfest participants with tools in hand, ready to get started.
Two adaptation hackfest participants seated at a table, pausing for a photo.
At a 3D printer, two adaptation hackfest participants checking progress. One person is using a power wheelchair and the other is standing.
Closeup of an adaptation hackfest prototype for a microwave button pressing tool. A cardboard box is used to represent the microwave and a 3D printed lever is placed on top.
An adaptation hackfest team presenting their project. They are at the front of the room with a projected slide describing the challenge for a person with dwarfism who seeks a solution to public bathroom challenges.
A team of four adaptation hackfest participants presenting the challenge they have addressed: and adaptation for makeup brush handles, which are small and round and tend to roll away.
An adaptation hackfest team member presenting a prototype white cane adapted with a cuff and handle for a user with wrist injuries.
A group of 5 adaptation hackfest participants in discussion at a table in the library. One is using a power wheelchair and two are working on laptops.
Four adaptation hackfest participants working at a table covered in cardboard, tools, and a laptop.
Three adaptation hackfest participants working with foam pool noodles, a flexible tube and a pump to create a prototype portable bidet.
Three adaptation hackfest participants stand at tables covered in prototyping materials. Behind them is a banner that says Discovery.
A closeup of a cardboard "microwave" with a 3D printed lever for pressing buttons with less force.
Closeup of a team working on an assistive device for putting on pants. They are using wire, cardboard, tape and various tools.
An adaptation hackfest participant presents their team's prototype: A device to assist with pulling up pants for a person who uses prosthetics.
An adaptation hackfest participant demonstrates their team's prototype: A device to assist with pulling up pants for a person who uses prosthetics.
An adaptation hackfest participant presents their team's prototype: A device to assist with pulling up pants for a person who uses prosthetics. They have maneuvered their arms into loops attached to a cardboard belt.
An adaptation hackfest participant presents their team's challenge. Behind them is an overhead with their challenge: to create a prototype portable bidet.

Related resources and events

HuskyADAPT Projects

Through workshops, hackathons and design events, students, engineers, clinicians, and community members learn to adapt toys for people with disabilities – creating an innovative and inclusive environment for adapted play.

More about HuskyADAPT

WATAP Technology for Independence

The Washington Assistive Technology Act Program serves seniors and persons with disabilities by helping with assistive technology that makes tasks easier or possible in school, at work, at home, and in the community.

More about WATAP