APPENDIX B:
CLIENT INTERVIEW SUMMARY
Our initial interview with our client Ms. Meghan O’Donnell took place in the Ford Engineering Design
Center, room G-211 at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, January 11th, 2016. Alp Alptekin, Sofia Kromis and Ben
Levinson were present at the interview along with representatives from from the other three design teams
in our section.
Ms. O’Donnell is an occupational therapist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago where she worked with
our user for a period of two months building life skills and fine motor skills. The purpose of our interview
was to obtain information on Arthrogryposis, our user’s individual condition, and the requirements of a
potential design solution. This appendix summarizes the main points of our meeting including information
we collected on the problem, design requirements and user.
CHALLENGES
Our client requested a device to assist a young girl with limited upper body movement caused by
Arthrogryposis to dress herself. During the meeting, our client mentioned these challenges that arose with
current systems of self-dress:
• Our user is not able to raise her arms high enough or bend her elbows in order to bring her
shirt over her head.
• When attempting to use a hook system, the user had difficulty securing both sides of the shirt
to the hooks without the other side falling off.
• When taking a shirt off using a hook system, it is difficult for the user to curve her back
forward in order to slip out of the shirt due to her hyperextended torso.
• The current dressing process requires the help of the user’s mother who needs her own time in
the morning in order to get dressed and ready for the day.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Independence
• The device should make it possible for our user to put on and take off a shirt
independently with minimal to no assistance from her mother.
• Practicality
• Use of the device should be straightforward and easy to use multiple times a day
while changing.
• The device should be designed for use by her while in her wheelchair or on her bed
before she transfers to her wheelchair.
• Use of the device should not take more than approximately 5 minutes.
• The device should be compatible with her Chicago Public Schools uniform polo
shirt.
• Safety
• The device should be safe for use and not risk discomfort, injury or worsening
condition of the user.
• Storage
• The device must be easily storable in her room and leave enough empty floor space
so she may move around the room in her wheelchair during the day.
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