Category Archives: Programs

Ella Hunt’s New AT Switches

Ms. Ella Hunt, one of our long time friends and recipients recently had a horrible experience with spinal fusion surgery. Thankfully, the blood loss and hypoxia didn’t impact her mind, but it did rob her of the two switches she used to control her world.

We reached out to the wonderful Makers, Engineers and Occupational Therapists in our group and were able to come up with new solutions for her based on infrared sensors, strain gauges and lots of custom software.

Check it out! If you want to learn more about this project, here are some links that might help:

“How can I help Ella?”- We hear this a lot right now. If you’re technical, join ATMakers on Facebook or on our homepage and tell us your skills – we will put them to use for Ella and others like her. If not, the Hunts have new medical costs that are not covered by insurance (for ridiculous reasons) due to the new catheterization needs. Ella’s aunt has setup a GoFundMe page to help them with these costs (that ATMakers can confirm will all go to the Hunts) and we would encourage you to consider that instead of making a financial donation to ATMakers at this time. Here is the link: https://gofund.me/65475604

This #GivingTuesday, ATMakers could use your help!


This year has been a mess for everyone… and we get that many (maybe most) of you aren’t in as good a financial position as you were last year.  However, that’s also true for all of the A.T. Users we support, as well as all the Robotics teams & Makers who are having to re-invent themselves this year – we are handling more requests for help then ever before!

So, if you are considering making a charitable donation this year, here’s a few reasons to consider adding ATMakers.org to the causes you support.

  1. 100% of all donated funds go directly to our program participants.  Our founder (and the generous folks at his company, LessonPix.com) cover all of ATMakers’ overhead including our physical location, insurance, IT infrastructure, salaries, etc.  Donations are applied to raw materials to make devices and costs associated directly with activities we sponsor – we will waste none of your generous gift.
  2. You can earmark your donation if you wish: simply tell us where you’d like your money applied in the “Special Instructions” field or shoot us an email.  Current programs are our Accessible Gaming program (including the FreedomWing), our IntelliKeys Rescue program, our Robotics Outreach work or our work in building and deploying Custom AT Solutions that help Digitize the Intent of our users.
  3. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity (see this IRS page) so your donations may be deductible from your income taxes.  This year, the CARES act also allows a $300 deduction even if you are taking the standard deduction (obviously check with your accountant).

Not to mention, we’ve built a community of over 3,000 users where AT Users seek and find help every day.  Engineers, Makers, and students find meaningful engagement and are able to further their skills while helping others – it’s awesome!

So please consider making a donation here or consider starting a fund-raiser on Facebook.  We’d really appreciate the help!

Donate Now

Thank you, and stay safe!

Bill Binko & Your Friends at ATMakers.org

ATMakers Gaming for Everyone Project

ATMakers Gaming for All Project #SoEveryoneCanGame




With the addition last year of the XBox Adaptive Controller, followed by the recent release of the Adaptive Gaming Kit from Logitech G, it is increasingly possible to sharing Gaming with Everyone. In fact, for many switch users over five or six, an accessible XBox setup may be one of the best gifts possible this year.

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Flooding the Zone w/AAC Devices

This summer, we’re trying something new!  We’ve worked with LessonPix Custom Learning Materials and Minor Achievements Learning Center to create a camp where every kid has access to a basic AAC device.  We have two types of devices: an Android-based tablet running CoughDrop, and a custom device built on the Adafruit PyPortal intelligent screen.

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Christmas Toy Adapt-A-Thon for F.A.A.S.T.

How do you switch-adapt over 100 toys for kids in a single day? Over 40 volunteers working over 8 hours of controlled chaos certainly helps!
Thank you to our two FRC Teams (Roaring Riptide #4118 & GRA-V #5816), FACTUR for the use of their event space & equipment, U.F. Engineering’s B.O.T.S. team, LessonPix.com for financial support (and Pizza!) and everyone who gave their Sunday to help out the kids F.A.A.S.T. serves!
Continue reading Christmas Toy Adapt-A-Thon for F.A.A.S.T.