The Perkins School for the Blind work has given me the opportunity to design and fabricate a variety of products for the students there.
The work is a combination of design and engineering, frequently consisting of one-off products, designed for a specific student.
I work with an occupational therapist to help provide a better experience for the students, some with multiple developmental issues and
physical limitations along with vision problems.

Because the products are made in low volumes and there is a limited budget, they are designed to be made of low cost materials.
Wood, items found at a home center or hardware store, and donated materials are frequently used.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Tea Bag Filler

Fixture to hold tea bags for filling. Used in occupational therapy, the OT secures the bag and the user fills it with tea from the container.
The angled block properly positions the container.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Chime Holders

Chime holders are attached to a table and the user is encouraged to
interact with the chimes, providing tactile and auditory feedback.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Lazy Susan Vase and Cup Holder

Fixture holds items used in the horticulture department for
occupational therapy. Vase retaining bar flips open to allow
removal of the vase.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Lazy Susan Vase and Cup Holder-02

Fixture holds items used in the horticulture department for
occupational therapy. Cups are inserted into recepticles and
the vase is secured by a rubber band.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
iPad Holder

Holder allows angle adjustment of iPad.
The adjustable top clamp holds the iPad in place.
The brace in the back can hold the mounting surface at two fixed angles.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Coin Sort Tray, Sort Tray, Can Stamping Holder

Occupational Therapy products designed and built based on occupational therapist sketches and descriptions.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
CD Racks, Resonance Trays




The CD Racks are used for occupational
therapy.



The resonance trays allow experiments with
noise and vibration.



The trays can be folded for flat storage.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Tambourine Table

Table provides a surface to rest the tambourine or catch it if dropped.
Made of birch plywood and pine.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Adjustable Angle Chair

Refined details of previous design: made kickboard solid under seat; previous design had space that could catch feet.
Made footrest move with assembly; previous design used base only as footrest.

Chair angle can be adjusted to three positions by moving wooden pin into alternate holes.
Padded pommel, straps and cushioning added later.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Chair Stabilizer and Footrest - 1

Adaptation to a standard chair to increase stability and allow for smaller users.
Additional cushioning and securing strapping added laterby OT staff.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Chair Stabilizer and Footrest - 2

Another version of an adaptation to a standard chair to increase stability and allow smaller users to use sandard sized tables and desks.
Again, additional cushioning and securing strapping added later by OT staff as needed.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Chair Stabilizer and Footrest - 3

More adaptations to standard chairs to increase stability and allow for smaller users to use sandard sized tables and desks.
Additional cushioning and securing strapping added later by OT staff as needed.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Chair stabilizer and footrest for standard dining chair

Adaptation to make dining chair more stable for active child.
The chair is secured by the leg matching angled back and by two screws and two angle brackets.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Chair Footrests - 1

Additions to a standard chair to allow for smaller users to use sandard sized chairs.
Additional mounting brackets, cushioning and securing strapping added later by OT staff as needed.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Chair Footrests - 2

Additions to a standard chair to allow for smaller users to use sandard sized chairs.
Additional mounting brackets, cushioning and securing strapping added later by OT staff as needed.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Chair Footrests - 3

Additions to a standard chair to allow for smaller users to use sandard sized chairs.
Additional mounting brackets, cushioning and securing strapping added later by OT staff as needed.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Chair Footrests - 4

Additions to a standard chair to allow for smaller users to use sandard sized chairs.
Additional mounting brackets, cushioning and securing strapping added later by OT staff as needed.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Necessary Items

Stairs to the commode and portable “potty lifter”.

Help for users to use "necessary items".
Additional securing strapping added later by OT staff as needed.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Table Raisers

Allows various tables to be set to the same height. The inside piece can be made to the required height for each table.
If desired, the extender can be semi-permanently attached to the table legs.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Counting

Counting Blocks
Helping to learn the numbers.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Fraction Blocks



Same sized base blocks have different number of sections fitting on top, illustrating the fractional part of the whole.
The loose top blocks have a groove that mates with a corresponding raised area on the base.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Music Timing Blocks

Same sized base trays hold different numbers of smaller blocks, helping demonstrate the different musical notes timings and how they relate
to each other.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Multi-Level Stacking Boxes

Stacking and nesting boxes in different configurations and orientations creates different height stacks.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Rain Stick

The problem consisted of a low cost adaptation of a “rain stick” so that it could be used by a student.
The student was unable to hold the stick in order to play it in a concert.
The solution enabled the stick to be mounted to a music stand and used by any student.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Herb Processing Tray

Herbs are rolled on the mesh to crush them so they can be collected into bags. The chute allows easier bag filling of the processed herbs.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Card Stamper Fixture. The fixture is screwed into wooden stamps. Holiday and other cards are stamped using the fixture.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Hearth Insert - Resting Spot

Remade existing cardboard hearth insert to make a more durable wood frame “resting spot”. In-process and finished product images below.
Padding and pillows added by Perkins staff.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Explor-a-Box

The purpose of this project was to create an adapted sandbox/play area for impaired children. The enclosure was designed so that a user could
reach in and feel different textures of materials that are placed inside. The enclosed space helps to keep the materials in the play area. The transparent panels slide up to allow switching of the substances inside. Rubber tubes were added to the openings protect arms from lexan edges.

Perkins School for the Blind - Assistive Device Center
Frogs on a log project.

Used to engage students. Task was to create a way to secure the toy frogs once put on the provided branch.
A wood base was created for branch mounting; dowels were employed to hold the frogs, which had holes drilled into them.