Innovative Engineering Class Develops Special Musical Ball to Enhance Play Experience for Autistic Student

In a remarkable blend of creativity and compassion, a group of engineering students at Northeastern University has designed a unique musical ball aimed at improving the play and development of Audrey, a sixth-grade student with autism and profound neurological differences. For Audrey, the ball is more than just a toy; it serves as a significant source of comfort, even as her interaction with conventional playthings presents challenges.

Larry Sanchez, a physical therapist with the LABBB Educational Collaborative, emphasizes Audrey's attachment to holding objects rather than engaging with them in the typical sense. "She likes to hold it,” he states, describing how the traditional act of pushing a ball isn’t intuitive for her. This is where the innovative minds at Northeastern stepped in to make a difference.

The student team, comprising Jose Garza, Arushi Gupta, Alden Rivers, and Romina Dianderas, worked diligently in their Enabling Engineering class to create a musical ball specifically designed to encourage Audrey to interact more freely—sharing and playing with her peers. Their project underscores the essence of engineering: creating solutions that cater to the individual needs of clients within a constrained timeframe.

The Enabling Engineering class is renowned for pairing students with clients requiring specialized assistive devices. Previous projects have ranged from custom camera mounts for filmmakers in wheelchairs to adaptive archery equipment for visually impaired individuals. The mission is clear: empower individuals with disabilities through thoughtful engineering.

Audrey is part of the LABBB Educational Collaborative, which prides itself on offering high-quality special education services in inclusive settings. She collaborates with therapists like Sanchez, Jo-Ellen Percival, and Cheryl Rogers to cultivate her gross motor skills through activities involving rolling, sharing, and passing a ball.

However, a standard ball wouldn’t suffice for Audrey's development needs. The ball needed to be exciting, interactive, responsive, and, importantly, durable enough to withstand a child's playtime activity.

The result? A captivating bright purple ball that, at first glance, appears simple but houses an intricate core of specialized technology. This remarkable toy is equipped with sensors designed to react when it’s held. Upon release, the ball lights up and plays a selection of Audrey’s favorite tunes, creating an engaging play environment that reinforces auditory stimulation—something that is crucial for her sensory development. "Hearing songs that she is familiar with is good," notes Gupta, who underscores the sentimental value of music, especially iconic Disney soundtracks.

The ingenious design process included repurposing a commercial hamster ball, combining it with a 3D-printed inner core packed with circuits, a microprocessor, speakers, and LED lights. This allows for easy activation and battery replacements by removing the electronics core.

While the team faced various challenges throughout the project, such as ensuring the ball was lightweight yet robust, they emerged with valuable insights. "I learned about the significance of designing products specifically for children with special learning abilities,” said Garza, stressing that the market often overlooks these vital needs.

The success of this project highlights the intersection of empathy and engineering, showcasing how innovative design can profoundly impact the lives of individuals with disabilities, potentially paving the way for future projects that address similar challenges. This extraordinary initiative exemplifies the power of collaboration and innovation in changing lives for the better.