2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Investigating the Impact of a 3D Modeling and Printing Workshop Designed for Blind and Low-Vision Students [Traditional Research Paper]

Presented at Community Engagement Division (COMMENG) Technical Session 1

Students with disabilities are currently underrepresented in STEM classes at the high school level due to a number of barriers. Community organizations are partnering with universities to provide exposure to STEM, with a view to helping students develop skills and encouraging further study or careers in STEM-related fields. However, it is unclear how community-university collaborations can inform the design of informal learning programs that support STEM interest in learners with disabilities through inclusive hands-on technology-rich activities.

In this paper, we describe our university’s collaboration with a community partner that supports blind and low-vision students to provide exposure to the areas of engineering and making. Specifically, we detail the experiences from a four-day workshop on design thinking, engineering and 3D printing. Eight students who identified either as blind or low-vision, participated in the workshop. The students attend both mainstream and specialized high schools. Observations and interviews were conducted over the four-day period.

Findings have highlighted the importance of working with mentors from the community organization as partners, designing and tailoring STEM activities, taking the learner’s abilities and interests into account, and the value associated with flexibility determined by student interest and performance in the activities presented. Feedback provided by the community partner has provided an insight into ways in which the workshop can be strengthened for future offerings.

Authors

Mei-Lian Vader University of Maryland Baltimore County [biography]

Mei-Lian Vader is a fourth year Human Centered Computing PhD Student at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Her research has focused on the work practices of individuals who are blind or low-vision in different career fields. She is interested in learning about and developing personalized workplace accessibility solutions through the use of 3D modeling and 3D printing.
Krystal Yangmengzi Zhang http://orcid.org/0009-0002-1955-3839 University of Maryland Baltimore County [biography]

Krystal Yangmengzi Zhang is a second-year Human Centered Computing PhD Student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her research has focused on the design of accessible, inclusive, technology-rich makerspaces and the role of DIY assistive technology (DIY-AT) in supporting inclusive participation. Her work examines how digital fabrication tools, emerging technologies, and community-driven practices can empower individuals with disabilities to create personalized solutions.
Grace Hollenbach University of Maryland Baltimore County [biography]

Grace Hollenbach is a high school researcher affiliated with the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Her interests include robotics, accessible technology, human-centered design, and assistive devices.
Emily Wingeart University of Maryland Baltimore County [biography]

With an academic career driven by a passion for leveraging technology to make a positive impact on the world around me, I am particularly interested in the intersection of innovation and human-centered design. I am always seeking out opportunities to apply my technical skills to projects that address real-world challenges.
David Antol Retired Harford Community College, Coordinator of Engineering Technology and Additive Manufacturing, [biography]

David Antol has 20 years of experience of product development various sectors including DoD, Navigation Instrumentation, and Bio Tech Diagnostic Instrumentation. The last 17 years, Mr. Antol served as the Coordinator of Engineering Technology at the community college level. During the time, he served as Principal Investigator for an NSF grant to development an Additive Manufacturing for Harford Community College. In 2023, David partnered with the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland to develop the inaugural Engineering Week for the Star Program. Upon retirement, Mr. Antol collaborated with Dr. Vader and her team on the 2025 Engineering Week.
Ravi Kuber University of Maryland Baltimore County [biography]

Dr. Ravi Kuber is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Systems at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Dr. Kuber’s research interests broadly relate to human-centered computing, where he investigates ways to support accessibility through the design of multimodal interfaces.
Dr. Foad Hamidi University of Maryland Baltimore County [biography]

Dr. Foad Hamidi is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). His research interests include Human-Computer Interaction, Participatory Design and Assistive Technology.

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