Children with disabilities are one of the most marginalized and excluded members of our society. They often face greater challenges in accessing healthcare, education, and economic opportunities compared to their peers without disabilities. As they grow up, they are more likely to experience poverty and encounter greater disparities, further exacerbating their social and economic exclusion.

When provided with equal opportunities to thrive like their peers, they can realize their potential and make meaningful contributions to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of their communities.

Access to assistive technology is crucial for the well-being of children with disabilities. For many of these children, such technology can mean the difference between fully enjoying their rights or being deprived of them.

Source: UNICEF report

Alexander Geht (Alex) at Testa-Seat, based out of USA is addressing the needs of the children with disabilities that cannot sit upright and interact with the surroundings as normal functioning members of the society.

Their inability to sit upright adds on to their disability with the eventual onset of spinal deformities, eating and breathing disorders and other developmental delays.

Innovations for the enriching lives of the disabled

"I started my journey in industrial design in 2012, and that's when I developed a deep interest in challenging the status quo of solutions for the disabled population. This was when I first started iterating with developing products to change the lives of people with disabilities," explained Alex.

Testa Seat was established by Alex with the purpose of developing essential products for the often-overlooked population with disabilities. Their goal is to provide them with innovative solutions in order to enhance their independence, mobility, and overall quality of life.

"We are focused on seating as it is the most fundamental posture for breathing, eating, and communicating. It is not a luxury or a matter of physical comfort; it's about unlocking possibilities. It's about giving individuals the freedom to make eye contact and engage with their surroundings," continued Alex.

Alex's products enable individuals to actively participate in daily activities and become valued members of society. He is committed towards empowering individuals with disabilities and ensuring that they have equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to their communities.

3D Printing is crucial for designing user-centric assistive technology

3D printing has revolutionized assistive technology by democratizing access to customized devices for individuals with disabilities. In the past, assistive technologies were expensive, slow to produce, and lacked customization. However, 3D printing has transformed this landscape by enabling tailored solutions to users' specific needs, enhancing comfort and efficiency. It has resulted in assistive devices being more affordable by streamlining manufacturing processes and reducing material waste.

"We have used 3D Printing right from the start as it facilitates a more customized approach for an accessible design. In the beginning, it was easy to simply 3D Print based on the user requirement. In the later stages, I started to experiment with parametric design in our products," explained Alex.

Parametric design is a technique in which engineers use algorithms to create complex, customized products or structures. This process allows designers to input a set of parameters, or variables, that the algorithm then uses to generate a unique solution. This technique enables engineers to design complex customized products with more variables to for an enhanced user experience. "By incorporating parametric design in the design, we are able to manufacture complex parts and shapes that are tailored towards the comfort of our users. This allows us to manufacture the perfect seat for children relatively quickly," added Alex.

A customizable seat for improving the lives of children with disabilities

Testa Seat is a 3D-printed, customizable, lightweight, and cost-effective full-body support device for children with disabilities that affect their posture. 3D Printing reduces production time and costs by eliminating 80% of human labor compared to traditional methods, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the supply chain.

"Our pediatric assistive systems are the only ones in the market that offer full customization without the need for scanning, casting, or post-processing of CAD files. With advanced 3D printing technology, these systems are ready for manufacturing upon entering measurements, ensuring high quality and comfort without compromise," claimed Alex.

Testa-Seat provides various seating and positioning solutions tailored to individual needs. They offer services that cover the entire process from design and measurement to customization and manufacturing. Their package includes, both off-the-shelf and fully customized options, including contour backrests, headrests, and footrests.

Scaling up with Mitsubishi Chemical Group's advanced 3D Printing polymers

Testa seats are designed as floor seats and can be attached to most standard chairs. This facilitates an optimal fit without requiring multiple seats, based on the use. Furthermore, they are lightweight and portable, which makes them suitable for use indoors as well as outdoors. The startup aims to further upgrade their seats with implementation of FGF to manufacture seats that are even more lightweight and with materials having a lower carbon footprint.

"Mitsubishi Chemical Group's wide range of materials offers us the possibilities to further customize our Testa seats. We would like to further scale our business and diversify into products such wheelchairs and other rehabilitation devices," concluded Alex.