 Student Design Competition - 2009 The RESNA Student Design Competition (SDC) was created to promote and foster innovative and creative design of assistive technology hardware and software to be used by or in support of individuals with disabilities. Individual students or student teams submit papers describing a design that resulted in the fabrication of a prototype used by a specific consumer. The overall goal of the design work is to enable individuals with disabilities to maximize their independence, and this has been achieved through addressing issues in the specific areas of education, work, recreation, independent living, and safety. For the winners, and all students who submit papers to the competition, the SDC often represents the first time their design, fabrication, documentation, and presentation skills have received an international stage. The first Student Design Competition (SDC) was held in 1980 as part of the inaugural RESNA Conference. Since the first SDC, over 200 designs have been identified as winning entries, chosen from over 630 designs submitted by students from over 100 different universities. Many of the student designers are now leaders in service, research, and educational areas related to technology for people with disabilities. Help spread the word! Finalists of the SDC receive travel and lodging to attend the Annual Conference, a free registration, and a one-year membership to RESNA. Instructions for submitting papers can be found on the RESNA website. M. Nell Bailey Deadline is April 30, 2009. |