AbilityOne Design Challenge

The annual nationwide competition is sponsored by NISH and encourages high school students to develop assistive technologies that empower people with disabilities to break through barriers in the workplace. Established in 1974, NISH (www.nish.org) is one of two national, nonprofit agencies designated by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission™ to support nonprofit agencies participating in the AbilityOne Program.

The AbilityOne Design Challenge is a competitive process which requires students to build a functioning prototype of their device in order to be considered for contention. High school teams must complete an online training module and work through the fall to research, design and submit a discussion paper and video presentation featuring their device. The device must be in use or intended to be in use by the end of the school year in order to be considered.  The annual nationwide competition is sponsored by NISH and encourages high school students to develop assistive technologies that empower people with disabilities to break through barriers in the workplace. Established in 1974, NISH (www.nish.org) is one of two national, nonprofit agencies designated by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission™ to support nonprofit agencies participating in the AbilityOne Program.

All participants in the Design Challenge work in collaboration with local nonprofit organizations, who train, hire or provide job opportunities for people with significant disabilities. 

Winners of the 2013 AbilityOne Network Design Challenge 

High School Winners

Best Overall Design

Wethersfield High School, Wethersfield, CT

Earplug Chain Fixture

Second Place Winners
Gardner Edgerton High School, Gardner, KS – LABB (Lever Action Box Builder), Outstanding Engineering Design 
Poolesville High School, Poolesville, MD – The Tea-Packaging Device. Outstanding Assistive Technology 

Third Place Winners
Poolesville High School, Poolesville, MD – Rain Barrel Cradle, 

Minnetonka High School, Minnetonka, MN – The Buckle Box

To read more, please click on the above title.

To access the CDR Library catalog, please click on this link.