Thanks to our partners at the New Brunswick Premier’s Council on Disabilities and National AccessAbility Week (opens in a new window), Makers Making Change held a number successful builds in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Over the week of March 15th to 19th, 124 students at Bliss Carman Middle School (opens in a new window) participated in switch builds as part of their experience learning about technology and electricity.

The grade 6 students spent science class learning about the possibilities of technology and the access it can create for people with disabilities, while also getting hands-on experience of soldering, assembling, and building a working device.

The students built over 100 light touch switches (opens in a new window), which allow access to devices with minimal finger movement.

“Our experience with [Neil Squire] has been a very positive experience in a year in which positives have been sometimes hard to find,” says teacher Chris Jones.

“The students enjoyed taking part in the Makers Making Change program. The students learned some new skills, collaborated, and produced some assistive tech. They felt good knowing that their effort would directly benefit someone in need.”

Also in March, as part of their weekly meeting and activities, the 1st St. Margaret’s Scout Troop participated in a switch build.

Twelve scouts, aged 11, each built a raindrop switch (opens in a new window), which allows fingertip touch and movement to activate a switch.

The scouts learned soldering skills while gaining an understanding of assistive technology and how devices work. Four scout leaders attended as well, lending their time and skills to the Makers Making Change project.

The switches from both builds will be donated and dispersed throughout New Brunswick, as well as to the assistive technology department of Stan Cassidy Centre (opens in a new window).

This post originally appeared on the Makers Making Change(opens in a new window) website.