CAOT-BC members attend RESNA Conference with ChairStairs Design

Abilee and Justin at the RESNA Conference Developer's Showcase holding their second-prize and finalist certificates in front of the ChairStairs prototype. 

Abilee Kellett and Justin Turner - two new graduates of the UBC Master of Occupational Therapy program (2017) - recently attended the 2017 Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) annual conference in New Orleans, as finalists in the Student Design Competition for their assistive technology (AT) device ChairStairs. ChairStairs is an AT device that enables wheelchair users to transfer independently between wheelchair and ground. When not being used, ChairStairs folds up on the underside of the wheelchair seat pan; when the user would like to transfer to the ground, they deploy the ChairStairs and bump down the steps one at a time. Abilee and Justin came up with the idea during an AT module during their studies at UBC, which was taught by Dr. Bill Miller and PhD Student Emma Smith, MScOT.

The ChairStairs prototype attached to a wheelchair.

For the design competition, over 75 student teams in Engineering, Computer Science, Allied Health, and other disciplines from around the world submitted AT devices they created to a panel of judges, who selected the top 6 applications to compete in person at the conference from June 27-30. As one of the finalist teams, Abilee and Justin had flight, accommodation, and conference registration costs funded by RESNA and the National Science Foundation. In addition, Abilee and Justin won second place for their design, which came with a cash prize of $700 USD. For their next steps, the two MOT graduates hope to pursue further development of ChairStairs, with the eventual goal of bring the device to market.

Abilee and Justin in New Orleans sitting with three members of the first-prize team from the University of Central Florida (the tÜthbrush team). From left to right: Zoé Lauters, Justin Turner, Abilee Kellett, Steven Erickson, & Dylan DeBaradine.

Abilee and Justin describe their experience as finalists attending the 2017 RESNA Conference:

"It was such an honour to be selected as finalists for such a prestigious competition, and then to win second place was an even greater compliment. Both of us felt really lucky to attend the 2017 RESNA Conference, which brought together a fascinating interdisciplinary group of professionals and students from around the world who presented research and technologies at the forefront of the Rehab Engineering and AT field. What we learned at the conference will certainly help us as we start our careers in OT, as will the connections we made with many fellow conference attendees. And of course, New Orleans is a beautiful, electric, and fascinating city, so to spend some time there was an unforgettable experience."

Abilee and Justin have also been featured in the CoastReporter. Read the article

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