Understanding making Assistive Technology and Making writing AT at home.

• Story telling and listening to the need knower:

to share their story and share their success and struggles. This makes sure that the student knows that when AT is made it needs to be made with the end user and for the end user.

Note: Involve parents of the need knower as it will be better for the needknower to get comfortable with everyone.

• Students should be encouraged to ask questions on what AT they need and problems faced by them. 

• Teachers need to answer this questions: Emphasis on the importance of AT, what is AT ? Why does it need to be made with the need knower as their design partner/ consultant and needs to be tested? This makes sure the students understand AT and the development process of AT.

• Share some examples of AT, from very complicated robotic assistance to low tech cloth wrapped around a pen to help with grip and also computer software. Always good to share stories of different AT

 eg: a Mother in India used a potato as a pencil holder for her boy who had a gripping problem. She peeled the potato layer at a time to make sure it was comfortable and fitted her boy.

•  Start by Explaining what Molding and Casting is?
• Introduction to Different types of Molding and Casting materials but tell them more about Silicon Molding and Casting
• Explain the Mold making process, like 3d printed mold, milled mold and getting negative from actual material.
• Teachers also need to explain the need for Personal Protective Equipment.

•  Teachers need to set a molding and casting station with all the materials(Silicon and hydrostone), gloves, apron and weighing machine.
• Also prepare kneaded dough or use kids playing dough which will be used in a mother mold. 
• Make all the students wear latex gloves and an apron and small amounts of dough and three plastic cups.
• Again remind them about the safety and how messy it can become.

Now give clear instructions on the process of molding and casting:

1. Firstly, Students will use the dough to make an AT , eg: wrap the dough around the pen to make a pen holder or make a writing cushion as in the picture below, best would be to encourage them to make something for the need to know that visited or met. (if there is a need knower take an impression from the person)
2. Teachers should verify the Dough AT to see if it can be casted. 
3. While students are making the Dough AT, the teacher should prepare the Casting hydrostone.
4. Now, ask your students to place the dough in the plastic cup or any container you see fit. Place it in such a way that the important parts come out perfectly. 
5. Now, pour the hydrostone in the cup with the dough but make sure to leave space on top from which we can take out the dough.
6. The hydrostone usually takes around 15 minutes to get casted.
7. When the stone is hard, take out all the dough and the shape of the dough will be left behind on the stone which will be the mold for the AT.
8. Now, read the instructions for preparing the silicon and prepare the silicone in a new container. This will be your final casting material.
9. Finally, pour the silicon on the hydrostone mold and then the casting time will depend on the individual material.
10. While removing the final product, sometimes you might have to break the hydrostone. This will be your Assistive Technology.

• Now make the student Test the silicon AT themselves first or if possible on a need knower they made the AT for.
• Get feedback and if time permits they can make their second iteration.

• Ask your students to download any 3d scanner on their phone which can scan small object’
• Now, the student can scan the Dough with the instruction for the scanner they donwloaded.
• 3d print the scaned file using a flexible filement like TPU filament