QL+ Program Manager:
Jason Whitman
Ohio University holds as its central purpose the intellectual and personal development of its students. Distinguished by its rich history, diverse campus, international community, and beautiful Appalachian setting, Ohio University is also known for its outstanding faculty of accomplished teachers whose research and creative activity advance knowledge across many disciplines.
jason.whitman@qlplus.org
The objective of this Challenge was to design a cooling vest for the Challenger, Will Rolfe. Will lives in Maine and is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), which is a disease that affects the nervous system and can prevent the brain from receiving and transmitting information. For example, Will’s body struggles to send the necessary information in order to cool himself down. To counter this, Will has been using his old military plate carrier with large ice packs inserted into it. The main problem with this setup is that Will must wear the bulky vest outside in the public eye. He wanted a vest that not only has a thinner profile but also provides the necessary cooling capabilities....
The goal is to make an assistive device for an above-the-knee amputee, so that she can move from the sand to the ocean and then back to the sand as independently as possible....
Our Challenger is an Air Force Veteran who retired in 1980 due to a spinal cord injury. He has short legs and uses a make-shift transfer step to off-set his short legs as he transfers in and out of his van, and in and out of bed, etc. He is a T3 complete paraplegic and uses a wheelchair for his mobility....
