MakeGood NOLA has developed a modular, fully 3D-printed wheelchair for children ages 2 to 8. The New Orleans-based adaptive design lab created the wheelchair to address the high costs of pediatric mobility devices, which can run into thousands of dollars. According to MakeGood founder Noam Platt, every component of the wheelchair—from the frame to the wheels, tires, seat, and even straps—can be printed on a standard 3D printer. The design will soon be available as a free fair-use download.
The wheelchair, called the Toddler Mobility Trainer (TMT), features a modular design that requires no tools or glue for assembly. If a part breaks or gets damaged, users can simply reprint the specific piece rather than replacing the entire chair. The design was developed in collaboration with therapists from around the world to provide mobility and independence to young children with disabilities.
“We designed this to be modular and easy to make,” Platt said in a social media video. “Really, anyone with a 3D printer and some filament can download the files and print it.” The customizable nature of 3D printing allows the wheelchair to be produced in any color and modified to accommodate specific needs, such as adding support for breathing devices.
Since founding MakeGood in 2021, Platt’s team has delivered 1,600 individualized adaptive devices to families at no cost. The nonprofit design lab focuses on creating solutions for the more than 1 billion people worldwide who live with disabilities. Their approach centers on collaboration with the “Need Knower”—the disabled person or their primary caregivers—throughout the design process.
People interested in obtaining a TMT can currently request a free chair from MakeGood. “We have a growing list of people who’ve requested these, and once we finish the design, we’ll start filling those requests with custom-printed chairs, including things that you might need for your particular chair,” Platt explained. The organization is currently in the final stages of refining the design before its public release.
Source: goodgoodgood.co