Enabling Access: The Miami Project Collaborates with High School Students to Engineer Solutions for People with Physical Challenges
Summary
- Researchers at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis have teamed with students from Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School to design and deliver assistive technology devices that transform the lives of people with physical challenges.
- The students work with The Miami Project faculty to create custom assistive devices that improve independence for individuals with disabilities.
- Students produced toothbrushes with special grips for people with arthritis, silverware with cuffs for people who may find holding forks and knives a challenge, key turners and seatbelt assists.
Researchers at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis have teamed with students from Miami’s Christopher Columbus High School to design and deliver assistive technology devices that transform the lives of people with physical challenges. Enabling Access is a student-led project that combines STEM education with social impact, empowering young innovators to create practical solutions for individuals with physical disabilities.
“The heart of this project lies in empathy-driven engineering,” said David McMillan, Ph.D., a research assistant professor of neurological surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and director of education and outreach at The Miami Project. “We’re not just teaching students how to build devices. We’re immersing them in a community to understand real-world challenges and to innovate with purpose.”
Columbus junior Roberto Echeverri is the organization’s student founder and draws his inspiration from his family.
“My brother struggled at a young age due to developmental disabilities, especially with utensils and fine motor function,” said Echeverri, part of the Enabling Access team of 12 students under the supervision of Dr. McMillan and Columbus teacher Armando Rodriguez. “I’ve always loved 3D printing and computer-aided design (CAD), and I began thinking about how those skills could be applied to help solve this problem in a real, practical way.”
Technical Approach: From Concept to Prototype
Enabling Access invites students from the school’s Innovation Hub to work side-by-side with researchers from The Miami Project using a five-phase methodology:
• Needs assessment: Students conduct interviews with researchers at The Miami Project to identify gaps in existing assistive technologies. They analyze ergonomics, usability and cost constraints to ensure solutions are practical and scalable.
• Computer-aided design modeling: Using SolidWorks and AutoCAD, teams create detailed, 3D models of devices such as adaptive grips, mobility aids and custom mounts for wheelchairs. Designs prioritize lightweight materials and modular components for easy customization.
• Digital fabrication: The students produce prototypes using 3D printing and CNC machining. Students integrate Arduino microcontrollers for devices requiring electronic functionality, such as automated reachers or voice-activated switches.
• Testing and iteration: Monthly visits to The Miami Project allow students to test prototypes with end users. Feedback loops drive iterative improvements, focusing on durability, comfort and intuitive operation.
• Deployment and training: Completed devices are donated to individuals and organizations who need them, with students conducting hands-on training sessions to ensure recipients can confidently use the technology.
“Every design begins with an interaction,” said Dr. McMillan. “Students meet with people who face daily mobility challenges due to paralysis, and their insights shape every decision.”
Community Impact and Student Growth
The project’s immediate outcome is tangible: custom assistive devices that improve independence for individuals with disabilities. The students have produced products ranging from toothbrushes with special grips for people with arthritis, silverware with cuffs for people who may find holding forks and knives a challenge, key turners and seatbelt assists. But the ripple effect is even greater. Students gain hands-on experience in mechanical design, electronics and human-centered engineering while developing leadership and collaboration skills.
“Our team has hands-on experience with 3D scanners, 3D printing and CAD design, which allows us to produce custom solutions efficiently,” Echeverri said. “Our work is primarily focused on open-source, freely available designs, as I believe solving common, everyday challenges should be accessible to everyone. We have 14 active orders from The Miami Project patients and are set to deliver 77 items by the end of this month, ranging from utensil holders to fully customized assistive devices.”
“Working with assistive technologies allows students to concurrently innovate and serve,” Dr. McMillan said. “When they realize that a simple design tweak can be the difference between independence and needing support, that’s when technology becomes transformative.”
Echeverri even created a software package that allows the student team to receive orders directly from The Miami Project.
“This system is already in use, and it has made the process much more streamlined,” Echeverri said.
The pilot phase sets the stage for expansion. Future iterations may include IoT-enabled devices, voice-controlled interfaces and partnerships with rehabilitation centers beyond Miami. By documenting every step, the team is creating a scalable model for accessibility innovation.
“Enabling Access is not just a project. It’s a model of reciprocity in innovation,” Dr. McMillan said. “It’s about demonstrating that, when young minds and community needs intersect, the outcomes are more than the sum of their parts.”
“Enabling Access has changed my life in a profound way,” Echeverri said. “Working directly with patients and helping address their obstacles through 3D printing, a relatively novel manufacturing technique, has shown me how impactful accessible design can be. Meeting patients one on one, hearing their stories and understanding the challenges they face has reshaped the way I view individuals with different abilities.”
Tags: SCI, spinal cord injuries, student leadership, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis