Innovation through collaboration for people with disability

The team at TOM Melbourne ‘work with people with a disability who have a specific need, “Need-Knowers”, and connect them with a diverse group of professionals, including engineers, industrial designers, health professionals and tradespeople, “Makers”.’

Bayley House first connected with TOM Melbourne a number of years ago as part of a ‘Make-a-thon’ and since then the partnership has grown stronger.

The diverse range of programs at Bayley Arts has created several challenges for the ‘Maker’s as they now work towards supporting our textiles program in creative ways. Over the course of the term, as the artists prepare for a Fashion Show, we have been working together to find solutions that provide support with using a sewing machine — making it easier for everyone to bring their designs to life.

The passion that TOM has for inclusive design and creative outcomes is at the core of the solutions they are developing to make sure that accessible outcomes are delivered for everyone involved. Some recent designs have included an adaptive mixing bowl, communication device cover and a paper gripper. The intellectual property for every product is then shared through open-source Digital Product Files, so others can replicate or iterate it in their own communities around the world. Not only are we helping to work towards solutions for Bayley House but what we help to develop will be shared globally! It is quite incredible that something created at Bayley House could possibly help someone on the other side of the world.

You can see for yourself exactly what we are doing in this video: