Date: Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Category: General

This month RESNA spoke with Antoinette Verdone, MSBME, ATP, RET.

How did you first become interested in the world of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology?

In high school, I loved my math and science courses, particularly Physics.  I thought it was fascinating to be able to understand on a deep level how the physical world works.  When looking for what to study in college, engineering seemed to fit what I was interested in, so I studied mechanical engineering for my undergraduate degree. 

I grew up in New Orleans, LA, so most of the jobs in the engineering field were in the oil industry.  But that did not interest me, because I wanted to find a way to directly help people with my engineering skills.  Through several serendipitous events, I found a (now defunct) graduate program in Rehabilitation Engineering at Wright State University.  This program introduced me to the world of assistive technology.  I realized I had found my calling, and I have not looked back!

What drives your passion for AT?

I am a problem-solver.  I love looking at a big problem, breaking it down, and finding a workable solution.  Working with people with disabilities allows me to do this every day.  Every person has their unique strengths and weaknesses that make problem-solving interesting and challenging. 

For example, someone cannot access a standard mouse – ok, what abilities do they have, what products are available, what is the best fit.  Also, I have always been a bit of a “gadget” person.  I like learning about technology and knowing what is out there. 

What is your proudest accomplishment you’ve achieved during your career in AT?

My proudest accomplishment is starting and growing my company, ImproveAbility.  My career plans did not include starting a business, but life circumstances moved me in that direction.  I started the business because I needed a way to keep working in AT and pay my bills – that was my only goal. 

Now, 13 years later, we are a company of 10 full-time employees.  I have learned so much about myself, and I am growing as a leader every day.  Owning a business is not for wimps, and I have had moments when I questioned the wisdom of my life choices J

But, then I think about how many people I’ve impacted over those 13 years, and I am humbled. 

What advice would you give for anyone trying to get more involved with RESNA?

Jump in! 

For the first 10 years or so of my career, I would go to conferences and other meetings and sit on the sidelines.  Then I made it my purpose to network more and put myself out there.  I really enjoy both the people I met and the work I am able to do with the organization.  Our industry is so small that if you want to make something happen, you can.  If you want to make a change, RESNA can be a great place to find like-minded people, and you can make an impact.

What inspired you to take on leadership role in the Maker SIG?

This is a totally selfish endeavor J As a problem solver, I am very frustrated when I run into situations where there is not an available solution. 

I found some makers to help me, and I want other AT professionals to have this opportunity as well.  I also see some challenges in working with Makers in the AT space.  First, there is a limit to what Makers can offer from a liability standpoint.  I want to find a way for these niche products to get into the hands of people with disabilities in a safe and thoughtful way. 

Also, there are some problems where the liability issues are preventing Makers from addressing those problems.  Let’s find a way around this.  I have been watching the Maker space for many years now, and I feel that we are at a moment in time where there are a lot of Makers out there that have amazing skills that know nothing about the assistive technology world.  But, when they are introduced to our world, they are excited to do the work.  Then, on the flip side, there are so many AT professionals that have clients who need solutions that are not addressed by currently available products, but they have no connection to the Maker world.  Let’s change that!

What are your main goals to accomplish in 2024 as the leader of the Maker SIG?

2024 will be a building year.  We will come up with our mission statement, and our hope is to have some working groups that can produce useful results. We want this group to be active and productive.  Some of the things we want to do will be easy to achieve, others will be more challenging.  It is all about who shows up to the table and who is willing to put in the time to help reach the goal.  Some of the ideas we have may even require legislation to be possible.  At this point we are open to all possibilities and want the members of the SIG to participate and bring their skills and knowledge to the group.

What excites you most about the future of the field of assistive technology?

Our industry is not shrinking but growing!  More mainstream companies are incorporating accessibility features into their products, but that only means that more people with disabilities can access them.  This does not put us out of a job, it widens the number of people who can fully participate in society.  This will only increase the need for knowledgeable professionals, in my opinion.  More and more people have awareness of the need for accessibility, and that will only grow our industry.  I also do believe that the maker world is a totally untapped market of future AT professionals.  If we can find a way to get these creative and industrious people into our industry, it will be a game changer