In this episode, Sasha speaks with Andres Guerrero, a rehabilitation engineer, and Jean Marie Florkowski, an occupational therapist, about their work at Blythedale Children's Hospital. They discuss the integration of rehabilitation engineering with clinical practices, the role of assistive technology in pediatric therapy, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. The conversation also touches on the challenges of communication between engineers and clinicians, the impact of adaptive toys on child development, and the future of assistive technology, including brain-computer interfaces and gaming.

Useful resources:

• To learn more about the rehabilitation engineering work and at Blythedale and how to get involved: HERE
• 3D-printed switch: HERE
• 3D-printed adjustable writing tool: HERE

This conversation features a group of assistive technology professionals (ATPs) from Blythedale Children's Hospital in Valhalla, NY, discussing their roles, experiences, and the evolution of assistive technology in pediatric care. They are:

• Karen Conti (Assistant Director of Physical Therapy/Assistive Technology Professional)
• Barbara Donleavy-Hiller (Senior Occupational Therapist/Assistive Technology Professional)
• Marnina Allis (Assistant Director of Speech Pathology/Assistive Technology Professional)

They share personal journeys that led them to Blythedale, the importance of assistive technology in enhancing children's potential, and the challenges faced in accessing and delivering these technologies. The discussion also highlights the advancements in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and the need for better tracking of assistive technology delivery to ensure children receive the necessary support. The speakers emphasize the need for more research in pediatric assistive technology and the potential of advancing technology to enhance independence for children with disabilities.

This episode was powered by:

• Center for Research and Education on Accessible Technology and Experiences (CREATE) at the University of Washington

• Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA)

Dr. Max Ortiz-Catalan (LinkedIn, Google Scholar, website) shares his journey from electronics engineering to becoming a leading expert in neuroprosthetics. He discusses the challenges of medical device regulation across the world, the advancements in control mechanisms for prosthetics, and the role of machine learning in decoding user intentions. The conversation also touches on cultural perspectives regarding prosthetic acceptance and the importance of neuroplasticity in enhancing sensory feedback for users. Max discusses the complexities of neural interfaces and sensory feedback in prosthetics, the challenges of treating phantom limb pain, and his humanitarian efforts in Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.

A few important links:

• The charitable foundation, Remedi Ukraine, supports individuals severely affected by war, such as students who lost their families and are in need of support to continue their education. LEARN MORE
• The Center for Complex Endoprosthesis, Osseointegration, and Bionics (CCEOB), along with Tytanovi, are charitable foundations devoted to the rehabilitation of people with limb loss. Located in Kyiv, Ukraine, they provide functional (prosthetics), psychological, and pain rehabilitation to those injured by war. LEARN MORE
• Prometei Pain Rehabilitation Center is charitable foundation dedicated to treat patients with neuropathic pain, in articular, phantom limb pain (PLP). LEARN MORE
• Theoretical framework for pain research: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2018.00748/full
• WIRED documentary on neuroprostheses: https://youtu.be/Ipw_2A2T_wg?si=8ASkmco4Eaa39a9n