ARC was founded as a non-profit all-volunteer club to improve the lives of individuals who need help adapting their local environment to their needs. We focus on solving day-to-day problems where creative engineering and assistive technology can have a big impact. These are often problems that fall outside the scope of existing institutional services or require access to maker-space resources.
ARC specializes in two areas: first, designing and fabricating new assistive technology (AT) devices; and, second, fixing or adapting household objects (including other AT devices) to address day-to-day quality of life issues. Over the course of a weekend, we might make a custom phone cradle for a client with arthritis, reset the crossbeam supports in a wheelchair frame, and install glide rails in a dresser (so that the drawers require less force to open).
We also spend a lot of time repairing items of sentimental value, hanging family photos, moving furniture, and resetting routers—in other words, helping where we can.
Our primary focus is on assisted living communities and working with folks experiencing disabilities. We’re in residence at Neville House in Cambridge, MA, with plans to expand to a second location near Davis Square in Somerville. If you’re interested in partnering with ARC, click the ‘Get in Touch’ button and introduce yourself. We’re open to ideas!