For the second year in a row, Avnet Cares sponsored the MAKERS of Change Technology Challenge. The challenge is held by Southwest Human Development, an Easter Seals program in Arizona that specializes in support of early childhood development and young children with disabilities.
High school teams from across Maricopa County were challenged and asked to troubleshoot and create “real-world” solutions that will help improve the lives of young children with disabilities.
This year’s challenge focused on Quincy, a 17-month-old girl with Leigh’s Disease with a COX deficiency, resulting in movement, respiration, endocrine and heart issues. Quincy’s family hoped to have comfortable seating and head support options so that Quincy could sit independently and be involved with everything they do.
Teams had a quick five-week timeframe to create and submit a poster and video outlining their solutions. Volunteer judges from the community, including one from Avnet, reviewed submissions and recommended nine teams to advance to the in-person Finalist Presentation.
A number of the teams in the finals utilized technology, such as the Arduino Uno, for their inventions. One of those teams was Ironwood High School, which took home the “Best in Show” award for their creation – a pool float that would support Quincy while driving her around the water.
