2025 Developers' Showcase Audience Favorite Award Winner:

Early Intervention Power Wheelchair

• Presenter: David Savage (Children's Specialized Hospital)
• Abstract: Nebula, an early intervention power wheelchair (eiPWC),  is an adaptation of an existing group 2 portable power wheelchair base with an expandable controller.  An adaptor allows an existing early intervention seating system to mount upon it, utilizing the same quick release method that it utilizes to mount to its stroller base.  The outcome is a small, portable tilt/recline power chair, suitable for children from six months to three years operable through multiple modalities. This allows for mobility training for cognitive perceptual development.

2025 AT IMPACT Award Winner
The AT IMPACT Award celebrates visionary innovators whose groundbreaking product or service shows great promise in unlocking human potential, enabling individuals to soar beyond the limitations of assistive technology and enhance their independence and well-being. It honors those who redefine what’s possible, merging innovation with compassion to create a more inclusive and limitless future.

DOOR-E, Your Portable Door Assistant

• Presenter: Mike Soniat; Wayne Newitts
• Abstract: DOOR-E, proud winner of the 2025 AT IMPACT Award, is the flagship product of Open Door Robotics. Designed to be the first truly portable, affordable solution for automating interior door control, DOOR-E requires no installation and can be operated by remote control, mobile app, or your favorite home automation platform such as Apple Home or Samsung SmartThings.

  Designed by two engineers for a friend looking for a solution for interior door accessibility, they quickly realized that DOOR-E was filling a need in the assistive technology market that no other product was filling - at least without the need for expensive and permanent installations.

  Currently in pre-release, DOOR-E is expected to be available for purchase by the end of 2025. In the mean time, the Open Door Robotics team welcomes you to join the DOOR-E community at https://door-e.com/#contactus.

2025 AT IMPACT STUDENT Award Winner

TREAT-MATE: A pet treat dispenser for power wheelchair users

• Team: Sreejith Ravi, Taylor Allen
• Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
• Abstract: TREAT-MATE is a pet treat dispenser designed to attach to power wheelchairs, giving users with limited hand dexterity the ability to independently reward their pets. For many wheelchair users, simple tasks like gripping small treats can be difficult due to conditions such as spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy. This can make bonding with their pets—whether service animals, emotional support animals, or companions—more challenging. Pets thrive on interaction and positive reinforcement, often through treats, but existing solutions, like automatic feeders, don't provide real-time engagement. While some assistive pet care devices exist, few focus specifically on treat dispensing in a way that seamlessly integrates with a wheelchair. This gap can make it harder for individuals with disabilities to train, reward, or simply enjoy spontaneous moments with their pets. TREAT-MATE bridges this gap by offering a reliable way for wheelchair users to dispense treats.