Youth Challenge Partners with St. Edward High School to Empower Innovation

Youth Challenge and St. Edward High School partnered together for the second annual EmpowerEd Maker Challenge on March 14-16. The Maker Challenge is a hackathon focused on creating solutions for everyday challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. Students and industry professionals spent the weekend at St. Edward High School, dedicating their time and energy to improving the lives of those affected by these challenges. The Challenge emphasized the importance of communicating and collaborating with clients with disabilities to empower them and to truly find the correct personalized solution.

Here are the solutions developed during Maker Challenge:

1. Team Breanna: A motorized desk attached to Breanna’s wheelchair, allowing her to store and use devices on the go.
2. Team Craig: A mobile app designed to help Craig, a 12-year-old, build and maintain relationships with peers.
3. Team Cici: An adjustable wheelchair-mounted phone holder with MagSafe charging capabilities.
4. Team Bob: A custom phone and cup holder attachment, earning the Best Commercial Viability Award for its practical and functional design.
5. Team Blake: A motorized backpack hanger that rotates from behind the wheelchair, allowing Blake to access his backpack despite limited range of motion. This design won the Best Use of Technology Award.
6. Team Alex: A lightweight, height-adjustable wheelchair tray, earning the Best Design Execution Award.
7. Team Will: A motorized rail system to assist Will in transitioning from his bed to his wheelchair.
8. Team Hannah: Modifications to her wheelchair, including moving her Purewick catheter system power switch and adding  a customized cup holder with an integrated cell phone holder

Not only did people with disabilities find accessibility solutions, but St. Edward students and other professionals learned the power of collaboration and working alongside the people they are serving.