Research Methodology

Research techniques will include but are not limited to:

• Interview with primary (wheelchair users) and secondary sources (parents of child wheelchair users, Whirlwind Wheelchair designers, therapists)
• Surveys/questionnaires for those sources
• Observations of wheelchair users

Observations at Calif. Children Services Medical Therapy Unit

Last week I made two visits to California Children Services (CCS) Medical Therapy Unit (MTU) provided by the City and County of San Francisco, Department of Public Health. I was introduced to the facility through Cliff Young, OTR/L, the senior occupational therapist there, who will also be apart of my panel of experts. I met Cliff through the Whirlwind Wheelchair class at SFSU.

Medical Therapy Program (MTP) services are provided by MTU; they provide (Physical Therapy) PT and (Occupational Therapy) OT to children in need of such medical assistance, so they may learn independence of mobility and everyday functioning. The services provide are free but children need to meet certain requirements to be eligible. http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/ccs/Pages/MTP.aspx

First Visit
During my first visit, I got a tour of the amenities that are offered to the public, unfortunately it was a slow Friday with no kids in sight. The place wasn’t too big—two rooms with mats and obstacles and a large hallway filled with walkers and adapted tricycles off of Quintara Street in the Sunset district. In a large hallway connecting all the rooms there were different back supportive seating, walkers, adapted tricycles, lap trays, braces and much more. Many children utilize the program, and each of them differs from what they need hence all the different devices that are used. The therapists use professionally manufactured apparatuses to adapted ones that they themselves developed to help the kids.

Second Visit
I went by on a very busy Wednesday; this is when thirty some odd therapists meet with clients in this small location. There were many kids there, some were practicing walking, others using everyday tools, playing games—things that we do on a daily basis don’t even think much about.

I was fortunate enough to meet a couple of the children who were using wheelchairs, which relates more to my own research project. I was able to get perspective regarding the use of wheelchairs from the standpoints of the therapists and parents, the children were a bit shy as it was our first encounter.

Whirlwind Wheelchairs International

The organization with which I'm working for my 505 project. http://www.whirlwindwheelchair.org/

Problem/Purpose Statement - Updated

Final Problem Statement with Sub-Problems

Overview: Over the past seven months working with Whirlwind Wheelchairs International, an organization that “make[s] it possible for every person in the developing world who needs a wheelchair to obtain one that will lead to maximum personal independence and integration into society. WWI is currently developing a children’s wheelchair that could also do the same for the youth.

Problem: The Whirlwind Roughrider wheelchair is not personalized to each child user so that they can feel ownership of their chair.

The Whirlwind Roughrider wheelchair for children does not accommodate all needs; such as a work and eating area, interaction, storage, etc.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to develop accessories to in order to customize child wheelchair to each user.

The purpose of this study is to develop a set of add-ons allowing children to customize the wheelchairs to suit their daily needs.

Sub problems:

• What are the best accessories in order to customize the chair?
• What materials can be easily sourced by the manufacturers in respective countries?
• How are the accessories to be attached to on the chair?
• Can one accessory accommodate multiple functions?
• Comparative products may not necessarily accommodate for the Whirlwind wheelchair.
• What activities do children engage in when in wheelchairs?
• Ergonomics?
• Cost?
• Ease of installation/assembly?

Users; Stakeholders; Beneficiaries: Third world country children that are in need of manual wheelchairs; Whirlwind Wheelchairs; all child wheelchair users

Environment/Location: Primary WWI nations that are receiving distribution

References: Whirlwind Wheelchairs

o Ralf Hotchkiss, founder

o Chris Howard, designer

o Alida Lindsley; designer

o Mark Krizack, Director

o Bob Incerti, Instructor

California Children Services, Medical Therapy Unit

o Cliff Young, OTR/L, Sr. Occupational Therapist

o Professor Hsiao-Yun Chu

Hypotheses:

1. The wheelchair lacks a lap tray that is functional.

A lap tray can be used for activities, in the home and school where child will mainly be using the chair; socializing; as support for a child who lacks trunk function and back support.

2. The wheelchair needs tools so that the owner can fix their own chair.

If the user’s chair breaks down they have no way of repairing it on the spot. A tool kit that comes with the chair that is compact and mobile would be useful for that reason.

3. The chair does not have a cup holder.

A cup holder could allow the user to have more free hands to wheel their chair and carry other things that will prevent spillage.

iDO - reshaping high school education

Industrial Design Outreach (iDo) is a program led by Professor Martin Linder that puts creativity back into high schools through the help of SF State students studying in the Department of Design and Industry (DAI).

The budget cuts affecting all of us: public schools and California universities. First to go are art related classes, since academic ones have more priority. But being in a public school, especially in the inner city, lacks a well rounded form of education as it is. To deny students of being able to explore nor develop an artistic side when most of them don’t have that option because of socioeconomic reasons and/or support.

It’s my second semester as a mentor for iDo, and we’re currently finishing up the Community Bench Project with Thurgood Marshall High School.(Shop class retooled at S.F. high school) The students each did their own panel, which will be on the back of the bench showing their interpretation of their version of what community means to them.

As a San Francisco native, I attended public schools and grew in the same neighborhood as these kids. I can very well relate to how a lot of the students go through on a daily basis because I’ve been there. I wish when I was younger I had this kind of a program that presented such hands-on experiences and mentors to show me such opportunity of creativity.

Refined Problem/Purpose Statement

Problem: The children’s Whirlwind Roughrider wheelchair lacks amenities for customization for each child so that they can feel ownership of their chair. Wheelchairs and their users are attached with social stigmas and viewed as hindrances in society.

Purpose: To develop a kit and manual which can be customized to each individual’s wheelchair to promote a positive emotional attachment and ownership to their chair.

Problem/Purpose Statements

Problem: Child Whirlwind Roughrider wheelchair users lack the use of a table on the current model.
Purpose: To implement a table that is suitable for the children’s Whirlwind Roughrider wheelchair and determine what are the best available materials that can be easily sourced by people in third world countries.Problem: The children’s Whirlwind Roughrider wheelchair is not personalized to each child so that they can feel ownership of their chair. Wheelchairs and their users are attached with social stigmas and viewed as hindrances in society.
Purpose: To develop a kit which can be customized to each individual’s wheelchair to promote a positive emotional attachment and ownership to their chair.
o Lacks (modification) amenities accessorize and personalization

Problem: Certain child riders of the Whirlwind Roughrider wheelchair lack proper back support; especially during such a crucial development age.
Purpose: To develop a back support that a child can use whilst using the adolescent Whirlwind Roughrider wheelchair in order to maintain a proper posture to promote positive growth during their childhood in the chair.

Users; Stakeholders; Beneficiaries: Third world country children that are in need of manual wheelchairs; Whirlwind Wheelchairs
Environment/Location: Third world countries
Reference: Whirlwind Wheelchairs

Green, the color of money

Being a San Francisco native, it's pretty much been drilled into my head to be green. Now even more so it has been brought to a level of awareness that is practically second nature. Being in the design field makes it an even more important to have to be environmentally conscious.

Most clients think being green may burn a hole in their pockets. But in the long run, it is actually more cost effective, as so described in Green design can be profitable. The public can’t be convinced that it’s good for the environment or beneficial for health reasons. But designers for clients who themselves have customers, if you speak in terms of dollars, that’s what makes sense (pun intended).

About Me

I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Arts with a Concentration in Product Design and Development. As for career aspirations, I'm not quite sure what it is I want to do yet when I do obtain my degree. I'm very open to anything and everything, but do hope that I can gain some experience at a design firm through internships.

It's funny, yet frustrating when people ask what it is I'm majoring in. They often assume I'm doing fashion, but when I tell them that I'm actually doing product design, I always have to explain what it actually is. It's everything! Everything from the chair you sit on, the mobile phone in your pocket, to the pen your writing with. And they say, "Oh..." but often with a perplexed look of course. Hopefully one day I'll just be able to show them.