SourceAmerica announces 2018 Design Challenge Finalists

Vienna, Va. – Three college and five high school teams from across the country are headed to the nation's capital to compete for the top prize in SourceAmerica's annual Design Challenge competition to improve the workplace for people with disabilities.

From the college-level competition, one team from California State University, Los Angeles and two teams from Lawrence Technical University in Southfield, Michigan made the cut. Teams from both schools previously made the finals; Cal State won last year's college division and Lawrence Technical University placed third.

The high school-level competition also has teams returning for another shot at the top prize. Copley High School from Copley, Ohio, and Poolesville High School from Poolesville, Maryland, are returning finalists. Copley High had two teams advance to the finals last year; those teams placed second and third. Poolesville High placed second in the 2016 Design Challenge. New to this year's finals are Catlin Gabel School in Portland, Oregon and an all-girls team from various high schools competing with the Portland-based organization STEM4Girls. The fifth group of high school finalists hails from Triad High School in Troy, Illinois.

 The SourceAmerica Design Challenge is a national competition held among teams at the high school and college levels. Student teams partner with nonprofit organizations or businesses that employ people with disabilities to design devices and systems to improve safety and accessibility in the workplace. They work closely with employees with disabilities to determine the scope and effectiveness of their project. This year, more than 120 teams entered the competition.

The finalist teams will compete at the final competition in Washington, D.C., April 9-11. In addition to submitting their designs to a panel of judges who will determine the ultimate winner, they'll meet with congressional representatives, learn more about disabilities in the workplace and connect with other STEM-minded students from across the country.

More on the finalists:

California State University, Los Angeles
Partner Organization: FVO Solutions, Inc.
Project: Interactive Virtual Assembly

The California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) team created an interactive, virtual reality job training program for employees with disabilities to support assembly processes.

Lawrence Technological University
Partner Organization: Services to Enhance Potential (STEP)
Project: Clip Assembly Device

The Clip Assembly Device is a handheld device to help assemble a small metal pin into a plastic clip. It looks like a retractable ball point pen with a platform that contours the shape of the clip. A magnetic groove for the metal pin can be easily grasped to release the parts with the click of pen.

Lawrence Technological University
Partner Organization: Services to Enhance Potential (STEP)
Project: Cube XL Assembly

The Cube XL Assembly nearly doubles the strut assembly output of employees in addition to increasing user enjoyment and focus. Employees with the use of only one hand can now assemble struts.

Copley High School
Partner Organization: Weaver Industries
Project: Paper Stack Cutter (PSC)

The Paper Stack Cutter (PSC) opens packages of pamphlets for shredding to ensure all employees at Weaver Industries SecurShred can prepare the materials for shredding.

Poolesville High School
Partner Organization: NIH Project SEARCH
Project: Folder Filler

The team created a device that inserts confidential documents into a manila envelope. The device enabled an automation clerk to become independent in his job.

STEM4Girls
Partner Organization: Edwards Enterprises
Project: Packy -- The Affordable Stretch Wrapping Machine

The Packy is a cost-effective and easily adjustable stretch wrapping device that enables employees to bundle a variety of boxes without the assistance of another staff member.

The Catlin Gabel School
Partner Organization: On The Move
Project: JonApp

The JonApp supports people with cognitive and developmental disabilities by providing a structure to organize and complete tasks in the workplace. The app includes images, dictation and a very user-friendly interface.

Triad High School
Partner Organization: Challenge Unlimited
Project: Preparing Patches

Preparing Patches makes it easier to tear "Tear-Aid Patches" into groups of three. The patches then go into a repair kit for a wheelchair. The product reduces the time and increases efficiency for employees.

For more information, visit sourceamerica.org/design-challenge.