EHS Students Design Assistive Tool for Kindergarten Student

At Concord Elementary, a collaborative project between students at Edina High School and staff members is turning engineering skills into something deeply meaningful for a kindergarten student with physical and cognitive disabilities.

The project began when Laura Bero raised an idea during an IEP meeting: creating a tactile visual schedule that could be mounted to the student’s wheelchair. Because the student often pushes objects away, the design needed to be durable, secure, and accessible.

That challenge was brought to Jodi Ramirez and quickly caught the attention of students Will Maxwell, Charlie Benson, and Eleanor Hammer.

“We love to help people out all the time, and really just like to make an impact with people,” the students shared. “We saw this as a great opportunity to do something good.”

Using 3D printing and design skills, the students have already created around 10 prototypes as they work toward a final product. The tactile schedule uses interchangeable tiles to help the student understand daily routines and transitions. While the concept is working, the team continues refining details like clips and mounting systems that can securely attach the schedule to a wheelchair without being easily knocked off.

For Will and Charlie, the project has also been a chance to combine their individual strengths. Will focuses primarily on 3D printing, while Charlie handles much of the modeling and design work. Eleanor has contributed by making the product more colorful, engaging, and kid-friendly.

Beyond the technical challenges, the students say the most rewarding part has been building a relationship with the student they are helping.

“The second time we visited, they were very excited to see us,” the students said. “Honestly, it felt great and was pretty heartwarming.”

The team hopes to complete the project by the end of the school year and, if possible, personally present the final product to the student.

“It’d just be really nice to see their reaction,” they said.

With support from the school providing printing materials and encouragement from staff, the project has become more than an engineering exercise. It’s an example of creativity, compassion, and collaboration coming together to improve a student’s everyday experience.