Co-Designing STEAM Experiences with and for People with Intellectual Disabilities: The Accessible Makervan

Establishing a centralised makerspace for Wallara was deemed impractical, due to the number of DSO’s sites, and the requirement for specialised equipment and staff knowledge. The challenge was to design a mobile makerspace, co-designed with and for people with varied cognitive, motor and communication abilities, that could adapt to their diverse needs and the capabilities of local learning environments. The Makervan is designed to facilitate inclusive client participation and exposure to STEAM materials.

The Makervan was co-designed through an iterative process that involved people with intellectual disabilities, support workers and Wallara’s leadership team. Through preliminary discussions, bodystorming activities and reflective interviews, the Makervan was iterated to include standard makerspace equipment, a 3D printer and laser cutter. These resources were made safe and accessible through co-designed resource shelving and storage containers, and are used daily in the Makervan across six of Wallara’s sites. The Makervan provides a unique opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities to engage with making technologies themselves, an experience often limited by the physical, cognitive and social inaccessibilities of traditional makerspaces.

The Makervan’s impact is evidenced by the shifting of communal perceptions and mindsets towards the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities: understood through the acknowledgement of how this community can contribute to a design process and engage with electronic-making tools and technologies. This attitudinal change is present in the ongoing work of the Makervan, which supports the day-to-day delivery of Wallara’s STEAM program across six sites in south-east Melbourne. The co-design of the Makervan and its ongoing use inspires communal attitudinal change towards the capabilities of people with disabilities, as they engage with STEAM and electronic-making education opportunities.

The Makervan was co-designed with and for people with intellectual disability, which yielded valuable insights for promoting meaningful participation: Hands-on co-design: Verbal communication can be a barrier when working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, necessitating the exploration and implementation of alternative ‘hands-on’ modes of participation and communication. This led to a series of bodystorming workshops as both an engagement and co-design tool. Engagement with diverse stakeholders: The Makervan was enriched by the participation of diverse stakeholders, ranging from people living with intellectual disabilities to Wallara’s carers and leadership team. This deeply collaborative approach led to the community developing a sense of ownership over the Makervan, as articulated by one site representative “what was done very well was that the clients were involved. It’s a thing of pride for us”. Sustainability: The Makervan services six sites to offer enriching STEAM experiences to Wallara’s clients, which would not otherwise be financially or ecologically sustainable. The nature of a mobile makerspace ensures that the number of sites can grow into the future, and other initiatives - such as outreach events - can be supported. Adaptability: The Makervan offers a multitude of STEAM experiences to clients, afforded by the number of electronic-making technologies interchangeably stored within.