College sophomore Pranaav Venkatasubramanian found it particularly notable that the assistive technology he created alongside his New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) colleagues for Spectrum Designs came in first place at the Cultivating Resources for Employment with Assistive Technology (CREATE) Symposium’s tenth annual statewide invention competition during the height of Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month.
Sponsored by New York State Industries for the Disabled (NYSID), the CREATE Symposium showcases technologies designed by college engineering students from around the state who team up with rehabilitative support organizations to help those with disabilities succeed in their jobs.
“Because individuals with disabilities make up only 10% of the population in NY, improvements for seamless access to work are sorely needed,” said NYSID President and CEO Maureen O’Brien. “NYSID tries to fill that void by incentivizing inventions and improvements that the commercial sector would not.”
At this year’s event, four teams, by way of a third place tie with first-time high school winners, won prize funds of $5,000, $10,000, and $15,000.
NYIT’s first-place invention, Gamified Silk Screen Cleaner, allows Spectrum Designs Foundation employees to clean custom apparel tools in a more sanitary and speedy manner. Before, the messy ink would get all over the employees and damage other clothing products when manually cleaning the ink application equipment using a chemical and a rag.
“As an engineer, we solve problems,” said Venkatasubramanian. “And when you see a problem out there and you solve it, it’s the most rewarding feeling in the world.”
Currently, Spectrum Designs is printing 3,600 towels and 10,000 shirts in a day. According to the head of the screen printing department, Nicholas Groepler, NYIT’s winning invention will boost promotion opportunities and increase productivity by 10-20%, which he says “is going to be like a lifesaver for us.”
“I’m less concerned about increasing productivity and I’m more concerned about increasing accessibility,” said Spectrum Designs Chief Operating Officer Tim Howe. “I want more people to be able to clean screens who aren’t, I want everyone to be able to do it and kind of democratize that process [because] it’s that hand up, not hand out mentality.”
In second place, in partnership with AHRC Nassau, another group of students from NYIT created the SafeChef Cutlery System, a user-controlled cutting system that limits the risks of cutting oneself during food preparation for the company’s catering services for government events in New York State.
Tied for third place were The Cooper Union’s “Be a Companion” Automatic Wheelchair Locking Device, created in partnership with CP Unlimited and Otsego Northern Catskills BOCES’ Automated Crimper, created in partnership with The Arc Otsego.
For Michelle Meinor, part of the Cooper Union team, engineering assistive technology for people with disabilities has always been her passion. Her team developed an attachable spring-loaded automatic locking device for CP Unlimited’s newest employee, Angel, to feel comfort and security in his new job.
“No one should be limited by their abilities,” said Meinor. “I think every engineer in this moment needs to be thinking about improving the quality of life for everyone in the world and has a special capacity to deliver certain products that are going to be priceless to that individual.”
The Automated Crimper is a technology designed to address the “shocking” low inventory of products that are sleeved and ready to be put in dispensing machines in restrooms by automatically crimping plastic sleeves around tampons sold to customers in New York State.
“Being the first high school class to ever compete and win in this competition felt amazing,” said 17-year-old high school senior, Nicholas Troiano. “Having the opportunity to design and build this project felt awesome, but knowing this project would allow individuals with disabilities the chance to work felt even better.”
All four teams appreciate the CREATE Symposium for making a difference in their lives and for empowering them to build “revolutionary” products that leave positive impacts on others.
Dylan Valic, head of Spectrum Designs marketing, says it best: “If you can just take a minute to look past those preconceived notions, and see [people with disabilities] for who they are, miracles are happening here every day.”