Clubs That Care
Make a difference in your community alongside your university or college.
Funded by the Government of Canada, the Clubs That Care program supports Canadian university or college groups to build affordable assistive technology. Groups like engineering clubs, community service organizations, academic societies, and sports clubs can help us deliver affordable assistive devices to the community.
Each society will receive $5,000 towards promoting and building assistive technology from the AT Library, like buying device parts and food and beverages (no alcohol) at promotional events. Members will receive resources from their local Makers Making Change coordinator to run a successful event.
Western University
40 occupational therapy students at Western University participated in a switch build last spring, each making at least one raindrop switch and a light touch switch — over 80 switches. Every switch was delivered for free to rehab hospitals, disability organizations, and libraries across Ontario.
“A lot of them were a little bit hesitant, didn’t know what to expect, but I think once they got through the first switch, they were sort of experts by the second switch, and had a lot of confidence with it,” says chapter leader Jordana Bengall.
Why Participate in Clubs That Care?
- Build your skills in soldering, 3D printing and creating / adapting devices
- Build your club through skilled-based volunteering and engagement events
- Making DIY assistive devices are fund and easy, and the outputs are devices that cost less than commercial assistive technology
- Support people with disabilities in your community
Participating Clubs
- Queen’s University Building and Designing Assistive Technology Club
- UBC Science Undergraduate Society
- UVIC Biomedical Engineering Design Club
- Langara College Applied Research Club
- Western University Occupational Therapy Students
- University of Lethbridge Agility Program
- McGill Robotics
- UBC Enable
- Love Your Neighbour Club
- UBC Rapid
Deliverables
- Organize 2 build events by March 31, 2023
- Aim to engage a total of 25 participants over the 2 builds
- Promote MMC within your campus networks
- Provide event details to your local MMC staff (like number of participants and devices built)
- Pass along the built devices to your local MMC staff
Eligibility
- The club must be recognized by a Canadian university or college
University of Alberta
University of Alberta students Lucas Plamondon and Olivia Tronchin worked together to print assistive devices to help patients at Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital.
A couple of the designs they found really helpful were the pen ball and the palm pen holder. Thanks to the open-source nature of the designs, they were able to make a few adjustments to the designs to fit the clients’ needs.
“… If [patients] are functionally more capable with a tool, it actually increases their motivation as well to participate, that’s a huge win for us, but moreso it’s a huge win for the patient and their rehab journey,” says Lucas.
Apply
Applications are now closed. Thanks for your interest in Clubs That Care.