Izzy: 

Foundation’s connectable blocks are used to improve fine motor skills in a fun way. Numerous different shaped blocks have attached connectors and are made out of either wood or acrylics; lights are also embedded into the transparent pieces creating glowing windows.

Foundation aims to engage people of all ages who have disabilities with using and improving their fine motor skills in a way that is exciting and enjoyable. The project is specifically designed for Nico, a 15-year-old student at the Cotting School. While Nico’s exact condition has not been shared, he uses a wheelchair and has some trouble maintaining complete control over his hands and small finger movements. For example, he has a hard time zipping his jacket. This particular detail about Nico sparked the idea for fun and interactive blocks that, when used, would improve fine motor skills. Nico loves science and engineering and these blocks allow him to engage those interests as he fits the different connectors together like a design puzzle.

Basic software was used to design all the pieces: walls for the blocks and connectors. Each piece was then put together by hand. These blocks are custom-made to work on specific fine motor skills that the generic LEGOS set cannot provide. For example, a small press that does not require complex fine motor skills will connect two LEGO pieces together. However to connect the 2-inch cube blocks, rectangular prisms, and triangular prisms, they must first be arranged and then connected using one of the four connection types, requiring to either be pressed, aligned, pinched, or moved so that they fit together. When these fine motor skills have been mastered, for an extra challenge, users can try to build a three-dimensional house using every block in the set.

Although Foundation is specifically designed for Nico, it could really be used by anyone looking to improve fine motor skills and thereby their independence and high-level hand functions. Some people naturally have full range of motion and complete control over their hands; however, others have to work at it. This can really divide society, but the hope is that, by combining play with physical therapy, these blocks will allow more people to participate fully in more activities.

Adrian:

Foundation: Blocks that are made from Wood and acrylics to help improve fine motor skills while being engaging and fun to use.  Creativity is in the hands of those who use it.

Nico, a 15-year-old who uses a wheelchair, has trouble with the fine motor skills of zippering and buttoning his clothes.  Most people have complete control over the hand and others struggle to use some fingers, but control can be improved through physical therapy. Foundation is designed to make physical therapy enjoyable; it challenges users to solve puzzles with blocks. These blocks work by having different tasks to connect them. It is a different twist on the infamous legos and practising by creating different designs inevitably is practice and will improve hand control.The hope is that these blocks will make it easier for these skills to be achieved. Although designed for Nico, these blocks can be used for all ages. When noticing him struggle with zipping up jackets the Blocks came to mind when prototyping and were created into a fun puzzle to complete. These blocks are an improvement from legos because they have a sleek design and are all different with connection points.

The blocks were created in Rhino and were laser cut for fine precision. The external parts were created with Fusion 360 and were 3D printed. I was a tedious process