[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax_VMWwrS_U[/youtube]

Open to high school and college students nationwide, the AbilityOne Design Challenge is a competition to develop assistive technologies that empower people with disabilities to break through barriers to employment. Top designs can win $10,000 for a school and team, plus a trip to the finals in Washington, D.C.

The inventions don’t have to be fancy, but they must help people. The students and school retain all rights to the device. Submitting the design paper grants a limited license to use the device to the competition’s sponsor and partnering agency, AbilityOne.gov, which anticipates keeping at least one device for continued use.

Click to see video and news articles from past Design Challenges, or to review the competition requirements and judging criteria.

Registration opened Friday, October 11, 2013 and extends to November 29, 2013 for high school, with late registration up to Jan 17, 2014. College students and teams must register by February 28, 2014, with an April 11, 2014 deadline for late registration.

Finals take place February 26 – 28 (high school) and June (college).

Watch Poolesville (Md.) High School students explain their 2011-12 winning device:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHtUMSUEn4U[/youtube]

Filed under: K-12 Outreach Programs, Special Features, Web Resources

Tags: AbilityOne, assistive technology, Competitions for Students, Design, design competition