Fort Smith, AR — Occupational Therapy (OT) students at the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) are gaining hands-on experience in the CREATE Lab, where they recently designed and 3D-printed a custom device to help a community member recovering from a stroke gently exercise and stretch his hand, easing the finger contractions that make everyday tasks more difficult.
Krista Cox, ACHE Occupational Therapy Content Expert, explained that projects like this give students a unique opportunity to apply classroom learning in a real-world setting.
“By working directly in the CREATE Lab to design and print a device, students not only learn about assistive technology but also see firsthand how their ideas can impact someone’s independence and quality of life,” Cox said. “It allows them to use professional reasoning skills while applying OT theory.”
The project was part of ACHE’s Productive Aging Assistive Technology Fieldwork, which provides students the opportunity to develop solutions for community members while still in a learning environment.
Stephanie Pizza, Community Outreach Coordinator for Art and Research Integration at the Research Institute Health & Wellness Center, emphasized how the CREATE Lab supports both student development and community outreach.
“These projects give future OTs autonomy to design custom items that fit a patient’s specific needs,” Pizza said. “Students can design and print items faster than waiting for shipping for a tool that may not fit as well. We’ve also seen these tools make a difference during outreach efforts such as our Art to Go classes with community partners, such as Bost, where adaptive and assistive devices have been very helpful.”
For community members interested in requesting similar tools, inquiries can be directed to Christina Harrod, Innovative Technologies and Applied Arts Coordinator, at christina.harrod@achehealth.edu. Requests are considered within the lab’s capabilities and limitations.
While ACHE’s CREATE Lab continues to evolve, its impact is already clear, offering students practical experience while helping enhance quality of life for individuals in the River Valley.
