Jaclyn Larson designs a better way to attach a “switch” – the button her son uses to control his communications device – to a wheelchair.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, University of Health Sciences Office of Communications
When Jaclyn LarsonAidan’s son was two years old when a car accident left him with a head injury that changed the course of their lives.
Now 15, Aidan relies on a communication device to express himself. The switch-activated augmentation device works fine, but its practical use in Aidan’s daily life comes with some challenges.
“Previously, my son used a switch built into the tray of his wheelchair to access his communication device. But it limited his ability to move his wheelchair independently, and the tray was cumbersome to carry around.” Larson explained. “It was frustrating. I thought there had to be a better way.”
At the University of Arizona Health Sciences, Larson turned his frustration into action.
While obtaining a mastery of University of Alberta Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public HealthLarson was introduced to the Health Sciences Design program. It was at this point that she began to put her ideas of improving Aidan’s communication skills into action.
Larson designs a durable, more user-friendly case for the communication device of Aidan, one of the first students at Graduate Certificate in Design for Health Innovation program.
Filling a personal void
Design thinking, a human-centered approach to problem solving, emphasizes empathy, ideation, and prototyping. It encourages a deep understanding of user needs and challenges, leading to more effective and innovative solutions. The process allows students to learn about design visualization, prototyping, and user testing while collaborating with their peers and professors.
Matthew Briggs, MFA, assistant professor of practice in health sciences design, mentors Larson through the design thinking process.
Photo by Noelle Haro-Gomez, University of Health Sciences Office of Communications
The Graduate Certificate in Design for Healthcare Innovation equips students and working professionals with essential skills in applied design and innovation for the healthcare industry. Offered through Health Sciences Design, the flexible nine-unit program can stand alone or complement other graduate studies. Students complete six core units that teach them to address health challenges through design thinking and collaborative projects. Three-unit electives allow students to tailor their learning to specific areas, such as medical device development, community health interventions, and health policy.
“There are two main paths to our program,” said Matthew Briggs, MFAassistant professor of practice in health sciences design. “Either we receive health professionals who are trying to acquire design skills, or, conversely, designers who want to apply their skills to health practices. »
Larson belonged to the first category. As a public health student, she appreciated the knowledge she gained and the impact this field had in communities. But she also felt that something was missing. When she took the Design for Health Workshop course, that void was filled.
“Health science design really spoke to me,” said Larson, who served as a staff member at University of Alberta Leadership Training in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program since 2016. “Learning the design thinking process kind of takes you to a problem and provides you with a framework to come up with more innovative solutions.” This allows you to address underlying issues, not just perceived ones.
Larson explained that for Aidan, the perceived problem of how to communicate had already been solved. The underlying problem was that the products on the market did not address the challenges of attaching the switch (which operates one’s communication device) to a wheelchair in a feasible way. To make matters more difficult, the arm that attaches him to the wheelchair limits Aiden’s ability to control the wheels of his chair.
Innovate with compassionate design
Larson’s new switch box keeps Aiden’s switch controller securely attached to his wheelchair.
Photo courtesy of Jaclyn Larson
The Health Sciences Design program provided Larson with a place to explore her own solutions. Although she had a vision in mind, she was still far from the finished product. She began an independent study project with Briggs And Kasi Kiehlbaugh, Ph.D.director of health sciences design, and shared his first ideas with them.
“I remember she had a sandcastle bucket that she drilled holes in and put the switch inside,” Briggs said. “It made me smile and I said to myself: ‘All right, we have a project here.’”
Larson’s designs have evolved since then, and the health sciences design courses she took were instrumental in moving her project forward. With access to the Health Sciences Design makerspace and resources such as 3D printing and laser cutting, she developed more than a dozen iterations that address the practical challenges faced by her son and others . With constructive feedback from Briggs, Larson focused on improvements through testing and revision as part of the design thinking process.
“Jaclyn’s project is a perfect example of what the program is all about,” he said. “She takes a personal challenge and turns it into an opportunity to make an impact on the disability community as a whole.” His work illustrates how design can be both innovative and compassionate.
Larson also credits her health science design courses with helping her in her full-time job at ArizonaLEND, which prepares future leaders in policy, research and clinical practice for the maternal and child health workforce . Larson, academic programs manager, makes graduate leadership training accessible to people with developmental disabilities by adapting materials for self-advocates and advising trainees from various fields.
As healthcare continues to evolve, Larson’s work highlights the importance of interdisciplinary, user-centered approaches to solving complex challenges. With the support of the Health Sciences Design program, she and students like her are leading the way toward a more inclusive and innovative future.
“I strongly believe that everyone should be able to access communication in every situation,” Larson said. “This has been my goal since I started exploring this project to help Aidan. I hope that when my design is completed, it can also help other people facing similar challenges.