![\"Braile](\"https:\/\/webapp.sunypoly.edu\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/BB-2-4.png\")
<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe college semester schedule can be challenging due to time constraints, but SUNY Poly faculty, staff, and student workers maintained continuity and progress on the series of braille projects, with assistance by CABVI teachers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Ultimately, the objective of these projects was for students from dramatically different disciplines to work together and come up with new ideas that would otherwise not be possible, which has been a resounding success.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
An educational humanitarian ecosystem<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The Braille Blocks Project is a byproduct of an educational humanitarian ecosystem consisting of three academic minors (Humanitarian Studies, Humanitarian Engineering, and Humanitarian Engineering Technology) and multi-disciplinary research teams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It all started in the mid-2010s when SUNY Poly Interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences, Dr. Joanne Joseph, was doing work with Sitrin Rehabilitation Center\u2019s Soldier Rehab Program. It was there that she met a veteran, who, after sustaining injuries from an IED, was no longer able to golf, an activity he loved.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cIf I could only play golf again, that would restore a lot of my quality of life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Dr. Joseph reached out to Dr. Jones about the possibility of that challenge becoming a project for a couple of MET students. For under $300, the MET students designed and produced a set of golf clubs, and now the local veteran is back on the golf course. The project\u2019s success inspired Dr. Joseph\u2019s belief that it could be the start of a new minor at SUNY Poly.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n She successfully applied for a SUNY Performance Improvement Fund (PIF) Grant, with the three aforementioned minors having been approved in the spring of 2019.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n SUNY Poly has since partnered with CABVI, Sitrin Rehabilitation Center, Upstate Cerebral Palsy, Resource Center for Independent Living, New York State Industries for the Disabled, Human Technologies Corporation, ENABLE and the ALS Foundation on several meaningful projects. The institution also welcomes the opportunity for additional partnerships in the future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cFrom my perspective, it’s a win-win, because students are learning how to communicate with each other across disciplines, which is extremely important,\u201d said Dr. Joseph of the collaborative efforts between MET and CBH students. \u201cAlso, the products are enhanced, because we\u2019re not only bringing in the engineering, but the human side of the equation, as well.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Dr. Joseph sees three key results arising from these successful, cross-disciplinary research efforts: \u201cOne, it becomes part of SUNY Poly\u2019s brand\u2014because we make a difference in people\u2019s lives; two, that we develop a spinoff, entrepreneurial company providing this kind of service; and three, that it will be an exciting recruitment tool, especially for female students who it has been very appealing to.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The impact on community partners, such as CABVI, has also been incredibly positive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \u201cOur collaboration with SUNY Poly has been both innovative and forward thinking,\u201d said Kathy Beaver, Vice-President of Rehabilitation at CABVI. \u201cWhen Dr. Joseph reached out and inquired as to whether there was a project they could help with, I didn\u2019t know what to expect. Would we spend a lot to time and energy on an idea with no solution? If so, would the process of engagement be enough of a reward?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n