Mary Gates Research Scholar, Winter 2025
Research Project: The Switch Kit: Co-Designing a Switch Accessible Digital Play Environment for Children
Project Description: The switch kit is a customizable set of adaptive switches that makes it easier for kids with motor disabilities to play with toys. It’s designed to be low-cost, easy to use, and flexible enough to fit into whatever setup a child already has. In its past deployment with clinicians, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected to better understand how it was used in real-world play.
What have you learned throughout your research project?
When I began my project, I was pretty timid and uncertain on how I could contribute. I wasn’t sure if my background or experience were relevant, and it took time to build confidence in my perspective. As the project progressed, I started to trust myself more. I took initiative on different data analyses despite my lack of prior experience, and found that my unique perspective could led to meaningful insights. Having this experience taught me that research isn’t about having all the answers from the start and rather is about being curious and dedicated throughout.
What piece of advice do you have for future applicants?
Try everything! Even if something isn’t necessarily in your field of study or interest, you never know how much you might end up liking it.