News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Tennessee Tech’s mechanical engineering students provide new ways to help the Upper Cumberland.
Mechanical Engineer professor Stephen Canfield said the Early Intervention and Mechanical Engineering program builds assistant devices for special needs children.
“We provide unique assistant technology devices for children with special needs,” Canfield said. “I have some medical professionals that help me and guide me with the needs they have and I connect those with junior level engineering students to design, and develop and ultimately fabricate and potentially deliver a product that could help a child.”
During the Fall semester a group of students created a hybrid spinal support for an infant with cerebral palsy. This device allowed her to independently move for the first time.
This semester 11 projects are under way to provide aid for other children. Canfield said EIME has been helping the Upper Cumberland for 15 years.
“I work with therapists at some of our local schools, I work with Tennessee Early Intervention System, I work with service coordinators at Children’s Special Services, and some of the different pediatrics and therapists that work with Children that have special needs in our region,” Canfield said. “They see a lot of these kids and they send them to me.”
Projects this semester include designing a toy to improve upper arm strength for a child with underdeveloped muscles, a swing to calm anxiety, a mechanical horse for at home therapy, a communication doll, and a way for wheelchair bound children to exit and enter playgrounds from a daycare facility.
Canfield adds he’s thankful for the dedicated work from his students, the department, and the community.
