Spinal Life Australia Innovation Series
The second workshop of the Spinal Life Australia Innovation Series was very productive, with stimulating ideas, concepts and codesigning of solutions to help people living with spinal cord injuries overcome everyday challenges.
Representatives from four manufacturers joined eight people with spinal injury, one family member, two clinicians, and four members of the research team. Delivered in a blended in-person and online format, participants worked in small groups, each around a specific theme identified in workshop one. Participants from workshop one shared the challenges and the impact on their everyday activities with manufacturers, who then worked together in conceptualizing and sketching potential solutions. Participants from workshop one even brought demos to share with the group!
The last and final session will be in October. We are excited to hear the co-designed solution pitches from manufacturers.
“There is a lack of research in co-design approaches to solve challenges in disability & rehabilitation despite its potential to break down barriers in the creation of relevant solutions and their adoption. It was very motivating to participate in the workshop; everyone was positive and encouraging, and I can’t wait to see the outcomes of the discussions in the last session!” - Dr Camila Shirota, Research Lead and Advanced Queensland Fellow, The Hopkins Centre.
Margaret McDonald, Regional Manager, from the Spinal Life Healthy Living Centre says, “How much participants are enjoying the opportunity to be involved in the project. Plus, the experience working with designers and seeing how differently they approach problems and situations, rather from a clinician point of view”.
These workshops are bringing together people with disability, with local manufacturers, clinicians and researchers, to collaborate in co-designing new solutions to overcome everyday challenges. We are committed to creating better access to technology and improving the way solutions are designed for people with disability. Through collaboration and co-design, we can improve access for all, developing better solutions and innovative remote care that can redefine disability.
