Building Accessibility Through Collaboration
Shane Kulsic uses a 3D joystick adaptation provided by ATinNH to steer his electric wheelchair.
Assistive Technology in New Hampshire (ATinNH) is expanding its efforts to improve access to assistive technology across the state — and a new partnership with the UNH Entrepreneurship Center (ECenter) is helping bring more students into that mission.
Through the partnership, volunteer Makerspace Mentors at the ECenter can use available 3D printers during their office hours to fabricate low-cost accessibility tools that can improve everyday life for individuals with disabilities.
“My goal has been to increase awareness, and through that process, I’ve had a lot of fun discovering all the different departments across campus, like the ECenter, that naturally fit together in this effort of making things more accessible,” says ATinNH Director Sara Valli. “Enlisting volunteers who are willing to spend their time 3D printing different pieces of assistive technology is really important to our mission.”
ATinNH is the state’s federally funded Assistive Technology Act Program, housed at the . They recently launched a redesigned as part of a broader effort to strengthen New Hampshire’s assistive technology infrastructure, expand access and improve statewide coordination.
The organization operates the state’s only assistive technology lending library, allowing individuals, caregivers, educators, and therapists to borrow devices — including speech-generating communication tools, vision-support technology, and adaptive computer equipment — before purchasing them. ATinNH also provides training, demonstrations, and technical assistance throughout the state.
Tools that Make an Impact
The assistive tools produced at the ECenter are simple in design but can have a significant impact. Examples include adaptive pen grips, zipper pulls, button aids, seatbelt grabbers, key holders, bottle openers, and phone-plug adapters that help individuals with limited dexterity or motor function complete everyday tasks independently. ATinNH partners with organizations like Makers Making Change and Switched Adapted Toys, which provide design files and training materials students can use to create the tools.
“These items not only help individuals born with different disabilities but also those who are aging into disability or those who’ve acquired a disability through a stroke or an accident,” Valli says. “It can be really defeating to feel like you can't do things independently, and if we can hand someone something that a volunteer 3D printed that helps them put on their favorite dress shirt, that makes a difference.”
Emma Wilusz ’27, a bioengineering major and Makerspace Mentor, shares a design file for a bottle opener that will be sent to a 3D printer
ATinNH also collaborates with 4-H groups through UNH Cooperative Extension to create “switch-adapted” toys — battery-operated toys modified with external switches that allow children with physical disabilities to activate them using larger buttons or alternative movements.
ATinNH and the ECenter are exploring opportunities to host a toy-adaptation activity during a fall ECenter event, giving students a chance to learn the process while giving back to the community.
Valli says these toys are in demand by families and schools because of the limited toy options available for children with disabilities.
“Being able to get adapted toys to kids is huge, and being able to provide them to schools and programs supporting children with complex needs is just as important,” Valli says. “Schools are struggling with budgets, and switch-adapted toys can cost hundreds of dollars. If we can get those to families and schools at no cost, that makes a real difference.”
All these items can be found at ATinNH’s.
ATinNH Expands Efforts to Meet NH's Growing Assistive Technology Needs
Assistive Technology in New Hampshire (ATinNH) is expanding its efforts to help Granite State residents access the tools and resources they need. ATinNH serves as the state's assistive technology resource hub, connecting individuals, families, educators, service providers, and community organizations with technology, training, and support services.
A revamped website is just one part of a broader effort, that aims to better serve communities throughout the state at a time when schools and service providers are seeing increased demand for technologies that support students with diverse learning, communication, behavioral health, sensory, and physical needs.
"Our goal is to make access to assistive technology straightforward and responsive to the needs of New Hampshire communities," said Sara Valli, ATinNH Program Director. "Whether you're a parent looking for support, an educator seeking classroom tools, or a professional navigating funding options, this platform helps connect people to the right resources."
Learn more about the expanded program on the .
Expanding Opportunities for Collaboration
Valli is especially excited about tapping into students’ creativity through special projects and
hackathons. One upcoming project involves modifying NERF blasters with custom switches and wheelchair-mounted supports, enabling children with limited mobility to participate independently in Nerf battles.
Another initiative planned for fall 2026 is an assistive technology design challenge that will pair students with individuals living with disabilities who have specific accessibility barriers they need solved.
The challenge, developed with support from Dartmouth College students through a nonprofit-focused design program, will bring together ECenter students, FIRST Robotics teams, and potentially 4-H groups to develop creative solutions. Valli says multiple student teams may work on different solutions for the same challenge, encouraging innovation and hands-on problem-solving.
Valli hopes these collaborations will introduce more students to the possibilities of accessible design and community-focused innovation.
“We should be collaborating and bringing together all of these brilliant minds who can engineer and create solutions that help people with disabilities live more independently,” Valli says. “And if, along the way, we can inspire students to focus their creativity and engineering skills on assistive technology and accessibility, that’s even better. There’s an endless need for people creating tools that make the world more accessible.”