Annual OT Adaptive Expo returns to Innovation Hall

Students, faculty, professional staff, and members of the community gathered at the University of New England’s Portland Campus on Tuesday, April 5, for the UNE Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T) program’s annual Adaptive Projects Expo.

The signature event of UNE’s Occupational Therapy program, the annual exposition highlights evidence-based interventions for children and families and showcases the creative adaptive work of the University’s occupational therapy (OT) students.

The event, held in Innovation Hall for the first time since 2019, saw students in the Class of 2023 present their projects to each other, their professors, local OT practitioners, family, alumni, and the community.

The adaptive projects are designed to assist children and other clients in their everyday occupational engagement. Such projects included sensory boards, interactive learning tools, modified video game controllers, musical instruments, and more. The projects will go on to be used by clients and centers, including Portland Public Schools, Falmouth Public Schools, StoreySmith Pediatric Center, Wiggle Worms, and Spurwink, among others.

“It was incredibly inspiring to see my classmates showcase their projects to the UNE community, families, friends, and general public,” reflected Jordan Agabin, who created a sensory wheel equipped with different fabrics and textures to facilitate development and help children with their adaptive responses. “The Expo had so many eye-opening and creative projects all with the intent to serve others. Participating in the Expo reminds me of how much I love occupational therapy, the combination of both art and science, and the value it provides to human beings.”

A popular exhibition was a sensory piano crafted by students Ali Crooker, Billy Hickey, and Angela Marquez.

Developed using a Makey Makey controller, the sensory piano picks up electrical signals from whomever is using it as they are grounded to the device with a wrist band. The students paired different everyday objects — including carrots, potatoes, and houseplants — to different sounds, and each object plays a different sound once touched.

Marquez said the sensory piano is designed to allow people of all ages and developmental levels to explore different sensations with unlimited variations of sound production and tactile stimulation.

“Allowing multiple people to use the sensory keyboard at once allows for the promotion of social interaction by having people collaborate in an improvised musical adventure,” she said.

Elizabeth Crampsey, Ed.D., M.S., OTR/L, BCPR, associate clinical professor of occupational therapy at UNE, said she looks forward to the Adaptive Expo every year.

“Each year, the students elevate their creativity, innovation, and evidence-based strategies to make cost-effective projects that fill a void in our community for those working with children,” Crampsey remarked. “We look forward to continuing to grow the event with our community partners and having the students experience the joy we all do when helping children and their caregivers engage in a fulfilling life.”