Participatory Design and Assistive Technology

Collaborators:
Melanie Baljko, Amy Hurst, Ray Feraday, Toni Kunic, Nigel Livingston, Leo Spalteholz, Connie Ecomomopolous, Brandon Haworth

Relevant Publications:
Hamidi, F., Baljko, M., Kunic, T., Feraday, R. 2015. A DIY Communication Board Case Study. Journal of Assistive Technology, 9(4). Available Online. 

Hamidi, F., Baljko, M., Ecomomopoulos, C., Livingston, N., Spalteholz, L. G. 2015. Co-designing a speech interface for people with dysarthria. Journal of Assistive Technologies, 9(3), 159-173. Available Online. 

Baljko, M. and Hamidi, F. Knowledge Co-creation and Assistive Technology. Journal of Scholarly and Research Communication, 2014, 5(4). Available Online.

Hamidi, F., Baljko, M. Makers with a Cause: Fabrication, Reflection and Community Collaboration. Proceedings of the International Conference on Distributed, Ambient, and Pervasive Interactions, 2015, 49-61. Available Online.

One of the  main reasons I decided to pursue a PhD in Computer Science was to investigate ways in which design and technology can be used to unleash the creativity and expressive power of people and, especially, people with disabilities. 

For more than 10 years I have been working closely with many adults and children with disabilities to design and evaluate new technologies. These collaborations have been an inspiring and joyful part of my life and have led to many projects such as  Rafigh, CanSpeak, TalkBox and HugBug.

In addition to creating new technologies, I am also interested in participatory processes that support the design and deployment of assistive technologies.   I am currently investigating the application of  community engagement and Maker methods for assistive technology development.