Helping Makers with Special Needs Get 3D Printers & 3D Tech Tools

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Helping Makers with Special Needs Get 3D Printers & 3D Tech Tools

There’s nothing quite as gratifying as giving back to the community that has supported our business over the years.  But it’s especially exciting when we can contribute while also helping to foster progress in STEM [Science – Technology – Engineering – Math] education in order to develop America’s 21^st century workforce and business innovation.

Groups led by the international FabLab Network based at MIT also add in A for the liberal arts to make STEAM.  For really, art and science cannot be separated.  Think about the design success of Apple products or the physics behind musical instruments, and you’ll immediately see why STEAM is key to the education of the future.

FabLabs use the tools of Digital Fabrication such as laser and CNC machining and 3DPrinting for hands-on experiential learning that is meaningful to all students.  But what about the kids who have special needs?

We met one such kid, Mike Norton, last fall at the DigiFab Conference in Portland, Maine.  Mike is a talented artist who uses Adobe CS programs and is currently a student in the Communications and New Media Program at Southern Maine Community College. But Mike is in a wheelchair due to his Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and creates with the use of one finger.

After attending the DigiFab Conference, Mike’s Mom Suzan wrote to co-organizer FabLab Hub about all the possibilities that Digital Fabrication, especially 3D Printing, held for her son’s health in the future.  She said: “Our heads were spinning with ideas after hearing the keynotes from 3D Systems Corporation and the FabLab at MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms.  I asked myself what lies in the future of these magnificent machines and what applications will they serve?”

FabLab Hub knew they had to get involved working to bring 3D Printing technology to Mike’s life.  So an idea was born to give him the tools and training to turn his 2D art into 3D printed figures and funds are being raised on Indiegogo for the project.  Funds will also help Cameron Naramore, a wheelchair-bound maker who writes for 3DPrint.net get tools for his 3DPrinted robotic arm project.

To do our part, Potomac is creating a cool Digital Fabrication reward.  We’re laser marking a contributor nameplate that will contain sponsor messages and be sent with the tools to Mike and Cameron.  Since we can laser mark very small characters, we’ll be able to do something creative for these special makers!

Here’s the link to the Indiegogo campaign.  We hope you will join us in supporting a project that is truly inspirational.