Colorado School of Mines Students Redefine Adaptive Recreation with Music, Golf, and Climbing Tech
At this year’s Colorado School of Mines Design Expo, QL Plus proudly showcased not one, but three extraordinary student-led projects—all aimed at enhancing recreation and mobility for veterans and first responders with physical disabilities. These projects, funded and supported through QL Plus’s innovation challenge, spanned sports, music, and adaptive climbing.
Bass Guitar Adaptation
Students Ryan Borkowski, Abi Harris, Kayla Long, Samantha Witt, and Kohler Wood engineered a modified bass guitar for individuals with limited grip strength and dexterity. Their invention featured ergonomic handles, a stabilization system, and a mechanical plucking lever that allowed users to play with independence and confidence—proving that adaptive design can also be expressive and creative.
Golf Assistive Device for Individuals with Quadriplegia
Team members Adalie Sullivan, Emma Smithney, Juan Bolados, and Mason Peterson developed a powered head-switch mechanism that enables users with quadriplegia to drive a golf ball. The system was designed to recreate the full swing experience through precise mechanical control, expanding access to a sport often out of reach for individuals with mobility impairments.
Adaptive Climbing Belay System
Ben Thieme, Cam Potz, Konner Mickelsen, and Victoria Barton tackled the challenge of indoor climbing accessibility. Their modular belay device was created to help climbers with limited grip strength safely and authentically participate in belay sessions—removing one more barrier to inclusive outdoor and recreational education.
Each team collaborated with mentors from Craig Hospital and the River Deep Foundation, ensuring their designs met the real-world needs of veterans and rehabilitation clients.
These projects embody the spirit of innovation, empowerment, and inclusion that drives QL Plus forward. The diverse range of solutions developed at Mines demonstrated the students’ remarkable creativity and technical execution—along with a shared desire to serve their communities.
