Last Updated: Fri, 04/10/2026
Syllabus
General Class Information
Academic year:
2026
Semester:
Fall
Course prefix:
ID
Course number:
8803
Section:
SAF
CRN
94512
Department (you may add up to three):
Instructor first name:
Leila
Instructor last name:
Aflatoony
Catalog Description

Speculative Assistive Futures explores assistive device design through the lens of the social, medical, and functional models of disability. The course critically examines technology abandonment, investigating the systemic and structural barriers that shape access, adoption, and long-term use of assistive technologies. Through speculative-participatory workshops with people with disabilities, students engage in co-design processes to create assistive devices that prioritize accessibility, empowerment, affordability, and stigma reduction, while balancing functionality, adaptability, and aesthetic integration. By combining hands-on design with critical inquiry, the course encourages students to envision alternative, more inclusive futures for assistive technologies.

Administrative Data
Course status
Active