A 13-year-old boy, Zac Waters, dedicated his summer to a heartwarming project: designing and 3D printing a custom wheelchair for a baby in need. Inspired by a YouTube video about 3D printing, Zac, an enthusiast of the technology, discovered MakeGood, an organization that creates blueprints for assistive devices. He spent around 300 hours over the summer working on this project after learning about a 21-month-old girl whose family couldn’t afford a proper wheelchair.<\/p>\n
Zac’s efforts involved every step of the design and assembly process. He relished putting the pieces together, culminating in a tangible difference for a young girl in need. MakeGood operates as a nonprofit based in New Orleans, aiming to make assistive technology accessible to everyone. They focus on understanding individual needs and provide custom solutions at a faction of the commercial cost.<\/p>\n
Brittany, a mother from Ohio, shared her own journey after being inspired by MakeGood’s work. She adopted Stormi, her daughter with special needs, and decided to get a 3D printer to design mobility devices for her. Brittany appreciated that learning how to operate the printer was a challenge, but the results, including Stormi testing different designs, made it worthwhile. She has since made multiple mobility builds, showcasing the potential for impact within local communities.<\/p>\n
Noam Platt, the founder of MakeGood, expressed gratitude for volunteers like Zac who commit their time and resources to help those in their communities. He noted the endless opportunities for designing assistive technology and welcomed more people to join their initiatives.<\/p>\n
MakeGood\u2019s vision extends globally, continually working on innovative projects such as motorized and outdoor versions of assistive devices while training others to develop similar solutions. As Platt noted, "there are over 1,000 Zacs out there becoming heroes in their own community." The power of technology combined with goodwill continues to transform lives for the better.<\/p>\n