Whitworth Engineering, Physical and Occupational Therapy Students Create Assistive Technology for Local Family

Last year Assistant Professor of Engineering & Physics David Schipf and his students were featured in a local newspaper article about an engineering project they collaborated on with students from Whitworth’s physical therapy and occupational therapy doctoral programs. It involved high-tech toys designed for children with disabilities.

One Spokane family saw it and reached out to Whitworth through Kindred Joy Coaching. They weren’t looking for a toy. Instead, they needed the type of technology that would assist their 6-year-old son, Ryken, who has cerebral palsy. He also has a history of epilepsy with uncontrolled seizures, vision and hearing impairments, scoliosis and left torticollis. Schipf and 10 students in his Principles of Engineering Design class, in consultation with eight OTD students and several DPT students, went to work on a prototype as part of their Assistive Technology (AT) Summer STEM interprofessional project.

Working with the boy’s mother, caretakers and educators, and funded by STEM grants, the students created an electronic learning station that can raise and lower Ryken as he sits in his chair. The station is very user-friendly, allowing Ryken to focus on his first-grade studies and putting him at eye-level with those speaking to him. He will also be able to move throughout the house as needed. 

“Our students were tasked with creating something that would be used in real-world healthcare settings,” Schipf says. “It took many months and evaluations to perfect the technology, but we are tremendously proud of the final product. This will be something Ryken can use every day. This is a perfect example of our mission at Whitworth and how to work together to deliver holistic, patient-centered care.” 

The Whitworth students and staff members involved in this incredible project presented the station to Ryken and his family on Sept. 2. 

Students are currently working on a second assistive technology project, a custom life-alert system, and will present it to the family of the 23-year-old woman who will be using it later this semester.

About Whitworth University:

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. 

Contacts: 

Trisha Coder, associate director of media relations, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu.