Abbey Park HS students learn about accessibility and assistive technology
Students in the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program at Abbey Park HS recently participated in a hands-on learning session focused on disability, accessibility and assistive technology.
The session began with a presentation by occupational therapist Tim Park. Park encouraged students to consider how environmental barriers can contribute to the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and highlighted the idea that accessible design benefits everyone – pointing to common features like automatic doors, curb cuts and closed captions.
Students were then introduced to the principles of inclusive design and shown how even small, low-cost adaptations can significantly improve access for people with disabilities.
Following the discussion, students engaged in a hands-on workshop led by Stephan Dobri, a mechanical engineer with Makers Making Change, a program that connects makers to people with disabilities who need assistive technologies. Students built 3D-printed assistive devices, including custom access switches and switch-adapted toys, which will be donated to individuals with disabilities.
As part of the activity, students tested their creations by using the adaptive switches to play video games on the Nintendo Switch, simulating a gaming experience for someone with limited mobility. This exercise offered students a practical understanding of the importance of accessible recreation and how inclusive technologies can make everyday activities more equitable.
"This program was an amazing way to bring the real world into the classroom to give students a window into issues related to accessibility and inclusion,” says Abbey Park HS teacher Tara Ashley. “Steve Dobri and Tim Mills brought examples of accessibility problems and showed kids how to build practical solutions to solve them. Soldering circuit boards and re-building toys for people with accessibility issues was fun and involved practical skills they will remember for a very long time."
Grade 11 student Ryan Cooper says, "It was very cool to learn how to solder. It was also interesting to learn how people with disabilities can play video games using specialized controls."
This initiative aligns with the Halton District School Board’s 2024–2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan, particularly its commitment to Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion. By engaging students in projects that center the experiences and needs of individuals with disabilities, the session fostered greater awareness and responsibility toward building an inclusive society. It also provided students with the skills and perspective to contribute meaningfully to accessible innovation in their future careers and communities.
