The Assistive Key

The Assistive Key - open-source assistive technology working model by the Vanderbilt University community

About this project

We created a device that will make it much easier for Zoe to use her house key. A 3D print of a cylindrical device was attached to the key to make it easier for her to grip and control the key movement. It’s colored coded with green and red on either side to clearly indicate which way locks and unlocks the door. There is a finger grip on the bottom and a spot for the thumb on top so it’s clear to her which way she has to hold the key.

The challenge

Zoe has trouble with fine motor skills and especially with keys and door locks. When she comes home from school every day, she has to use her key to unlock the front door, which can sometimes be a lengthy process. The orientation, direction, and act of putting the key in the lock can be arduous and confusing, often resulting in broken keys and Zoe being locked out of her own house. She requires a lot of visual and oral prompts, and often cannot complete a task like this on her own.

Who it helps

Zoe is a seventeen-year-old girl with a history of complex cardiac defects and a cardiac arrest at two and a half months old. Due to her cardiac arrest, she experienced hypoxia to the brain, resulting in permanent moderate brain damage. She is 100% feeding tube dependent and requires a full-time caretaker to go about her daily routines. As of now, she is very dependent on her family and multiple caretakers, but her mother wishes for her to develop more independent skills in the future.

Project details

The build files for The Assistive Key are free to download from this page - open source, shared by TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.

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