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• Grassroots Maker Perspectives on Participation in Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology Development

  Saquib Sarwar, David Wilson, Khairul Mahbub · 2026 · Proceedings of the 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '26)

  Sarwar, Wilson, and Mahbub interviewed 20 grassroots DIY assistive-technology (DIY-AT) makers in the U.S. between July 2021 and December 2023 to build a maker-centered account of the DIY-AT ecosystem. Participants were recruited from social media (Reddit r/AssistiveTechnology,…

  DIY assistive technology · assistive technology · 3D printing · digital fabrication · makerspace

• Small Devices, Large Changes: Investigating the Impact of a University-Government 3D-Printed Assistive Technology Program on Residents with Disabilities

  Krystal Yangmengzi Zhang, Erin Higgins, Agnny Vannessa Morant, Foad Hamidi · 2025 · ASSETS 2025: 27th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper investigates a DIY Assistive Technology (DIY-AT) program created through a collaboration between a university makerspace at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and the Maryland Department of Disabilities Assistive Technology (MDOD-AT) program. Using an…

  DIY assistive technology · 3D printing · action research · makerspace · university-government collaboration

• Exploring AI-Fabrication in Shaping the Future of DIY-AT Design: Insights from Makers

  Leila Aflatoony, Mixuan Li, Yiyun Zhang, Irene Jacob, Shujian Xu, Ziqi Tang, Andre Grossberg · 2025 · ASSETS 2025: 27th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper investigates how generative AI can support Do-It-Yourself assistive technology (DIY-AT) design and fabrication. The researchers developed a web-based GenAI interface that combines text-to-image generation (via MidJourney) and image-to-3D model conversion (via Meshy…

  assistive technology · generative AI · digital fabrication · 3D printing · DIY assistive technology

• An Ecosystem of Support: A U.S. State Government-Supported DIY-AT Program for Residents with Disabilities

  Erin Higgins, Marie E Sakowicz, Foad Hamidi · 2024 · ASSETS '24: Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper documents an Action Research study in which the authors collaborated with the Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD) to launch and study a state-level Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology (DIY-AT) program. The program connected people with disabilities who needed…

  assistive technology · DIY · digital fabrication · 3D printing · makerspaces

• Designing Accessible Adaptations for an Electronic Toolkit with Blind and Low Vision Users

  Jacqueline Johnstone, Madhuka Nadeeshani, Hanmin Chen, Mohith Vemula, Erica J Tandori, Kate Stephens, Hashini Senaratne, Kirsten Ellis, Swamy Ananthanarayan · 2024 · ASSETS '24: Proceedings of the 26th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility

  This paper presents the co-design and evaluation of accessible adaptations to an existing modular electronic toolkit (Bricktronics) to make electronics learning accessible to blind and low vision (BLV) users. Computational and electronics toolkits are widely used in STEM…

  blind and low vision · electronics education · co-design · digital fabrication · 3D printing

• Barriers and Benefits: The Path to Accessible Makerspaces

  Katherine H. Allen, Audrey K. Balaska, Reuben M. Aronson, Chris Rogers, Elaine Schaertl Short · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2023)

  This paper investigates the intersection of makerspace culture and the disability community, exploring how makerspaces can better support the development of assistive technologies by and for disabled makers. The researchers conducted eleven semi-structured interviews with two…

  makerspaces · DIY assistive technology · co-design · inclusion · accessibility barriers

• Towards a Social Justice Aligned Makerspace: Co-designing Custom Assistive Technology within a University Ecosystem

  Higgins, Erin, Oliver, Zaria, Hamidi, Foad · 2023 · Proceedings of the 25th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper explores how university makerspaces can serve as sites for co-designing custom Do-It-Yourself assistive technology (DIY-AT) while simultaneously engaging with social justice issues faced by students with disabilities. Conducted at the University of Maryland, Baltimore…

  DIY assistive technology · 3D printing · digital fabrication · makerspaces · co-design

• Creating 3D Printed Assistive Technology Through Design Shortcuts: Leveraging Digital Fabrication Services to Incorporate 3D Printing into the Physical Therapy Classroom

  Erin Higgins, William Berkley Easley, Karen L. Gordes, Amy Hurst, Foad Hamidi · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS)

  This paper investigates how to integrate 3D printing into physical therapy (PT) education without requiring PT students to become experts in CAD or digital fabrication. Previous research showed that while 3D printing has great potential for creating customized assistive…

  3D printing · assistive technology · digital fabrication · physical therapy · education

• Low-Cost Tactile Coloring Page Fabrication on a Cutting Machine: Assembly and user experiences of cardstock-layered tangible pictures

  Nicole Johnson, Tom Yeh, Ann Cunningham · 2022 · Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '22)

  This short paper presents a design inquiry into using a consumer-grade Cricut cutting machine to create tactile pictures and coloring pages by layering cardstock, as a low-cost alternative to traditional tactile image production methods. The technique, developed over three…

  tactile graphics · blindness · low vision · early learning · DIY assistive technology

• Teaching Digital Fabrication to Early Intervention Specialists for Designing Their Own Tools

  Florian Güldenpfennig, Peter Fikar, Roman Ganhör · 2020 · Proceedings of the 22nd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '20)

  This demonstration paper describes a co-design project in which researchers from New Design University and TU Wien taught basic digital fabrication skills to four experienced early intervention therapists who work with children with cerebral visual impairment (CVI). CVI is an…

  digital fabrication · DIY assistive technology · co-design · early intervention · cerebral visual impairment

• TIP-Toy: a tactile, open-source computational toolkit to support learning across visual abilities

  Giulia Barbareschi, Enrico Costanza, Catherine Holloway · 2020 · Proceedings of the 22nd International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2020)

  This paper presents TIP-Toy (Tactile Inclusive Programming Toy), an open-source educational programming toolkit using physical blocks and music output, designed for children ages 6-11 with mixed visual abilities — from full sight to total blindness. The fundamental problem is…

  visual accessibility · STEM education · tangible interaction · blindness and low vision · inclusive design

• Making "Making" Accessible

  Amy Hurst · 2018 · Proceedings of the 15th International Web for All Conference (W4A)

  This keynote abstract presents Amy Hurst's research program on making DIY (Do-It-Yourself) assistive technology creation accessible to end-users, clinicians, and caregivers. The talk addresses a fundamental problem: a large percentage of assistive technologies end up unused or…

  DIY assistive technology · 3D printing · digital fabrication · assistive technology abandonment · maker movement

• Investigating the Implications of 3D Printing in Special Education

  Erin Buehler, Niara Comrie, Megan Hofmann, Samantha McDonald, Amy Hurst · 2016 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing (TACCESS)

  This paper investigates the use of 3D printing in special education settings through case studies at three sites serving students with cognitive, motor, and visual impairments, and presents GripFab, a simplified 3D modeling tool designed for occupational therapists (OTs) to…

  3D printing · digital fabrication · special education · assistive technology · DIY assistive technology

• Customizable 3D Printed Tactile Maps as Interactive Overlays

  Brandon Taylor, Anind Dey, Dan Siewiorek, Asim Smailagic · 2016 · Proceedings of the 18th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '16)

  This paper presents an end-to-end system that enables visually impaired individuals to independently design, customize, and interact with 3D printed tactile maps. Traditional tactile map production has been limited by high costs (Braille embossers range from $1,800 to $80,000;…

  tactile maps · tactile graphics · 3D printing · visual impairment · navigation

• Uncovering Challenges and Opportunities for 3D Printing Assistive Technology with Physical Therapists

  Samantha McDonald, Niara Comrie, Erin Buehler, Nicholas Carter, Braxton Dubin, Karen Gordes, Sandy McCombe-Waller, Amy Hurst · 2016 · Proceedings of the 18th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS '16)

  This paper investigates the feasibility and challenges of integrating 3D printing into physical therapy (PT) practice for creating customized assistive technology (AT). Physical therapists routinely modify standardized AT devices using temporary materials like Velcro, tape, and…

  3D printing · assistive technology · DIY assistive technology · physical disability · digital fabrication

• Transcribing Across the Senses: Community Efforts to Create 3D Printable Accessible Tactile Pictures for Young Children with Visual Impairments

  Abigale Stangl, Chia-Lo Hsu, Tom Yeh · 2015 · ASSETS '15: Proceedings of the 17th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility

  This formative study investigates how different stakeholder communities approach designing 3D printable accessible tactile pictures (3DP-ATPs) for young children with visual impairments. While 3D printing offers potential to democratize tactile material production—traditionally…

  3D printing · tactile graphics · visual impairment · children · emergent literacy

• Inclusion and Education: 3D Printing for Integrated Classrooms

  Erin Buehler, William Easley, Samantha McDonald, Niara Comrie, Amy Hurst · 2015 · ASSETS '15: Proceedings of the 17th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility

  This research addresses the severe employment gap facing adults with intellectual disabilities (ID)—over 60% unemployment versus roughly 25% for the general population—by exploring whether 3D printing skills can be taught in integrated postsecondary settings. The study is…

  intellectual disability · 3D printing · inclusive education · postsecondary education · employability

• ABC and 3D: Opportunities and Obstacles to 3D Printing in Special Education Environments

  Erin Buehler, Shaun K. Kane, Amy Hurst · 2014 · Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility (ASSETS 2014)

  This paper presents a formative study exploring how 3D printing can support special education across three diverse sites: a school for students with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities (Site A), a school for blind and visually impaired students (Site B), and the technology…

  3D printing · special education · assistive technology · digital fabrication · STEM education

• Coming to Grips: 3D Printing for Accessibility

  Erin Buehler, Amy Hurst, Megan Hofmann · 2014 · Proceedings of the 16th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers & Accessibility (ASSETS '14)

  This demonstration paper presents a case study of using consumer-grade 3D printing to create custom assistive devices for a student with limited hand motor ability at a special education facility. The work grew out of a six-month evaluation of making and DIY technology in…

  assistive technology · 3D printing · digital fabrication · motor impairment · special education

19 results.