Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency is offering FREE design workshops to help prepare participants interested in entering the Assistive Tech Challenge pitch competition. Workshop participants will learn to take their idea from a raw concept to a workable solution that will address challenges faced by individuals with disabilities.
Each fast-paced, hands-on workshop will focus on a different area of assistive technology-related design thinking.
Our City, a national nonprofit working to transform how people engage with their cities, will facilitate the sessions in partnership with the Assistive Tech Challenge.
The workshops will help participants:
- learn the art of design thinking to address problems;
- find ways to address the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities; and
- create solutions in just 90 minutes.
Each workshop participant will walk away with a new understanding of the design process which helps them put a real idea into action.
Workshop #1: Assistive Tech and the Caregiver Experience
Thursday, September 27, 2018 | 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. | Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Dr SE, Rochester, MN
This workshop will focus on using design thinking to help caregivers thrive. Participants will “sprint” from starting from a real or perceived barrier to developing an idea to address it in just 90 minutes. This workshop is being presented as part of the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation Transform conference. Conference attendees will also be present to explore design thinking.
Workshop #2: Assistive Tech and Public Infrastructure
Thursday, September 27, 2018 | 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Studio 324 (Fagan Studio), 324 South Broadway, Rochester, MN
This workshop will focus on using design thinking to help design public spaces that support greater independence for individuals with a disability. Participants will “sprint” from a real or perceived barrier to developing an idea to address it in just 90 minutes.
Workshop #3: Assistive Tech and Workforce Readiness and Social Skill Development
Friday, September 28, 2018. | 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. | The Bakken Museum, 3537 Zenith Ave South, Minneapolis, MN
This workshop will focus on how to use design thinking to 1) help people with a visible or invisible disability to interact and cultivate meaningful relationships, and 2) alleviate barriers to employment. Participants will “sprint” from a real or perceived barrier to developing an idea to address it in just 90 minutes.
Registration is required for each workshop at dmc.mn/events.
Applications are now being accepted for the Assistive Tech Challenge and can be found here.
The Assistive Tech Challenge is presented by Destination Medical Center’s Discovery Square in collaboration with The Arc Minnesota Southeast Region, and the disABILITY Mayo Clinic Employee Resource Group and sponsored by Fredricksen & Byron P.A. and Home Federal Savings Bank.