Empowering Individuals with Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology
Amy Hurst, Jasmine Tobias · 2011 · The Proceedings of the 13th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS) · doi:10.1145/2049536.2049541
Summary
This paper investigates the potential of Do-It-Yourself (DIY) approaches to address the persistent problem of assistive technology abandonment, where 35% or more of purchased AT devices end up unused. The authors argue that empowering non-engineers to create, modify, or build their own assistive technology can directly address the four main factors behind abandonment: lack of user input in selection, ease of obtaining inappropriate devices, poor device performance, and changing user needs. The paper presents three case studies. The first documents art instructors at United Cerebral Palsy Pittsburgh who spent a year and trying commercial head pointers (- each) for people who paint without using their hands, only to build a superior solution from a adjustable face shield with a wooden dowel and paintbrush. The second profiles a retired hobbyist who has created over 170 assistive device designs shared freely through his website (workshopsolutions.com), including a wheelchair cup holder costing under compared to for commercial equivalents. The third case study presents interviews with four power wheelchair users about their modification desires, finding all had concrete, achievable ideas for improvements to comfort, safety, and quality of life.
Key findings
The case studies revealed three primary motivations for DIY-AT: increased control over design elements, passion for problem-solving, and significant cost savings. The head pointer case demonstrated that custom-built AT can be simultaneously cheaper, lighter, and more functional than commercial alternatives. The hobbyist case study showed strong community demand, with 47% of the 170+ designs on the website contributed by visitors, and nearly 70,000 site visits. Interviews with wheelchair users found that desired modifications were mostly minor and easily achievable, yet none had attempted them — participants were concerned about voiding warranties or breaking equipment but were willing to try if involved in the process. The paper maps DIY-AT onto Rogers' five stages of technology adoption (knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, confirmation) and argues that rapid prototyping tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines, combined with online sharing communities like Thingiverse and Instructables, can support each stage. The authors also highlight open-source hardware projects like Arduino and the EyeWriter (a eye-tracking drawing tool for people with ALS) as models for community-driven AT development.
Relevance
This paper was prescient in identifying trends that have since transformed assistive technology development. The maker movement and 3D printing have indeed become significant forces in AT creation, with organizations like e-NABLE producing thousands of 3D-printed prosthetic hands. The core argument — that giving users control over AT design improves adoption — remains highly relevant as the AT field continues to grapple with abandonment rates. For accessibility practitioners and organizations, the paper offers practical insights: the most impactful DIY-AT solutions are often low-tech and inexpensive, commercial AT is frequently over-priced relative to its manufacturing cost, and online communities can dramatically amplify the reach of individual solutions. The work also raises important questions about quality assurance, safety, and how to make DIY approaches accessible to people with disabilities who may face additional barriers to using fabrication tools.
Tags: assistive technology · DIY assistive technology · maker culture · 3D printing · rapid prototyping · assistive technology abandonment · participatory design · online communities · disability rights