A student-led school organization focused on utilizing school makerspace resources to make change on a broad scale. Originated from 3D-printed prosthetic hands, and now focused on developing and producing a range of assistive devices and branded merchandise for other nonprofit organizations.
Our longest-running activity, we print and assemble ENABLE prosthetic hands throughout the year to compile into one big shipment in the spring.
Makers Making Change is a site that allows our student body to fulfill requests for assistive devices from people across the continent, expanding our program's reach.
A more recent addition to the program, we utilize our Makerspace's heatpress and vinyl cutter to imprint logos onto sweaters, shirts, and more, for both our own program and our partnered organizations.
We have partnered with many nonprofit organizations that also help those with disabilities. We've produced and shipped them products ranging from pillows to assistive gaming buttons, completely free of cost, to help them drive positive change in their communities.
Individuals or organizations describe what they need through the request form, or we reach out to them. From September to June, we will respond within a few days, with follow up questions or notice that we are in progress fulfilling your request.
We get in contact, nail down logistics, and begin development.
At the beginning of one of our Friday Hands for Hope meetings, we select some students to spend the time period focused on developing the product. If it is a multi-week project, we keep the individual or organization up-to-date on the progress.
We ship the finished product, and await confirmation from the recipient.
Hands for Hope is created, using the school's 3D printers to build ENABLE hands. Less than 10 students in the program.
The program begins to expand, and production continues to be focused around ENABLE hands.
Makers Making Change is introduced, the program gains a social media presence and begins to expand beyond ENABLE.
From presenting at the MassCUE conference, to forming multiple new partnerships, the all-time-high participation in the program---about 40 students involved---shows the tremendous growth of the program and begins to complete the transition away from ENABLE and towards many more opportunities.
To utilize our school's incredible utilities to make change in the disabled community, powered by student-led work and devotion.