Empathy tool kit

Empathy Toolkit

understanding through experience

Designing an engaging, approachable kit to encourage empathy for the affects of aging on spatial navigation

Project Goals To increase awareness across breadth of impairments affecting spatial navigation including......

Cognitive Impairments

Mobility Impairments Sensory Impairments

Early Testing Activities were developed based upon literature and preceding simulations. Simulation activities were tested by students for two semesters. Simulations that did not elicit a student connection to decreased spatial navigation were modified or eliminated.

Image early prototype

Intended cycle of use for the kit Ease of...

Storage for reuse

Prompt for...

Reflection + Discussion

Ellicit...

Student engagement

Classroom usage Teams of two travel in stations; first, reading task card and then peforming the actions. activity #1 8-10 mins

Image student testing

activity #2 8-10 mins

activity #3 8-10 mins

Packaging After selection of items packaging concepts were developed.

early packaging ideas

case equipment Emp

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final concept

Image refined prototype

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simulation task cards

Simulation Task Cards degenerative glasses Spatial navigation is greatly altered by changes to vision. For every person totally blind, there are an additional 3.4 people who have a visual impairment which leave some degree of functional vision (World Health Organization, 2012). Vision impairments can range from cataracts, to glaucoma and macular degeneration; these can progressively worsen to a state of complete blindness.

Try on each of these glasses and walk from one corner of the room to the opposite.

blindness

gloved

Spatial navigation is greatly altered by changes to vision. Experts predict by 2030, rates of vision loss will double (Prevent Blindness America, 2008). Causes of blindness can include accidents, injuries, and diabetes.

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the US. and can affect small extremities as well as larger joints. There are 3 types:

Try on each of the blindfold and walk from one corner of the room to the opposite.

Rheumatoid arthritis; an autoimmune condition can cause numbness and tingling in extremities.

How would this affect your ability to navigate space?

Juvenile arthritis; characterized by an early onset (16 or under) of either Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid arthritis.

How would this affect your ability to navigate space?

Osteoarthritis; characterized by a breakdown of joint cartilage.

Try on this glove and try opening a door next, write your name.

How would this affect your ability to navigate space?

#1

#2

#3

Simulation Task Cards shoe swap 6.4 million Americans use some type of mobility aid - cane, crutches, or walker (McNeil, 2007). Mobility impairments can greatly diminish one’s ability to freely move in interior environments.

Put your shoes on the wrong feet and walk around the room.

tied down

popped

In the US, 9% of those 50 and older have osteoporosis, and nearly half of adults have low bone mass in the neck and spine. (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Symptoms include easily broken bones, spinal pain and stooping.

Mobility impairment affect millions of Americans each day.

Temporary impairments such as sprains, strains, and breaks, as well as permanent mobility issues can require the use of an aid such as a cane or walker.

Place one end of the cord around your shoe; hold the other end and walk down the line.

Place a handfull of popcorn seeds in your shoe and walk around the room.

How would this affect your ability to reach high objects?

How would this affect your ability to navigate space?

Now place just 1 seed in your shoe and walk around the room.

How would this affect your ability to navigate space?

#4

#5

#6

Simulation Task Cards wrist wrap Mobility impairment affect millions of Americans each day. For those aged 65 to 69 years old the likelihood of having a disability is 44.9% (McNeil, 2007). Temporary and permanent impairments can affect the both upper and lower body.

Put on the wrist wrap and try to turn door handle next, try to open a storage cabinet door without moving your thumb How would this affect your ability to navigate space?

remember

Memory loss and slower processing speeds are often associatied with aging (Glisky, 2007). Neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer’s disease which is the sixth leading cause of death in America; affecting nearly 5.1 million Americans (Alliance for Aging Research, n.d.)

Perform this memory task... as quickly as you can, say the ABC’s backward.

Imagine you had the same level of difficulty recalling room names/ numbers or turning off appliances.

anxiety Because of an increase in impairments (sight, balance, memory), older adults can also experience a significant amount of anxiety or fears.

How many mobility excercises did you perform?

What was #9 like?.....Did you notice it was gone?

Next, view the image on the following page Is it easier to read, or read the coloring?

Imagine this sensation in every day activities.

How would this affect your ability to navigate space?

How would this affect your ability to function?

m U . .

X . . .

Y , Z

#7

#8

#10 Note omission of #9 to elicit anxiety

Empathy Tool Kit Open

Closing Empathy Tool Kit

Empathy Tool Kit Closed