HuskyADAPT Mini Hackathon: Adaptive Solutions

November 18, 2024

This month, CREATE’s ARRT postdocs and HuskyADAPT students partnered with our partners King County Library Systems (KCLS) and Washington Assistive Technology Act Program (WATAP) to put on an impressive and successful hackfest. The goal was to design 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. 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 surfaces 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 hackfest:

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

Stacy Hsueh, CREATE ARRT postdoctoral researcher

“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, as shown in the photo below and included multiple community members (more than one with disabilities), at least four CREATE Ph.D. students, at least 2 ARRT post docs, lots of HuskyADAPT students, and more.

A close-up image of a person with a white cane adapted with an arm brace and grip that allows neutral position of the wrist.

Close-up image of a lever that can be attached to an electronic control panel to, for example, more easily press a button on a microwave.

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