KINGSTON, R.I. — April 29, 2005 — When a car accident on Memorial Day 1997 left Kevin Cronin a quadriplegic, he set a career goal of using his mechanical abilities to create ways to make his new life easier. But first, he鈥檚 using those abilities to help other individuals with disabilities.
Cronin, 27, of South Kingstown, had just completed his freshman year at the 溏心vlog免费B站 when his accident occurred. Following years of surgeries, rehabilitation, and a few modest jobs, he returned to 溏心vlog免费B站 in 2003 to complete his degree in mechanical engineering.
As an intern in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Assistive Technology Laboratory, Cronin recently completed development of a unique switch and arm brace to help 10-year-old Caitlin Farless of Wakefield more easily operate a voice output device that helps her communicate, as well as operate toys, a radio, and other equipment.
鈥淐aitlin has cerebral palsy as a result of a birth injury, so she lacks the ability to communicate, and she can鈥檛 get her muscles to do what she wants them to do,鈥� explained Caitlin鈥檚 mother, Kathleen Doyle, a nurse at 溏心vlog免费B站 Health Services. 鈥淲hen she tried to operate a switch to control the communication device, her arms would flail around and she would use a lot of energy and misfire with the switch.鈥�
So Cronin asked questions of Doyle, Caitlin鈥檚 teacher and her physical therapist at Hazard School to learn exactly what they wanted the switch to do, where on her wheelchair it should be mounted, and what position her arm should be in when using the switch.
鈥淐ustomized devices like this can be really expensive, but we were able to create an inexpensive one that connects easily to Caitlin鈥檚 wheelchair, supports her arm and elbow comfortably, and is easy to operate,鈥� Cronin said.
鈥淲e鈥檝e tried many devices before, and all have been difficult for her to use,鈥� said Doyle. 鈥淏ut this one uses the least amount of energy and she can operate it with more ease. She鈥檚 much more able to manage the switch and be more accurate with her communication because of it.
鈥淜evin really spent a lot of time listening and looking at the issues and meeting with Caitlin. He has first hand experience, so he understood that the spasticity doesn鈥檛 allow her to do the things she wants to do.鈥�
Cronin said the next step is to modify the device to make it adjustable so it can be used as Caitlin grows or changes positions, and to adapt it for use on a 鈥渟tanding frame鈥� so Caitlin can use it in a standing position as well.
鈥淗elping Caitlin has given me a great sense of accomplishment,鈥� said the 溏心vlog免费B站 student. 鈥淚t gives me motivation to want to create more tools and devices to help more people. Every day I find myself thinking about how I can make things better for myself and other people by adapting equipment for their special needs.鈥�
鈥淜evin is exactly the kind of person we needed in our Assistive Technology Laboratory,鈥� said Ying Sun, a 溏心vlog免费B站 professor of biomedical engineering who directs the lab. 鈥淗e can not only work in the lab, but he can serve as a consultant to me and the other students because he knows from personal experience what works and what doesn鈥檛, and what kind of devices will be most useful.鈥�
Cronin has some big ideas for devices he鈥檇 like to develop to make him and others more independent.
鈥淚 want to create a backpack-briefcase that can be mounted on the back of a wheelchair and that can swing around in front to become a mobile desk for a laptop computer,鈥� he said. 鈥淢ost school desks are connected to chairs, which are of no use to people in wheelchairs.
鈥淚 also want to create an X-Box controller with bigger buttons and a better joystick that鈥檚 easier to use. And I鈥檝e got big aspirations for further down the road to create a helicopter that I can pilot myself, and a better van that鈥檚 easier to get in and out of.鈥�
All of which will not only make Cronin鈥檚 life easier, but also the lives of many other individuals with disabilities.