Date: Monday, December 19, 2022
Category: General
One of RESNA's newest Board Member Nicole Zaino shares a little more information about herself and how she got started in the AT field.
How did you get your start in assistive technology?
In high school, I had the opportunity to shadow and intern at a local orthotics and prosthetics clinic after using assistive technology myself for many years. Then I went on and got my BS in Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering. Now, I am a final year PhD student in Mechanical Engineering. My current research is in pediatric powered mobility where I have really started to dive deeper into the assistive technology field.
How have you seen the field of assistive technology develop over the years?
I am still new to the field of assistive technology, but in my short time I can see that it is evolving.
What have been your volunteer roles within RESNA?
I currently am on the RESNA Board of Directors as a Presidential appointment.
Which PSG are you most involved with? How do you benefit from this community?
I am most involved with the Engineers and Technologists PSG. I enjoy seeing the discussion posts of the AT challenges other engineers have and the sharing of ideas. It is also great as a newer engineer in the field to see where other engineers work within the assistive technology community.
Why do you choose to volunteer with RESNA?
I choose to volunteer with RESNA to learn more about the community and have a role in helping shape the future direction of RESNA. As a doctoral student, I am particularly interested in the education and training aspects of RESNA.
Do you have any advice for AT professionals or those new to the field?
Attend the RESNA conference, network, and get involved. I have made so many great connections and my research has become richer because of attending conference and discussing new AT and AT research with others in the field. The AT field has a lot of people from different backgrounds, and we can learn a lot from each other’s experiences.