New assistive tech makerspace in Birmingham coming soon

Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher

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A young woman demonstrates a wheelchair wheelcover she and her Tikkun Olam Makers team at The University of Alabama designed.
The University of Alabama TOM’s Sandra Onyishi demonstrates a wheelchair wheel cover that her group designed. (The University of Alabama)

People with differing abilities will soon have better access to devices that make their lives easier, and it’s happening right here in Birmingham.

Lakeshore Foundation is launching an innovation lab called Lakeshore Garage to serve its members and people worldwide. This new makerspace in Birmingham will be one of two in Alabama through a partnership with TOM Global (Tikkun Olam Makers).

TOM Global is a movement and international network of people who connect problem-solvers and makers with people living with disabilities, the elderly and the poor to address their challenges with assistive devices.

Read on to learn how TOM Global works, how Lakeshore got involved + two opportunities to hear from both organizations this month.

So what is TOM Global?

A member of The University of Alabama's Tikkun Olam Makers team demonstrates the parameterized prosthetic leg cover his team developed for Michael Auprince, an assistant coach for UA’s men’s wheelchair basketball team.
Michael Auprince, an assistant coach for The University of Alabama's men’s wheelchair basketball team, shows the prosthetic leg cover developed for him by the university's Tikkun Olam Makers team.
The University of Alabama TOM chapter was the only U.S. university to win a grand prize among 470 participants from 13 countries at the TOM Global Innovation Challenge in June. (The University of Alabama)

“Tikkun Olam” means “to repair the world” in Hebrew, with TOM Global’s vision to improve the lives of 250 million people. The movement includes over 200 communities, including universities, schools, care facilities and corporate partners.

Each comprises:

  • Makers: Engineers, designers + developers
  • Need-Knowers: People with a keen understanding of underserved challenges

How TOM works

A man demonstrates a 3D printed adaptive device created at Lakeshore Foundation, which will soon have an assistive tech makerspace in Birmingham.
Lakeshore Foundation Director of Recreation & Athletics Kevin Orr shows a wheelchair adapter created with a 3D printer. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Beyond fostering connections within the communities, TOM stays out of product development collaboration and focuses instead on upholding rigid documentation standards so any TOM makerspace can replicate the solutions at low to no cost for people worldwide, says TOM Global Chief Development Officer Gail Reiss.

While you will see products in different stages of development on the TOM Global website, the common thread is the documentation, she adds. Someone in Singapore could find a product developed in Atlanta and download all the info to produce it.

“At the same time, if you know someone who needs it but doesn’t have a clue as to how to produce it, there’s a little button next to the product that says, ‘Choose a makerspace.’ That’s where we hope Lakeshore will be one of ours.”
Gail Reiss

Lakeshore’s new makerspace in Birmingham

A man in a wheelchair amid adapted sports and cycling equipment at Lakeshore Foundation
Lakeshore Foundation’s Kevin Orr in the athletic facility’s equipment room (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Some assistive tech fabrication is already happening at Lakeshore, which may not surprise you given its status as a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Olympic and Paralympic Training Site and fitness and recreation facility for people of all abilities. (Learn about membership here.)

A board member donated 3D printers and has created custom accessories such as water bottle holders and temporary parts while others are on order, says Lakeshore Chief Advancement Officer Chris Thomason.

“We’re already doing a little bit of this and we would love to do more. We are partnering with TOM Global to learn from them because they’ve obviously scaled this out. We want Lakeshore Garage to be a place where our members just pull in their chairs or walk in, talk to staff and volunteers and collaborate.”
Chris Thomason

Learn from TOM + Lakeshore this month

A man demonstrates a 3D printed adaptive device created at Lakeshore Foundation
Lakeshore Foundation’s Kevin Orr shows a 3D-printed device. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Don’t miss these two opportunities to hear from Lakeshore Foundation and TOM Global leaders this month:

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