BME Seminar Series (Zoom): Importance of Bridging the Gap - Innovation Alongside Community

Zoom (link below)
Samantha Johnson, M.S.

Founder
Tatum Robotics

Zoomhttps://uci.zoom.us/j/97629106431 Password: 198Sem

Abstract: As the technological revolution has the potential to transform accessibility for those with disabilities, impactful change cannot be developed in a vacuum. As someone who is abled striving to help those who are disabled, passion will not be enough to understand struggle points, use cases and adoption methods. To truly design for people with disabilities, people with that disability need to be in the room with you.

For the past two years, I have been working with the local DeafBlind community to develop an assistive communication tool. No assistive communication tools have ever been commercialized specifically targeting the millions of DeafBlind individuals in the U.S. and worldwide. At this time, more than ever, the COVID pandemic has clearly and widely displayed the holes in the current communication alternatives for this historically underserved community who was suddenly without means of accessing the abled world’s resources: community, entertainment and critical news. Working alongside the DeafBlind community through every step of ideation, prototyping, and validations, I can understand the requirements for an effective and ethical solution, prioritizing DeafBlind access and regarding their primary language as essential to the solution’s adoption within the community.

Bio: Samantha Johnson graduated with her master’s degree in bioengineering from Northeastern University in Boston. Through her involvement with the Deaf Blind Contact Center (DBCC) during her ASL studies, Johnson began her thesis collaborating with the DBCC to develop an assistive communication tool for the DeafBlind community. Johnson is now leading a startup, Tatum Robotics, to continue these efforts alongside development partners, including the DBCC, Perkins School for the Blind and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Johnson previously worked at the Perkins School for the Blind in their assistive design center, striving to promote inclusivity and technological advancement.