Tech OWL - Technology for Our Whole Lives

01/13/2026

Should we rename our 3D printer “Paolo”?

Video description: Clips of Bambu and Prusa 3D printers working to print assistive tech. Close up of sparkly blue filament spool. Examples of 3D printed assistive tech including a reading guide, a utensil cuff, a handle writer with a base, a ball pen holder with a paintbrush, a plug puller, a nail clipper holder, and a switch that turns on a unicorn light.

01/12/2026

Which of these tools do you want to try?

Video description: Alanna and Mel testing out tools in the sensory rooms at Paley Hall at Temple University. One room, called the tranquility room has weighted blankets, a noise machine, a fake fish tank, a marble sand table, and a Protac Sensit Chair. The other room, the regulation hub, has a Southpaw marble wall, a sequin wall, a floor rocker chair, and fidgets.

Transcript: What kinds of tools help you regulate your sensory system? Depending on the day or time or what’s going on you might like something like colorful lights, calming sounds, a weighted blanket, calming visuals, a fidget, or relaxing scents like lavender. Other times, you might like bright lights, or different tactile experiences, maybe rocking back and forth, yoga poses or other alerting tools.

01/12/2026

The TechOWL Community Space will be closed on Monday January 19th, 2025. www.TechOWLpa.org/community-space

01/09/2026

What is your daily MVP of assistive technology? Tag or share this with someone who could benefit from this, because access should be shared, not gatekept.

Transcript: Kardashian quote: “Oh my god! Isn’t it great? Chris! I know it’s my dream. This is out of this world.” Candi’s voiceover: “What you’re looking at is a DIY universal cuff AKA one of my daily MVPs. This isn’t fancy it’s not custom ordered, it’s resourceful. This was made using a Velofoam band and a strip of Velcro. Adaptive technology doesn’t have to be expensive to be empowering. Sometimes access to adaptive technology is about creativity. Tag or share this with someone who could benefit from this, because access should be shared, not gatekept.”

Video description: Someone helping Candi set up her DIY universal cuff on her residual limb to use her phone and computer with a stylus. Candi working at a coffee shop and doing an art activity using tools in her universal cuff.

01/06/2026

What assistive technology might help you start your day?

Transcript: I love to start my day by watching the three stooges while eating my breakfast. But id ont like when my phone keeps faling down. Hi my name is Sara. I found a solution to my problem by going to TechOWL CreATe Together. It’s a free program that creates 3d printed or fabricated assistive technology (AT) for people in Pennsylvania. CreATe Together might be able to help you out.

Video description: Sara sitting at the breakfast table with a bowl of Cheerios and a pink water bottle. She demonstrates that her phone falls down when she props it up on her water bottle but then it’s better when she uses a purple 3D printed tripod phone holder.

01/05/2026

01/05/2026

Affordability is a huge issue in the world of assistive technology. 3D printing is one way people with disabilities might access low cost or free devices.

Transcript: What if you want to use assistive technology but find it’s not affordable? TechOWL’s maker catalog highlights 3d printed solutions. You might be able to get tools 3d printed at a local maker space or public libraries. I also got a toothpaste squeezer. Why not try it yourself? Check out TechOWLpa.org/maker-catalog. What 3d printed tools do you want to try?

Video description: Person using a 3D printed milk carton opener. Then, Matt a person with light skin, bald head, and facial hair talking at the screen. Then Matt using the DRAG writing device which looks like a mouse and showing the toothpaste squeezer. A screen recording of the TechOWL maker catalog website, showcasing 3D printed options like a pill ejector, palm pen, ball pen, bottle opener, key helper.

12/23/2025

It’s like magic.

Video description: a Bambu printing an orange writing tool with a tree shaped support. Then a demonstration of off” the tool being used to write by resting the device on the paper gently. On the screen text reads “The moment when a 3D printer turns an idea into an assistive tech device.”

Technology

12/22/2025

Would this 3D printed portable slant board help you?

For people with Filum Disease, it can be difficult to control eye movements and process shapes and forms. Looking down with the neck bent can also cause pain and vital sign issues. Slant boards are used to help with reading because of how it stabilizes the letters’ shapes to be easier to process. They also bring papers to a higher level to prevent bending the neck. Most are not portable which makes it hard to transport where needed. This is a 3D printed attachment that snaps onto any clipboard, turning it into a slant board at the recommended 25 degree angle. It also comes apart to fit in a quart size bag which makes it light, compact, and easy to transport in a backpack.
 
You can download it by going to https://www.tikkunolammakers.org/products. Check it out!
 
Video description: Woman with light skin setting up a yellow 3D printed portable slant board, which is a clip board help up by two right triangles.
 
Song lyrics: “Yeah, that’s my twinnem, Go best friend”
 

12/19/2025

Well, that wraps up the 2025 season at the TechOWL Community Space! We had such a wonderful time connecting with the community over the past year and can’t wait to see what 2026 brings.

Want to come visit the community space? We’ll be open again starting Monday January 5th for our regular open hours. Learn more on our website: www.TechOWLpa.org/community-space (http://www.techowlpa.org/community-space)

Some highlights from the past year:

1. During our accessible art event, a young kid trying out Guided Hands device with a parent and two friends from Imaginable Solutions.
2.Candi trying out the Hori Flex and Optima Joystick during an accessible gaming workshop.
3. A few people talking with Nova and learning about accessible s*x equipment.
4. A big circle of people playing charades during our first ASL game night.
5. Sabina, Karl, and Marco working on a device for signing books.
6. Participants playing Dungeons and Dragons around a table with Lucy as the leader in front of a screen showing turkeys.
7. Caitlin showing two people how to repair a bright pink wheelchair turned over during a workshop with Philly Fixers Guild.
8. Four students smiling during a switch adaptation workshop.
9. Participant dancing in a circle of people during an ACES movement workshop.
10. Loreto and Chris smiling during a workshop to switch adapt water guns for Camp Spifida.
11. Shannon and workshop participants creating a beautiful assistive technology altar during an Open Space workshop.
12. Shannon dancing with participants during an Open Space workshop.
13. Lucy leading three people, including two wheelchair users, during our first Dungeons & Dragons game.
14. Lucy & Emma smiling with D&D dice.
15. Jordan talking to Jule Ann at the TechOWL Community Space first anniversary party. Jule Ann is sharing about vision equipment.
1.  Anna in a power wheelchair talking with a parent and child in a wheelchair at the TechOWL Community Space first anniversary party.

12/19/2025

We think assistive tech is stunning, gorgeous, beautiful, perfect, and glorious.

Video description: Clips of people showcasing 3D printed tools including adaptive writing instruments, a ball shaped stylus holder, an eye drop squeezer, and a spray can attachment.

Transcript: “The front: stunning. The back: gorgeous. The side: Beautiful. The top: amazing. The bottom: perfect! From far away: glorious. Close up: even better.”